Location: Follows the California coastline, from Carmel-by-the-Sea to the Southern Redwood Botanical Area in the Los Padres National Forest
Length: 72 miles (116 km)
Time To Allow: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Description/Highlights/Points of Interest

Travel the route that hugs the California coast, providing access to austere, windswept cypress trees, fog-shrouded cliffs and the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean. Views include rugged canyons, towering redwoods, sea lions and other marine life.


Suggested Itinerary

Begin your journey at Point Lobos, a state nature preserve just south of Carmel, with a unique natural history. Views of wildlife and nature abound here, with marine mammals, birds and the crash of the ocean waves on the rocks and the sand. Immediately ahead lies the Carmel Highlands, with several beautiful hotels and restaurants. Beyond lies the coast highway, and the famous hills, cliffs and shorelines of Big Sur.

Just south of Carmel Highlands, you will arrive at a turnout in the road, enjoy the first views of the rocky beach below and cypress trees. The Pacific is off to the right, with the golden hillsides up to the Santa Lucia mountains on the left and to the east. As you continue south, you will pass through Garrapata State Park, with its fascinating natural and cultural history.

From there, travel across the Rocky Creek Bridge. Its central arch is 239 feet long (72.8 m), carrying the straight road 150 feet (45.7 m) above the bottom of the canyon and mouth of Rocky Creek. Soon after Rocky Creek you'll arrive at the famous Bixby Bridge. From the turnout before the bridge, you can see south down the coast to the crags of Hurricane Point, from which the bridge can be better viewed looking toward the north. A marvel of engineering, and one of the most photographed sites on the coast highway, the Bixby Bridge is 320 feet long and 260 feet high, over a canyon of a hundred feet in width. Construction was complicated by the normal high winds funneling up and down the canyon, wave action in the footings below and the remoteness of the construction site. Construction took place in 1931 and 1932.

Next comes Hurricane Point. The unrelenting winds for which the location is named almost pull the door of the car off as you open it. In the distance, you'll see a sand beach, and farther on is a view of Point Sur and its lighthouse. You can get out of the car to look back to the north at Bixby Bridge. As you wind your way down the road to Point Sur, you'll see a series of white sand dunes to the left. We have almost arrived at the Point Sur Naval Station, with its lighthouse and facilities. There is a sandy beach and spit of sand leading up to the peninsula.

After Point Sur, drive along the road through Andrew Moleras State Park and look ahead to see the gentle hills of the Big Sur Valley. Cypress trees line the road like sentinels.

The Big Sur coast is the most southerly habitat of the majestic coast redwoods, which range from the farthest north of California down to here. While they're much more sparse here than in the thick forests of northern California, the Big Sur Valley has several stands of them. You will soon arrive at the entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, with redwood groves, hiking trails up into the mountains and camping. Just south of the park is the town of Big Sur. There is plenty of lodging here if you would like to make this a two-day trip. A tenth of a mile (.16 km) south of Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur, you'll come to the Henry Miller Memorial Library. The famous and controversial author spent much of his life in the Big Sur area, and works by and about him are sold here.

Getting back onto the highway, you'll notice the the road will become quite curvy and winding. It will be like that for about 40 miles (64 km). After driving through the canyon you'll have a clear view on the coast to the south, heading down toward the Coast Gallery, a fifth of a mile (.3 km) ahead, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

As you round the last curve before the Coast Gallery, you'll see some of the loveliest views on the California coast. Stop at the the Coast Gallery, and stretch your legs, and don't forget to see the artwork and crafts here. There is also a restaurant and a gallery devoted to the artist and author Henry Miller.

Back on the road, you'll head into Salmon Creek Canyon. This is one of the deepest canyons on the highway. Just ahead, you'll be able to see the ranger station and a trail heads up into the hills and up to Salmon Creek Falls. In addition to the falls of Salmon Creek, this location is notable as the southern extent of coast redwoods.

As you leave the Los Padres National Forest you will shortly be crossing the county line from Monterey to San Luis Obispo County. Although this point marks the end of the recognized Big Sur Coast Highway, be sure to leave time for a visit to San Simeon, roughly half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is most famous for William Randolph Hearst's monumental home. Be sure to see the pier which was used to construct Hearst Castle, high on the hill. An evening tour of the castle will be the perfect end to a spectacular day of one of the most scenic byways in the United States.

The following organizations offer itineraries near Route 1, Big Sur Coast Highway:

California
Tauck World Discovery
Explore California's finest sights including lovely vineyards, the vast unspoiled beauty of Yosemite National Park, the quaint charms of Carmel-by-the-Sea, and the glamorous allure of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.