Los Padres Dam

Drive up Carmel Valley Road, turn right onto Cachagua Road. Climb steeply over Tularcitos Ridge, then descend steeply to the Carmel River and Cachagua Creek valley. Near the bottom of the hill after 5.9 miles, turn sharp right onto Nason Road. Cross several speed bumps to County Park on the right, where the good pavement ends. Continue uphill past the ranger station and park in a dirt lot where there is a fence with locked vehicle gate. Enter the unlocked hiker's gate and walk on a dirt road .5 mile to Los Padres Dam.

From Rafting the Upper Carmel River: http://cacreeks.com/carmel3.htm
Photo of Los Padres Dam Spillway from tsallam's photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/annevoi/with/4855467583/