Big Sur’s beautiful wooded cliffside trails are extreme showstoppers, we all know that. But, with more than 50 different routes to take, it’s hard finding short hikes that are worth your time. One of my favorites is Partington Cove, the best short hike in Big Sur leading through Redwood trees and an old mine shaft. Exiting out into the cove, old concrete footings of a pier still exist from when this area was used 100 years ago to load supplies off of ships.
Where is Partington Cove?
Located directly off of Highway 1 in Big Sur on the California Pacific Coast is one heck of a gem hike. Partington Cove is accessible via a 0.3 mile hike down a steep ravine.
Need a whole itinerary for the Pacific Coast Highway? Check out my 7 day PCH road trip here!
The History of Partington Cove
If you look closely at the rocks in Partington Cove, you can see a pier’s concrete footings from another era. Back in the 1800s, the Big Sur area of the California coast was heavily logged for timber companies. Along with the strong bark of the Redwoods, Tan Oak trees were also cut down. That wood was used to make tannic acid, a chemical to tan leather.
Partington Cove was the shipping point for the products of the forest industries and you can visit the area on your hike. The cove is named after John Partington who operated a landing here for ships. Having an easily-accessible area to load and unload cargo of lumber and bark was essential in the 19th century.
Finding the Partington Cove Trailhead
If coming from the north around Big Sur, find the Partington Cove trailhead 11 miles south of the village. If coming from the south, find the trailhead 2 miles north of McWay Falls and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The trailhead is behind a closed gate on the west side of the road at the main bend.
Parking along Highway 1 is the only means of accessing the Partington Cove trailhead. Be sure to have your vehicle pulled completely off the road and be safe when crossing the highway.
Hiking the Partington Cove Trail
Distance: 1.1 Miles Roundtrip
Type: Out and Back
Elevation Gain: +350 Feet
Best Time to Hike: Year-Round
There are essentially 3 different routes to take when hiking the Partington Cove Trail. After descending down the steep switchbacks, the trail forks in different directions at the base of a wooden bridge crossing. Take a left for about 0.2 miles to the waterfall that may or may not be flowing, depending on the time of year.
Partington Point
Retreating back on the same path, you’re back at the fork of the trail and met with that bridge crossing again. Take the trail straight through to the west, running parallel with the creek. Another 0.1 miles will bring you to Partington Point.
I love exploring around this area but be careful! The tide can move in quickly and those waves are no joke, especially with the massive rocks in the cove.
Since this area is close to the California Sea Otter State Game Refuge, it’s a good spot to catch marine life feasting on the rocks. Other fun spots to explore is the creek flowing into a mini-waterfall into a tide pool. I love sitting here for sunset too!
Partington Cove
Retreating back to the fork in the trail, it’s now time to cross that wooden bridge. Cutting through massive Redwoods, the trail meets an old tunnel.
This tunnel was carved out by the lumber workers for easy access to the cove. We can see the important role this location played to the lumber industry with the amount of effort put forth.
Coming through the tunnel, emerge out the other side to find yourself at the back of the stunning Partington Cove.
Vibrant wildflowers pop through the vegetation that surrounds the trail. Depending on the time of day you visit, the tide may be further in or out. I’ve seen it both ways, with the colorful rocks displaying their colors when the tide is low.
At the end of the trail is a bench to sit and enjoy the million dollar views. Exploring any further beyond this isn’t recommended, although you may get lucky with some smaller tide pools near the end of the pathway.
Let’s be real, just staring out at that blue abyss is enough for any of us!
Read More California Posts HereBefore heading out on trails, it’s imperative that you’re familiar with the “Leave No Trace” principles.
Read More: Leave No Trace: The 7 Rules of the Backcountry.
Learn more about Leave No Trace on their website here.
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