Here in Mill Creek, Big Sur, there are many places that have the potential to transform and invigorate consciousness.

The creek near my house is always a fun place to go and see the flow of energy in action. In winter the little stream bubbles and sometimes even roars as it ducks through the culvert under the road.

The continuous change of the current shows the power of nature to transform every bit of energy into something else.

This small tributary will eventually flow into Mill Creek, a large stream that lies at the bottom of the greenest forest in this entire section of California. It will first traverse the north side of the basin, then join the other two tributaries, which lie at the foot of steep hills covered in wild brush.

At the foot of the hill it joins the Pacific, on a beach that is the ideal launch site for local fishermen. There is a picnic area and great views of the coast to the north. Following a small path that passes over a rock on the south side of the cove, it is possible to reach a larger cove with a beach.

Rarely visited, what a lovely place!

The willows at the base of the hill grow thick, and the creek is no longer a quiet stream, but a torrent of wonderfully clean water. There are small valleys in the willows that offer shade in the summer. The refreshing smell of false nettle adds to the beauty.

Lying in the willows and listening to the sound of the creek mixed with the sounds and smells of the ocean is a true paradise.

Big Sur and its ever-changing wild energy are like no other.

Here is a great example of how nature provides a clean and spontaneous flow of energy for the creative spirit.

The colors in the forest are fresh and change every day. Mill Creek contains many types of wildflowers and wild sages. Unique microclimates are found on each little ridge. The southern slope is much hotter and drier than the northern, and the character of each area is defined by its pattern of sun and shade. Little unknown sights abound. Hidden worlds await… different types of mushrooms also grow here, depending on the weather conditions.

Here in the mountains, we like to say that if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. That is certainly the case here at Mill Creek. The great mass of Cone Peak to the north defines the weather pattern, and in wet years Mill Creek sometimes receives twice as much rain as anywhere else in the area.
The storms come in from the sea and are captured by the great mountain, circling through the basin twice or more before crossing the hill into the next valley to the west.

The redwood trees at Mill Creek are also a source of wonder. The forest contains a wide variety of trees, including oak, arbutus, pine, toyon, laurel, and many types of wildflowers.

There is a hiking trail that begins at the end of Nacimiento Road, the winding road that crosses the mountains between Highway 1 and Highway 101. The trailhead is about a half mile from the trailhead off Highway 1.