Today we ventured to Carmel Mountain Preserve Loop Trail which is part of the Carmel Mountain Preserve. The Carmel Mountain Preserve consists of several trails and access points. And the Loop Trail is accessed off Fairport Way in Carmel Valley.
The trail is hard packed dirt surrounded by vegetation, but few trees making it a hot and unshaded hike. The trail has some inclines and descents. There are views of the surrounding mountains and peaks of the ocean. Although the trail loops around we did not complete the loop as we took a side trail that looked interesting. It brought us off the trail and to the Ocean Air Park so our total hike was 1.5M. Looking at the map the trail does loop around and according to All Trails is nearly 3M.
Although we only encountered a few other people on the trail it is obvious that it is well used by people with dogs as there was quite a bit of poop left on the trail. We also saw horse hoof prints and saw signs indicating horses are allowed on the trail. I imagine many of the people in the housing development that borders the trail use it.
Our Rating
Sunny and I rate Carmel Mountain Preserve Loop Trail 3 out of 4 paws up. It’s a beautiful hike with views of the ocean and mountains. The trail is well maintained and quite wide. Parking is easy and the nearby park has restrooms. There is no water feature and little shade and the trail can be a little confusing as there are many side trails. This is one we will return to further explore the trail.
How Do I Get There?
The best way to find this part of the Carmel Mountain Preserve is to use Ocean Air Park as the destination. We accessed the trail off Fairport Way just past the park. You can either park on the street near the entrance of the trail and sign or park at Ocean Air Park and walk up the steps to the entrance of the trail.
For a map of Carmel Mountain Preserve check out the San Diego website.