Calla Valley's Spring Secret

The pandemic ruled out visiting vast fields of wild flowers throughout 2020 and so when the new year started I promised myself I would hit some of the spots I had missed the previous year, including the valley of Lillies in Big Sur located near Carmel-by-the-Sea. I made the venture up to this spot on a weekend in April. The Lillies usually grow between January and April in full bloom, give or take the 'winter' on California.

I hit the spot Mid- April which was perfect because it was still low traffic but warm enough to camp and explore the beach areas without having to wear more than 2 layers of clothing. The Calla Lily Valley usually blooms throughout the beginning 3-4 months of the year so there is time to get there if you don't want to visit the Big Sur Coast in January. The flowers, as you can see from the picture get to be the size your feet, if not bigger. This small section along the Big Sur Coast is incredibly breath taking to explore and experience. The earlier in the year you go, the less people you will stumble upon and can enjoy the area to yourself.

It is easy to miss as there is a small dirt path that leads to the patch of flowers by the beach, but the easiest way to find it is to hit Garrapata Beach and go from there. You can park anywhere along the road where the beach is located, and from there you have two options. You can gain access on the beach to the flowers or you can park near the top of the trail and walk down towards them. The valley is nestled in the rolling hills so it can't be seen from the road, which makes it all the more special to come across.

The Garrapata Beach is a fun area to explore because there are a handful of footpaths to follow that snake through the flowers and brush that end at the coast. I had time before the sun was going to set and the trail to the flowers looked busy so I went off to explore while I waited for the lily valley to clear out. The colors from all the succulents and wild flowers is my favorite to see on the Big Sur Coast.

The area I explored was a pullout with a small dirt trail you could only see once parked. This is what I love about the coast, you can come a few times and never explore the same sections because there are always new paths to explore that are not marked on a map to be followed.

These paths are skinny as to not interrupt the flowers and succulents that grow on the cliff sides. Always be careful when exploring these areas as to stay on path so there is no erosion happening. The section I explored had the option to go all the way down to the beach. This section had a small waterfall going over the edge which I was insanely excited to see. A cliffside waterfall into the ocean is a rare find.

Tip: Wear shoes with great grip because the loose dirt and steep declines can be slippery and hard to maneuver especially when it is windy.

The succulents and flowers are full bloom most of the year, April through October, and the Calla Lily Valley is peak even earlier. The best time to see the lilies are end of January through April.

The flowers are nestled in-between two hills and a staircase will guide you down into the clusters of flowers. There is also beach access to get to this section. From the beach there will be an opening with what looks like a river running through the sand. Follow that up towards the hills and you will come to a clearing with the flowers. Some of the flowers are over 5 feet tall and the flowers themselves can be as big as your head. I was all smiles and filled with joy getting to wander through this patch by myself after driving up 5 hours to see this.

This is definitely a must hit spot in early spring time on the coast. I missed it last year due to the pandemic but this was at the top of my list when the year began. I hit the spot near the end of its season so some of the flowers were starting to curl at the ends and turn brown. If you want to see the flowers in their prime to capture photographs I would recommend hitting this spot in February or March. It will be chilly on the coast, but on the plus side you will most likely have this space to yourself.

There is plenty to see an explore long the coastline especially when flowers are in full bloom. I just follow the colors to find the hidden gems along the the Big Sur Coast.