Andrew Molera State Park
Encyclopedia
Andrew Molera State Park is a state park
of California
, USA, preserving relatively undeveloped land on the Big Sur
coast. Situated at the mouth of the Big Sur River
, the property was part of the Rancho El Sur
land grant, and later owned by the Cooper-Molera ranching family. The park is named in commemoration of Andrew Molera, who popularized the artichoke
in California in 1922. His sister Frances Molera made the name a condition when she sold the property to The Nature Conservancy
in 1965.
Activities at the park include hiking
, fishing
and beachcombing
, with miles of trails winding through meadows, beaches and hilltops. A primitive walk-in trail camp, popular with hikers and bikers, is located approximately one-third of a mile from the parking area. It is considered the most reliable surfing
area in Big Sur.
The park is 20 miles (32.2 km) south of Carmel on State Route 1
.
r Juan Bautista Roger Cooper was Andrew Molera's grandfather.
The Ventana Wildlife Society
has established a Discovery Center within the park. The Discovery Center includes exhibits on local wildlife (including the California condor
) and a bird banding
lab. Scientists and other lab employees give regular tours of Andrew Molera State Park, explaining the flora and fauna that are unique to the area.
The park also features a year-round waterfall
, 40 feet (12.2 m) Highbridge Falls. Other nearby waterfalls include Limekiln Falls, Salmon Creek Falls
, McWay Falls
in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
, and Pfeiffer Falls in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
The only camping
available in the park is in a 24-site walk-in campground. Registration is on a first-come, first-served
basis. The campground is particularly popular with European visitors. No dogs are allowed on the trails or campground.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA, preserving relatively undeveloped land on the Big Sur
Big Sur
Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the Central Coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The name "Big Sur" is derived from the original Spanish-language "el sur grande", meaning "the big south", or from "el país grande del sur", "the big...
coast. Situated at the mouth of the Big Sur River
Big Sur River
The Big Sur River is a river on the Central Coast of California. The river drains a portion of the Big Sur area, a thinly settled region of the Central California coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean...
, the property was part of the Rancho El Sur
Rancho El Sur
Rancho El Sur was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Juan Alvarado. The grant extended between the Little Sur River and what is now called, Cooper Point.-History:...
land grant, and later owned by the Cooper-Molera ranching family. The park is named in commemoration of Andrew Molera, who popularized the artichoke
Globe artichoke
The globe artichoke is a perennial thistle of the Cynara genus originating in Southern Europe around the Mediterranean. It grows to tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery, glaucous-green leaves long. The flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud about diameter with numerous...
in California in 1922. His sister Frances Molera made the name a condition when she sold the property to The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
in 1965.
Activities at the park include hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and beachcombing
Beachcombing
Beachcombing and beachcomber are words with multiple, but related, meanings that have evolved over time.A beachcomber is someone who "combs" the beach, and the intertidal zone in general, looking for things of value, interest or utility....
, with miles of trails winding through meadows, beaches and hilltops. A primitive walk-in trail camp, popular with hikers and bikers, is located approximately one-third of a mile from the parking area. It is considered the most reliable surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
area in Big Sur.
The park is 20 miles (32.2 km) south of Carmel on State Route 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
.
Features
Andrew Molera State Park features the historic Cooper Cabin, built in 1861 or 62. It is the oldest structure in Big Sur. Fur tradeFur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
r Juan Bautista Roger Cooper was Andrew Molera's grandfather.
The Ventana Wildlife Society
Ventana Wildlife Society
Ventana Wildlife Society is a 5013 non-profit organization founded in 1977 by a group of private citizens to restore endangered species native to central California. VWS has five full-time staff biologists, together with seasonal interns, monitoring, tracking and researching endangered species,...
has established a Discovery Center within the park. The Discovery Center includes exhibits on local wildlife (including the California condor
California Condor
The California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
) and a bird banding
Bird ringing
Bird ringing or bird banding is a technique used in the study of wild birds, by attaching a small, individually numbered, metal or plastic tag to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the bird's life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual later...
lab. Scientists and other lab employees give regular tours of Andrew Molera State Park, explaining the flora and fauna that are unique to the area.
The park also features a year-round waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
, 40 feet (12.2 m) Highbridge Falls. Other nearby waterfalls include Limekiln Falls, Salmon Creek Falls
Salmon Creek Falls
Salmon Creek Falls is a 120 foot waterfall near Gorda in Los Padres National Forest, Monterey County, California, USA.-External links:*...
, McWay Falls
McWay Falls
McWay Falls is an 80 foot waterfall located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park that flows year-round. Like Alamere Falls, this waterfall is one of only two in the region that are close enough to the ocean to be referred to as "tidefalls"...
in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a state-protected park in Big Sur, located in Monterey County, California. The park is administered and maintained by California State Parks. It is located south of Carmel and covers over of land. A main feature of the park is McWay Falls, which drops over a...
, and Pfeiffer Falls in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Recreation
Andrew Molera State Park has over 20 miles (32.2 km) of hiking trails. Some run along the shore, others along the Big Sur River, while still others climb to high ridges with views of the entire Big Sur coast.The only camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
available in the park is in a 24-site walk-in campground. Registration is on a first-come, first-served
First-come, first-served
First-come, first-served – sometimes first-in, first-served and first-come, first choice – is a service policy whereby the requests of customers or clients are attended to in the order that they arrived, without other biases or preferences. The policy can be employed when processing sales orders,...
basis. The campground is particularly popular with European visitors. No dogs are allowed on the trails or campground.