Outdoor Activities
Coast Ridge Rd - Terrace Creek
7.6 miles, 1,686 feet of elevation
This winding path takes you high above the ocean. This trail hikes up a fire road. It starts in the shade of the redwoods. Trail head is located on Ventana property which makes parking easy. Bring enough water, since this gets very hot. One of our absolute favorite hikes! https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/coast-ridge-road-to-terrace-creek-trail
Soberanes Point
(Garrapata State Park)
Beautiful views of the coast, crashing waves, and the Pacific ocean's mist rising to meet the sky. Park off to the side of Hwy 1. This place can get crowded but the walk down is easy and less than 1/2 mile.
Sur Point Lighthouse
Tours offered Saturdays and Sundays
Not only another beautiful spot to stop and admire the scenery, but also the site of a top secret Cold War era submarine detection facility using long distance acoustic listening equipment to track Soviet subs. This facility "heard" the implosion a Soviet submarine that sank thousands of miles away in the North Pacific, leading to its capture and one of the greatest intelligence operations in the history of the Cold War.
Monterey and Carmel
45 minute drive from Big Sur
We highly recommend taking a day trip to Carmel or Monterey. The drive down Highway 1 is stunning with plenty of small beaches and places to pull over to soak up the views. Monterey and Carmel have an array of shops, art galleries, cafe's and even The Monterey Aquarium!
Pfeiffer Beach
Home of the Keyhole
A sharp turn off of Hwy 1 leads to a winding road bringing you to one of the highlights of Big Sur. Get up close and personal with waves crashing into stoic rocks. This is a nice, easy-going walk on a sandy beach. Remember to bring $12 cash, as there is a ranger station as you come in the parking lot that requires payment.