Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Best time to visit Big Sur
- Things to consider before travelling to Big Sur
- Where to stay in Big Sur
- Our Big Sur Google Map
Introduction
When you think of Big Sur, the breathtaking Pacific coastline and the iconic Bixby Bridge probably come to mind. But guess what? This beautiful destination has so much more to offer than just those two things. So, buckle up because I’m about to take you on an adventure through our ultimate travel guide to Big Sur. In this guide, I’ll share our personal experiences, the places where we ate, where we stayed, and most importantly, all the must-see spots we visited during our trip.
Best time to visit Big Sur
Spring (March – May)
Spring is a fantastic time to visit! The hills are bursting with greenery, wildflowers are in full bloom, and the weather is just right. Not too hot, not too cold. The rain is less frequent than in winter, but you might still catch a few drops from earlier rains.
The only downside is that the mornings and evenings can be a bit chilly. Moreover there’s a chance of rain in early spring. But hey, that’s just spring for you!
Summer (June – August)
Why Visit: The weather is perfect for outdoor activities like hiking and exploring. You’ll get to enjoy stunning coastal views, and the long daylight hours make it ideal for exploring. Just be prepared for foggy mornings that usually clear up by midday.
Drawbacks: The peak tourist season means that the roads can get crowded, especially Highway 1, and accommodation prices tend to be higher.
Fall (September – November)
Why Visit: Fall in Big Sur is simply amazing! The weather is perfect – clear skies, warm temperatures, and fewer people around. September and October are especially great because the weather is usually calm and fog-free.
Drawbacks: By November, the weather can get a bit cooler, and the days start to get shorter.
Winter (December – February)
Why Visit: Winter is a magical time to visit! You’ll get to experience stunning coastal scenery with dramatic storms and fewer tourists. It’s the perfect time for a cozy cabin getaway and capturing all the rugged beauty of the coast.
Drawbacks: It can be a bit rainy and there’s a chance of landslides, which can cause road closures. But hey, the cooler temperatures make it a great time for hot cocoa and snuggling up indoors!
When did we visit Big Sur?
While summer is usually the best time for Big Sur, we decided to take a leap of faith and explore in November.
I’d say we were incredibly lucky. Even though the nights were chilly, the days were lovely and warm, with temperatures around 15 degrees. Why November you may ask? There was no summer traffic or crowds, so most of the places I visited were just and filled with nature. It was a peaceful and serene experience!
Things to consider before travelling to Big Sur
- Highway 1 is notorious for its spotty cell phone service, so it’s a good idea to download an offline map before you go.
- You could easily spend a few days here, but we managed to do it in one day.
- Big Sur can be a bit pricey, so keep that in mind if you’re on a tight budget.
- There’s a 10$ fee per vehicle that covers entrance at all the California State Parks, within the same day. Excluding those that are federally managed or privately managed such as Pfeiffer Beach.
- Drones are prohibited in the Big Sur Coast area.
- Highway 1 in Big Sur is closed at a few spots as of today, November 30, 2024. The landslides happened recently, and the closures are near Dolan Point (mile marker 30) and Regent’s Slide (mile marker 28). The northern parts of the highway are still open up to the Esalen Institute. The southern parts are accessible up to Lucia Lodge. But, you can’t drive the whole way right now. The weather conditions are tricky, and the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road might be dangerous. If you decide to take that route, be careful! (Last update November 30)
Where to stay in Big Sur
In the heart of Big Sur, Riverside Campground & Cabins offers a peaceful escape along the stunning Big Sur river. This charming place combines rustic camping with modern comfort, featuring cozy cabins and shaded campsites surrounded by enormous redwood trees. You can enjoy swimming in the river, relaxing by the fire pit, or having a picnic at the picnic tables. We chose this place because of its location, which is conveniently close to popular attractions like McWay Falls and Pfeiffer Beach, and local hiking trails.
One of the best things about this place was how well they communicated with us. They sent all the details by email and since we were arriving after 7 pm, the Late Arrival Protocol was sent to us leaving us relaxed and at ease. The Camp Store had a whiteboard with all the info we needed to access the cabin, connect to WiFi, quiet time (which I totally love), and other useful information. There’s no cell service in this part of Big Sur, but the campground had wifi! It was a lifesaver, especially since we needed to make the last few tweaks to our itinerary.
