Hiking Project Logo

A nice neighborhood walk/hike with some views and limited vehicular noise.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

2.6

Miles

4.2

KM

Loop

316' 96 m

High

91' 28 m

Low

248' 76 m

Up

247' 75 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

16%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Views · Wildflowers

Family Friendly This loop affords some good views for a modest effort, making it great for youngsters.

Overview

This is a nice quick loop that is especially good for a little exercise after work.

Description

This loop can be done in either direction, but I slightly prefer the counterclockwise direction because this means descending the Palacio Del Mar Drop trail with the late afternoon sunlight illuminating the grasses and wildflowers during the season when I most often do this loop.

Begin at a parking lot at the start of Clews Ranch Rd. Head up the Marvin Gerst to Shaw Valley Connector to pass under Carmel Mountain Rd and turn on to the Del Mar Mesa Equestrian Trail which has a short steep climb at the beginning. You can stay on the Del Mar Mesa Equestrian Trail the entire way but the views are better from the Palacio Del Mar Overlook as mapped.

Briefly rejoin the Del Mar Mesa Equestrian Trail and then begin the Palacio Del Mar Drop which has a steep section near the bottom. Finish the loop on the Palacio Del Mar Equestrian Trail and then hop Carmel Mountain Rd to return to the parking lot via a short stretch of sidewalk or alternatively head north a short distance to cross at the crosswalk which rates to be safer if you have kids in tow.

This is a 3-star hike from about December to May after it has rained and turned green, and a 2-star hike the rest of the year.

Flora & Fauna

Sunflowers and wild mustard.

Contacts

Shared By:

Matthew Kidd

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#5097

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
100%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#713

in California

#5,097

Overall
6 Views Last Month
978 Since Mar 31, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

This is the steepest section of the trail.
Jul 1, 2017 near Carmel…, CA
Del Mar Mesa Equestrian trail near the top of Del Mar Mesa Rd.
Jan 23, 2021 near Carmel…, CA
Little Shaw Valley trail after March 2021 erosion repair work.
Apr 6, 2021 near Carmel…, CA
Rare dusty pink sunset in Little Shaw Valley.
Jul 9, 2019 near Carmel…, CA
The public trail follows the perimeter of the Palacio Del Mar gated community.
Jul 1, 2017 near Carmel…, CA
Start of the Fishhead trail under streaky and puffy sky.
Jan 23, 2021 near Carmel…, CA

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.