Garland Ranch Falls

Carmel / Garland Ranch Regional Park, California, USA

About Garland Ranch Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Garland Ranch Falls was an ephemeral waterfall that happened to be within the popular Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley.

In my mind, it’s kind of a waterfaller’s excuse to experience a different side of Carmel, Monterey, and the Big Sur Coast because it sits close to these locations.

Garland_Ranch_Falls_059_03102024 - Looking up at the Garland Ranch Falls, which was actually flowing (albeit lightly) during our visit early March 2024
Looking up at the Garland Ranch Falls, which was actually flowing (albeit lightly) during our visit early March 2024

This valley, where the Carmel River flows, seemed to be the fruit-growing and wine-growing alternative to the otherwise rocky coastlines of Big Sur itself.

As you can see from the photo above, seeing the 70ft Garland Ranch Falls perform requires some serious timing for right after a heavy rain.

Our visit in early February 2021 occurred a week after a strong storm hit the Big Sur area with 4-6″ of rain in some areas.

This storm even caused a landslide along Rat Creek that closed Highway 1 through Big Sur for several months.

Garland_Ranch_120_02072021 - Julie having a seat looking up at the Garland Ranch Falls when it didn't flow during our visit in early February 2021
Julie having a seat looking up at the Garland Ranch Falls when it didn’t flow during our visit in early February 2021

And yet, the waterfall was essentially dry during that visit, which really forced me to reconcile how quickly we had to act if we were to see the Garland Ranch Falls perform.

So on a return visit in early March 2024, it occurred about 3-4 days after the passing of a series of storms that exceeded the state’s long-term annual average rainfall total within a span of a month.

However, that particular visit also yielded the aforementioned photo at the top of this page, which gives you a sense of how long this waterfall lasts when it does flow.

Indeed, the Garland Ranch Falls was really more of a side attraction as the park offers a nice relaxing hike with the chance to see wildflowers in the Spring, some views from the neighboring mountains, and maybe even the odd wildlife or two.

Garland_Ranch_022_02072021 - Looking down Cooper Trail after having crossed the bridge over the Carmel River in Garland Ranch Regional Park
Looking down Cooper Trail after having crossed the bridge over the Carmel River in Garland Ranch Regional Park

Personally, I’d only consider chasing this waterfall if we just so happened to come right after a passing storm in a year of heavy precipitation (a strategy that even the park map emphasizes).

Accessing and Experiencing Garland Ranch Falls

From one of the plentiful parking spaces at the Garland Ranch Regional Park (see directions below), we backtracked towards a year-round footbridge traversing the Carmel River.

There was actually supposed to be a second bridge over the Carmel River closer to the large parking lot leading directly to the Garland Ranch Visitor Center.

However, it was out during both of our visits, and I understand that they typically put the bridge back up around mid-April timeframe.

Garland_Ranch_042_02072021 - Looking across an open area with picnic tables and interpretive signs towards the Garland Ranch Regional Park Visitor Center
Looking across an open area with picnic tables and interpretive signs towards the Garland Ranch Regional Park Visitor Center

Anyways, once we got past the sturdy bridge (capable of accommodating vehicular traffic from staff), we then followed the Lupine Loop Trail (i.e. the main trail) following the Carmel River upstream towards the visitor center.

During this wide open and flat walk, we noticed several trail junctions leading to loops like the rest of the Lupine Loop, the Cottonwood Trail, or Sycamore Trail among others.

Nevertheless, we just kept left and stuck with the riverside part of the Lupine Loop Trail while enjoying the expansive views across Carmel Valley and the odd wildflowers in bloom (including California poppies, which are the state’s flower).

In roughly 0.2-mile, we reached the Carmel Valley Visitor Center, which had some brochures as well as a nice relief map of the park.

Garland_Ranch_Falls_022_03102024 - Julie checking out some California Poppies (the state's flower) blooming alongside the Lupine Loop Trail. That said, the precipitation in 2024 came too late (in February) so even though we got a lot of rain, there would be no superbloom this year
Julie checking out some California Poppies (the state’s flower) blooming alongside the Lupine Loop Trail. That said, the precipitation in 2024 came too late (in February) so even though we got a lot of rain, there would be no superbloom this year

Sometimes they run ranger talks, where they put pelts on display while explaining the history and environment of the Garland Ranch Regional Park.

