Garrapata State Park

Permit Information

California State Parks Special Event Permit required for all weddings, including small elopements. Big Sur Sector (Monterey District) runs tiered pricing: $150 for a 1 hour elopement with up to 25 guests and no props, $300 for a 2 hour small event with up to 50 guests and no decor, and $400 for a 3 hour simple wedding with up to 50 guests and props allowed. Each tier includes a $250 non refundable admin fee. Applications must be submitted at least 60 days in advance or an additional processing …

Planning Your Day at Garrapata State Park

One-Spot Day

Garrapata pairs well in a single day. Rocky Ridge sits high above Highway 1 about 7 miles south of Carmel, and Garrapata Beach is roughly 3 miles further south at the unmarked Highway 1 pullouts near Gates 18 and 19. Plan a sunrise ceremony at Garrapata Beach (low tide reveals sea arches), drive 10 minutes to the Rocky Ridge trailhead for an afternoon portrait climb with sweeping coast views, then return to Carmel or Big Sur Village for dinner. Highway 1 closures from winter rockslides happen unpredictably, so confirm road status with Caltrans within 48 hours of the date.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

California State Parks Big Sur Sector requires a Special Event Permit for every wedding regardless of size. Tiered pricing: $150 for a 1 hour elopement up to 25 guests with no props, $300 for a 2 hour event up to 50 guests with no decor, $400 for a 3 hour wedding up to 50 guests with props allowed. Each tier includes a $250 non refundable admin fee. Apply at least 60 days out (later applications add fees). Certificate of insurance typically required. Contact 831 624 3407 or fwilson@parks.ca.gov to start the process. Garrapata has no formal facilities (no restrooms, no water, no rangers on site), so build the day around vehicle staging at the Highway 1 pullouts.

A Note on Light

Sunrise hits the bluffs and the offshore arches first and lights everything in gold from roughly 6:30am to 8:30am depending on season. Late afternoon sun rakes across the ridge and through the wildflowers from April through July. Marine layer fog from May through August can blank out the entire coast until 11am or later but usually clears for a sunset window. Spring (March through May) puts the bluffs in carpets of California poppies, lupine, and ice plant blooms. Fall (September through November) brings the cleanest skies and most reliable photography conditions of the year.

Ceremony Spots at Garrapata State Park

• Rocky Ridge Trail Overlook — Elevated ridge with panoramic views of the Big Sur coastline, Soberanes Point, and the Pacific stretching to the horizon
• Garrapata Beach — Dramatic rocky cove beach with sea arches, tide pools, and rugged Big Sur coastline framing the scene