Guide to Big Sur, California
Save for Later
Share
Guide to Big Sur, California
Exploring Somewhere
Big Sur is a must visit location for any California road trip. Stretching out over 70 miles along Highway 1, Big Sur is home to rocky cliffs, stunning beaches, towering redwoods, an iconic bridge, and gorgeous sweeping views of the central California coastline. Big Sur is also home to ten state parks with numerous hiking and backpacking trails as well as plenty of campsites just off the coast. It's central location also makes it a perfect destination as part of a larger trip - it's just over 5 hours from Los Angeles and 2.5 hours from San Francisco.
This guide includes:
⛰ Guides to the State Parks within Big Sur, and information on our favorite hikes
🚗 Points of interest along Highway 1
⛺️ Places to stay
🍽 Restaurants to try
✨ Updates as we find new spots at no additional cost
Updated ago
1
Share
State Parks
Organized from North to South
Point Lobos
@exploringsomewhere
Point Lobos is often referred to as "The Crown Jewel of the CA State Park System" due to the stunning views where the turquoise water meets the rugged coastline. Entry is $10 per car, and the parking lot fills up fast, however there are numerous free spots outside the entrance if you don't mind a little extra walking. Point Lobos offers panoramic views of the coastline, trails through the old cypress trees, and plenty of opportunities to spot seals, sea lions, and sea otters
Our favorite hikes include:
🥾 Point Lobos Loop Trail - 6.4 mi roundtrip following the coast
🥾 Cypress Grove Trail - 0.9 mi roundtrip through the beautiful twisted Cypress trees
🥾 Bird Island Trail - 0.8 mi roundtrip around the China Cove coastline out to the viewpoint for the appropriately named Bird Island
Add to
Details
Garrapata State Park
@exploringsomewhere
Stretching 2 miles along the coast and encompassing the canyons and mountains further inland, Garrapata offers some of our favorite hiking in Big Sur. There are numerous shorter coastal hikes as well as longer loops, so anyone visiting will be able to enjoy the views. Parking is free but can be tricky, there are limited spots along Highway 1 so be sure to slow down as you're approaching so you don't miss any spots!
Our favorite hikes include:
🥾 Soberanes Canyon to Rocky Ridge Loop - 4.5 mi loop offering a birds eye view of the park, does include sections of steeper elevation gain
🥾 Soberanes Point and Whale Peak Loop - 1.6 mi roundtrip following the coastline including a short climb up the steps to the top of Whale Peak
🥾 Garrapata Bluff Trail - 0.5 mi out and back, the best hike to do if your limited on time or don't feel like walking too far
Add to
Details
Andrew Molera State Park
@exploringsomewhere
This park is one of the larger parks in Big Sur, but also one of the more underdeveloped. The hiking is spectacular but the trails tend to be longer, so if you are limited on time we recommend sticking with some of the smaller state parks. Parking is $10 per car.
Our favorite hikes include:
🥾 Creamery Meadow, Panorama, and Bluffs Loop - 8 mi loop considered to be one of the best in Big Sur. There is a river crossing at the beginning of the trail, but it's usually very easy unless there has been a lot of rain
🥾 Andrew Molera Beach Trail to Creamery Meadow Loop - 2.1 mi loop through picturesque meadows stopping at a beautiful beach
🥾 East Molera Trail to Post Summit - 9.1 mi challenging trek up Post Summit that rewards you with sweeping views of the stunning mountains and coastline
Add to
Details
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
@exploringsomewhere
This state park is located in the redwood forests of Big Sur, and offers lots of camping and lodging options. There are many hiking and biking trails in the forest and along the Big Sur River, however there is no beach access in this state park. Day use parking is $10, but there is some parking available off Highway 1 just outside the gate.
Our favorite hikes include:
🥾 Pfeiffer Falls Trail - 1.6 mi roundtrip to a small but peaceful waterfall
🥾 Big Sur River Gorge Trail - 1.1 mi roundtrip following Big Sur River, a perfect place to enjoy the forest or swim in the stream in the summer
🥾 Big Sur Sykes Hot Springs Loop - 32.8 mi multiday loop trail, this is a very popular backpacking route for 2-3 night trips
Add to
Details
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
@exploringsomewhere
The biggest draw is the 80 foot waterfall ending on a stunning protected beach, however this state park also offers some of the best camping spots as well as the perfect place to watch the gray whales migrate in the winter. Day use fee is $10 but there is limited free parking along Highway 1.
Our favorite trails include:
🥾 Overlook Trail - 0.4 mi short walk to the overlook for the iconic McWay Falls, a must do for anyone visiting Big Sur!
🥾 Partington Cove Trail - 1.1 mi roundtrip with incredible views of the protected cove
Add to
Details
Limekiln State Park
@exploringsomewhere
This State Park is currently closed due to storm damage.
Home to 4 abandoned limekilns from the late 1800s, this park offers hikes through the redwoods, along creeks and waterfalls, and access to Limekiln State Beach
Our favorite trail is:
🥾 Hare Creek and Limekiln Creek Trail - 2.2 mi roundtrip through the redwood forest, with stops to explore the waterfall and abandoned limekilns
Add to
Details
Buy to unlock full guide
Access all the local insights and recommendations from @exploringsomewhere when you purchase this guide.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Exploring Somewhere
Hi there! We're Shawn and Kelly, welcome to our page!
After a semester studying abroad in Europe, I (Kelly) fell in love with traveling, but also with the art of planning trips. With limited time in each country I visited, I took pride in my ability to research and curate the perfect 2-5 day trips that hit all the major landmarks while also incorporating other activities that myself or my friends would enjoy to make our trips that much more special.
About 2 years ago we moved from the east coast to start our adventure in Los Angeles, and fell in love with the beautiful state of California. Since then we've been able to make the most our passion for traveling, adventuring, and exploring the outdoors.
As a work from home game designer and a travel physical therapist, we have been able to spend a lot of our free time enjoying all that California has to offer. From the numerous national parks to the iconic coastlines and beach towns, we've become well versed in how to make the most of any day in CA.
We've also been slowly making our way through our bucket list of other destinations, both here and abroad.
As adventure enthusiasts we are constantly looking forward to our next trip, and due to our somewhat limited time off we're also passionate about making the most of each day we have. We love to inspire others to get out and travel, and are happy to be able to share our knowledge and itineraries to help make that possible!
For inquiries about custom itineraries, please email us at
exploring.somewhere.ig@gmail.com
What's included
Digital Map
Fully interactive, digital map for finding places nearby
24 places
24 hand-picked places with notes from the creator
Format
Guide
Guides typically include detailed information and how-to’s about a destination as well as suggested places to try.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What is Thatch?
Thatch is an online marketplace that provides instant access to thousands of vetted local experts and premium travel guides - making it the easiest and most affordable way to take high quality trips with less stress.
For travel creators (tastemakers, travel advisors, influencers and local experts) Thatch makes it easy to curate, publish, and sell digital travel guides, itineraries and personalized planning services.
What if I’m not satisfied with my purchase?
How do I access my purchased guides?
Can I access my guide offline?
How often are guides updated?
Can I request a personalized guide or itinerary?
Can I sell my own travel guides and itineraries?
Save for Later
Share