After 3 hours and 30 minutes in traffic and dark highways, with a quick stop at Walmart for a bathroom break, we finally arrived at our cabin. To our surprise, it was incredibly cozy and warm, making us feel right at home.
One full day itinerary in Big Sur
After a cozy night in that charming cabin in the woods, we woke up feeling refreshed and excited to explore Big Sur. Given our late arrival the day before, and the early start due to jet lag, we decided to make the most of our day by visiting the sights near the campgrounds, enjoying a delicious breakfast, returning to the cabin to complete check in and immediately check out and continuing our adventure.
We decided to kick things off by visiting the most southern spot on our itinerary and then head north to San Francisco. Our first stop of the day:
McWay Falls
McWay Falls is a breathtaking 25-meter waterfall tucked away in Julia Pfeiffer State Park, along the stunning Big Sur Coast of California. You’ve probably seen its photos on social media because it’s one of the world’s most iconic waterfalls, famous for its picturesque backdrop. Just a short walk from the parking lot, you’ll find the short trail that leads to the viewpoint, where you can take in the stunning views of the waterfall and the cove. Depending on the tide, the waterfall might be flowing directly into the ocean or onto the beach. If you have a preference for certain viewing conditions, check the tide schedules. Afternoons are the best time for photography because the sunlight illuminates the waterfall and the surrounding cliffs. Sunset is especially popular in this location. Right next to the McWay Falls parking lot you can find the Ewoldsen Trail.
Ewoldsen Trail
The Ewoldsen Trail in Big Sur is a must-visit for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts like us. It’s a beautiful hike with stunning views of the ocean, lush redwood forests, and waterfalls. The trail has some steep climbs and descents further on, but unfortunately, due to our itinerary and lack of time, we didn’t have enough time to finish the whole trail. However the short hike we did was amazing, always surrounded by the redwoods and a calming river stream. The entire loop is about 7.5 km long, but sadly, the eastern half of the loop is closed because of wildfires and flooding. (As now, 30 November 2024). Next on the list, Partington Cove.
Partington Cove
The Partington Cove is an easy 5-minute drive away from Ewoldsen. It’s a small, secluded cove tucked away in a rocky beach, accessible only by a short but steep hike. The roundtrip hike is about 1.6 kilometers. After parking your car on the side of the road, look out for the metal gate that marks the start of the trail. The trail leads you down into a forested area, where you’ll have two options:
The left path is the one we took. It crosses a wooden bridge and passes through a 18-meter tunnel, opening to Partington Cove. This tunnel dates back to the 1880s and was used to facilitate the transport of tanbark oak to ships anchored in the cove.
The right path leads to a rocky beach where Partington Creek meets the ocean and where you can enjoy the pacific coastal scenery. By now we got hungry and were ready for breakfast!
Kevah Cafe
A short 10-minute car ride away, we found our breakfast place, Kevah Cafe. Due to the early start of the day and the fact that is low season, there was not many options available. After stuffing ourselves with a hearty breakfast burrito and a granola bowl, we took in the beautiful views while warming ourselves with a steaming hot chai latte. Afterwards it was time to get back in the road and continue our adventure. Next destination: Buzzards Roost.
Buzzards Roost
Buzzards Roost is another beautiful trail in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. And guess what? It’s just a 2-minute drive away from where we were staying. The trail is about 5 kilometers long and took us almost an hour to complete the loop, walking at a leisurely pace, soaking in the nature, and taking our time to photograph the surroundings. Since we bought the permit at McWay Falls, we could access the park with the same permit, which also covers parking. The trail is mostly shaded, winding through a stunning grove of redwoods, oaks, and pines trees. At the top, you can see the forested interior of Big Sur and catch glimpses of the Pacific Ocean on clear days.
The trail does have some steep inclines, so it might be a bit challenging for some hikers. But hey, the best part? After reaching the summit and enjoying the ocean views, the downhill walk back was a breeze! If you keep your eyes on the forest floor while hiking, you might just catch the famous banana slug. These slimy creatures are only found in the moist forests of the Pacific Northwest, including California. They’re often called banana slugs because of their bright yellow color.
