PALO CORONA REGIONAL PARK Map of Carmel-by-the-sea, CA US The Palo Corona Regional Park is one of Central Coast California’s most significant undeveloped open spaces. In the largest land conservation project in Monterey county history, The Nature Conservancy, The Big Sur Land Trust, State of California (through several of its agencies), and Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District partnered to acquire the 10,000 acre Palo Corona Ranch. The acquisition was finalized in 2004. The 10,000-acre ranch was then divided between the State Department of Fish & Game and The Park District to be protected as public conservation and Parkland in perpetuity. The State Department of Fish & Game added the southern 5,500-acres of the former ranch to its existing 640-acre Joshua Creek Ecological Preserve (Preserve). The Park District created the new Palo Corona Regional Park (Park) with the northern 4,350-acres of the former ranch. The Park stretches for nearly 7- miles in length across 4,300 sprawling acres of rugged, spectacular country that boasts an extraordinary mix of ecosystems and wildlife species. The Park established a critical environmental link in a protected seventy-mile long wild land corridor that begins at the Carmel River and extends southward to the Hearst Ranch in San Luis Obispo County. The Park includes the headwaters of thirteen watersheds and protects significant habitat areas, wildlife corridors, wildlife, and endangered species. The Park connects 9 previously protected conservation properties preserved for their biological, recreation and scenic values, including: Garrapata State Park, Joshua Creek Ecological Preserve, Mittledorf Preserve, Glen Deven Ranch, Point Lobos State Reserve, Santa Lucia Conservancy lands, and the Ventana Wilderness. Within the Park, there are over 500 species of plants occurring in diverse habitats from the Carmel River to the mixed hardwood forest that crown’s the 3,000-foot Palo Corona Peak. The Park’s grassland ecosystem supports some of the highest numbers of individual grass and wildflower species found anywhere along California’s central coast. Beginning at near sea level and rising to over 3,400 feet in elevation, the Park provides an incredibly diverse wildlife habitat. The Park is permanent habitat to coastal trout, and steelhead fisheries occur in perennial creeks with rare amphibians, including the California red-legged frog and tiger salamander. The federally endangered Smith’s blue butterfly occurs in the acres of buckwheat, and a variety of fully protected raptors nest and forage throughout the forest and grasslands. Deer, mountain lion, bobcat, golden eagle and California condor range over the Park, where several unusual birds such as mountain quail and horned larks are known to reside. Rare black bear, peregrine falcon, and spotted owl, which have been documented on adjoining lands, are also likely to be found in the Park. Palo Corona Regional Park Access Permit Conditions Public access to Palo Corona Regional Park is limited to members of the public that obtain an access permit. MPRPD will issue up to 13 access permits per day for pedestrian use only. Bicyclists, equestrians, motorized vehicles, hang-gliders or other forms of recreational use are not permited at this time. Bicyclists, equestrians, motorized vehicles, hang-gliders or other forms of recreational use are not permited at this time. No dogs or other domestic animals are permitted in the park. During the interm access period, public access is limited to the main road that leads to Inspiration Point. and Animus Pond. This is a distance of about 2 miles from the Palo Corona Barn. All other areas are closed to public access at this time. •  A copy of the access permit is to be kept with the permittee at all times when in the park. A copy should also be prominently placed on the dash of the vehicle. The park is open during daylight hours only. No overnight use or camping is permitted. Other strict prohibitions include smoking, campfires, incendiary devices, fireworks, cooking stoves, firearms, weapons of any kind, and hunting. Permits will be issued a maximum of 30 days in advance of the requested permit date. Permit applications should be submitted no less than 48 hours in advance of permit date requested. Applications submitted less than 48 hours in advance cannot be guaranteed to be processed in time for the requested permit date. Parking on the east-side shoulder of Highway 1 north of the park entrance is limited to 13 spaces. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. Do not park on or block acces to adjacent private property. Emergencies should be reported by calling 911. For District staff, please call 372-3196 (M-F) and 659-4488 (weekends). Commercial group access is not permitted. Permits may be rescinded without notice in the interest of public health and safety or for resource protection purposes. Hiking off trail is prohibited; hikers must stay on existing trail system. Trespassing on private property is subject to citation/prosecution and loss of future access privileges. Cattle will be grazing within the park from February through June. Pedestrian gates and styles are to be used only when encountered. Cattle gates are prohibited from being opened. Permittee acknowledges reading and understanding of the permit conditions and also accepts responsibility for the actions and behavior of others accompanying the permittee. Alternative pedestrian access may be obtained by signing-up for periodically scheduled group hikes, which are listed in the respective newsletters or websites of The Park District, Big Sur Land Trust, and the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club. The Park District also lists its hike schedule in the Monterey County Herald.