In the clearing fronting the visitor center, I also noticed picnic tables and interpretive signs fronting the vegetation endemic to this area like the Monterey pines, Monterey cypress, chaparral, and coast live oak among others.

Keeping on the main trail to our left, we continued along the general trajectory of the Carmel River for another 0.6-mile before reaching a fork in the path shortly after other trails (i.e. the Sycamore Trail or Cottonwood Trail) converged from the right.

At this point, we had a choice of going straight towards an ascent or descending on a narrower trail to the left (the latter usually has a private property sign fronting it).

Garland_Ranch_093_02072021 - A trail junction where the Waterfall Trail continued on the right as it ascended, while a trail into private property descended to the left towards the Carmel River
A trail junction where the Waterfall Trail continued on the right as it ascended, while a trail into private property descended to the left towards the Carmel River

We kept straight to go onto the so-called Waterfall Trail to continue the final few paces towards the Garland Ranch Falls.

During the ascent, there were still more trails coming in from the right, but they led up to the Sky Trail as well as the Cliff Trail, which ultimately would ascend up to Siesta Point for expansive views.

That said, we kept going straight on the Waterfall Trail, which eventually bent to the right alongside the seasonal creek that belongs to the outflow of Garland Ranch Falls.

Shortly after crossing over a bridge over this seasonal creek, the trail eventually ascended to the base of Garland Ranch Falls.

Garland_Ranch_Falls_058_03102024 - Julie checking out the Garland Ranch Falls when it was actually flowing (albeit barely) during our early March 2024 visit
Julie checking out the Garland Ranch Falls when it was actually flowing (albeit barely) during our early March 2024 visit

The trail would continue climbing up and away from the waterfall to eventually join up with the Mesa Trail and perhaps the pond or lake that would normally feed the Garland Ranch Falls when it would overflow.

By this point, we had gone roughly 1.3 miles from where we had parked, turn around and head back to conclude the excursion.

However, as you can see from all the trail junctions, there were plenty of ways to extend a visit here to fully experience the subtle beauty that the Garland Ranch Regional Park had to offer.

A Brief Extension of the Excursion – Nice Rapids on the Carmel River

Speaking of extending our visit, when we backtracked downhill to the trail junction at the bottom of the descent, we then headed down the narrower trail towards the Carmel River.

Garland_Ranch_184_02072021 - Julie checking out an attractive series of rapids on the Carmel River shortly after descending from the Garland Ranch Falls
Julie checking out an attractive series of rapids on the Carmel River shortly after descending from the Garland Ranch Falls

Apparently, this trail traversed in an area that was apparently private property (according to the signage), but we stopped roughly 0.1-mile from the Waterfall Trail, where we arrived at some attractive rapids on the Carmel River.

Given the disappointment of Garland Ranch Falls running dry, this quaint rapids was a nice consolation prize to chill out by the sounds of running water while watching the morning sun paint the surrounding scenery with its light.

The trail didn’t seem to proceed any further from here, and I’d imagine this was probably some trail that was created by visitors and maybe tolerated by the owner of the land that prompted the private property signage.

Only after having our fill of these rapids on the Carmel River did we wrap up our short and pleasant visit to Garland Ranch before returning to our car.

Garland_Ranch_Falls_122_03102024 - Lots of people on the Lupine Loop Trail in the Garland Ranch Regional Park, which attested to this place's popularity just as we were wrapping up with our visit
Lots of people on the Lupine Loop Trail in the Garland Ranch Regional Park, which attested to this place’s popularity just as we were wrapping up with our visit

Judging by how many people we encountered on the Sunday that we showed up in early February 2021, I’d imagine that this was quite the popular spot mainly due to its accessibility and the plethora of trail routes to choose from.

Overall, Julie and I spent a little under 2 hours away from the car on our first visit, and 90 minutes on our second visit.

However, both times, we made a very leisurely stroll so conceivably a more focused waterfall visit could take as little as around 60 minutes to cover the 2.6 miles round trip.

Authorities

Garland Ranch Falls resides in the Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley in Monterey County, California. It is administered by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. For more information, questions, and current conditions, you can check out their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: garland ranch, carmel valley, carmel, big sur, california, waterfall



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.