The Redwood Deck
Nothing like taking a breather, after a nice hike, at the Redwood Deck. Located at the heart of the park, here you can enjoy the peaceful environment and learn more about these gigantic trees. The Redwoods are among the tallest and oldest trees in the world reaching over 107 meters and living for more than 2000 years.
Pfeiffer Beach
About a 10-minute drive from the Buzzards Roost, we decided to take a rest and soak in the ocean breeze at Pfeiffer Beach. Since Pfeiffer Beach isn’t part of the California State Parks, we ended up paying $15 per vehicle. We were already there, so why not make the most of it, right?
So, this beach is famous for its purple sand, but we totally missed it. Maybe we were too busy or the strong winds just blew it away from our view. But let me tell you, this beach was absolutely stunning! It was surrounded by redwoods, cliffs of Santa Lucia, and the Big Sur River Gorge. It was the perfect place for us to relax for an hour or so. I grew up by the beach in the outskirts of Porto, and there’s nothing quite like a winter sunny day at the beach, this made me feel right at home.
Bixby Bridge
After some time soaking up the sun and enjoying a free exfoliation by the sandy wind, it was time to hit the road again. Our next stop was Bixby Bridge, probably the most famous bridge in California. It took us about 40 minutes to get there, driving through the empty Highway 1 and stopping here and there to take some photos. Bixby Bridge is one of the most photographed bridges in California, mainly because of its beautiful design and the stunning Pacific Ocean backdrop. We parked right next to the bridge, just on the side of the road. There were only a couple of couples nearby, which was perfect for taking photos without the summer crowds. We crossed the road and took some more photos of the opposite side, with the bridge and ocean in the background – it was just breathtaking!
Point Lobos
Our next stop was Point Lobos! We were starting to feel a bit worn out by the early start and jet lag. We therefore decided to take it easy and relax, but we still wanted to make the most of our trip and use our California State Park Permit to its fullest. So, we wandered around the park and had an amazing time. We didn’t see any sea lions on the Sea Lion Trail, but we saw a bunch of other wildlife, like pelicans and cormorants. It was so fascinating to walk around the park and see all the cliffs and small islands full of cormorants. It looked like rocks at first, but they were hundreds and hundreds of black birds!
For me, the highlight of the park was seeing a family of sea otters hanging out in a kelp forest. You can often see sea otters, harbor seals, and a variety of coastal birds in this park and if you’re lucky, you might even spot gray or humpback whales during their migration, which usually happens in winter. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is often called the “crown jewel” of the California State Park System due to its amazing marine life, beautiful coastline, and peaceful hiking trails.
Carmel-By-the-Sea
By now the sun was setting and we still had a 2-hour drive ahead. We decided to grab a bite to eat and hit the road again. Our next stop was Carmel-By-the-Sea a gorgeous coastal town. We didn’t have much time there, but we managed to be the last customers of the day at 5th Avenue Deli shop. After getting a teriyaki salmon, a spiral honey ham, and a couple of drinks, we made our way to the beachfront. We sat there for a bit, enjoying the delicious sandwiches and the sunset. There were a lot of people there, just like us, some eating, others reading books, playing with their dogs, or chatting with friends. It felt like we were living there for a moment.
The village had a very upscale vibe, not just because of the fancy cars and shops around, but also because of the people, the art galleries, and the houses that were from the early 20th century. I’d definitely come back to Monterey to explore more of Carmel-By-the-Sea, especially in August when the Monterey Car Week happens. The streets get filled with vintage, rare, and exotic cars, perfect for some aesthetic automotive photos.
A little Target run
The day couldn’t end without a Target run! Am I the only one who finds exploring foreign supermarkets a cultural experience? Maybe it’s because of my job, but browsing through the aisles of an foreigner supermarket feels exciting. If you’re like me and love binge-watching American series and movies, or scrolling through TikTok, you know that you’ll find all these products at Target. And let’s be honest, the US is the perfect place for it. So, every time I visit US and specially Us supermarkets, my wallet cries out in pain. This time, I tried to be good and behaved, mainly because Michiel was with me and he’s the financial responsible one. But guess what? We still ended up buying a cast iron pan that I have no idea how to use until this day.
Our Big Sur Google Map
Visited: November 2024.