PLEASE NOTE: The County of Monterey has given the MPRPD an interim permit that allows 13 permit holders (one permit per vehicle) access to designated areas of Palo Corona. These limitations will continue until extensive natural resource studies are completed, safe trails are constructed and expanded parking can be provided. Please know that the MPRPD shares your frustration in having to keep parts of the park off limits, and that we are working diligently to complete all required studies necessary to open the entire park. We will, however, use this period to construct new trails where needed. The permit process will remain in effect until we obtain sufficient parking facilities for all whose who wish to use the park. Questions? Call Tim Jensen at 372-3196 x2, or email him at tjensen@mprpd.org. Parking is allowed on the east-side shoulder of Highway 1 north of the park entrance. Do not park on or block acces to adjacent private property. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. During the interm access period, public access is limited to the main road that leads to Inspiration Point and Animus Pond. This is a distance of about 2 miles from the Palo Corona Barn. All other areas are closed to public access. Palo Corona Destinations: INSPIRATION POINT (1.3 miles, 850 ft. elevation climb) The road leading up the mountain toward Inspiration Point is a moderate to strenuous hike. The trailhead takes you through a flat bed of non-native European grasses. The Coast Live Oak trees provide cool shade as the trail begins to get steeper. Approximately ¾ of the way, there are gorgeous views of the Carmel coast and it is a great place to take a break. Just around the corner from here is the mountaintop where hikers will be relieved from the uphill climb. To the right of the trail is a picnic bench that sits on the edge of Inspiration Point where hikers will get the bird’s eye view of Carmel and the coast nearby. ANIMAS POND (0.6 mile) Continuing from Inspiration Point, the trail is very relaxing as you head toward Animas Pond. Gregg’s Hill is the small mountain seated just south of the picnic table. As you head east into the mountains, pine trees provide plenty of shade for hikers. To the right of the trail is a meadow covered with annual grasslands where many hawks search for food. Flickers, turkey vultures, and deer can be found in this area as well. The Animas Pond provides a wetland habitat for the federally threatened red-legged frog. The large amount of sediment collected by the pond has severely reduced its depth to a mere 2 feet. Covering the surface of the pond during the spring months are bright red Azolla.   PARK RULES Stay on designated trails ~ walk softly, take only memories and leave only footprints. AND, be sure to pack out what you pack in. RESERVATIONS: Access to Palo Corona Regional Park requires an Access Permit. HOURS: Access is limited to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset. PETS: Domestic animals are not allowed. TRAILS: Access to Palo Corona Regional Park is from Hwy 1 and is limited to hiking use only at this time.  FIRE/SMOKING: Fires, incendiary devices, any source of open flame, and smoking are prohibited. RESOURCES: It is unlawful to injure, damage, collect, harass, remove, or disturb any cultural, historical, biological, or physical object. Metal detectors, and other collecting tools are prohibited. HUNTING-FISHING-WEAPONS: Hunting, fishing, and weapons of any type are not allowed. FOOD: Food and beverages are allowed. However, there are no waste receptacles on the trails. Please pack out all you pack in. TRESPASS: For the benefit of all, obey and respect all private property, boundary, administrative notices, and closure signs. CLOSURE: Access may be temporarily closed due to wildlife, fire, public safety, resource protection, or other environmental concerns.

© Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District
September 2007