WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BIG SUR CALIFORNIA? Now is truly a great time to vacation on the Big Sur California Coast! Although offseason is usually my favorite time to visit currently there isn’t the historical seasonal crowds of tourists at the attractions and lodging facilities or the typical heavy summer tourist season traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway 1; bad for Big Sur business economy but good for the vacationers! Big Sur businesses are hungry for your tourist dollars and anxious to provide you with a memorable Big Sur vacationer experience!
HOW TO DRESS WHEN YOU GO TO BIG SUR CALIFORNIA: The Big Sur area has a large variety of microclimates; weather is generally mild on the coast but it changes quickly and often so it is best to come prepared and layering is the best way to dress for Big Sur any season.
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Numerous trails east of Highway 1 are still closed including the Ewoldsen, Limekiln, Pfeiffer Falls (an alternate trial to Pfeiffer Falls, Valley View Trail is open) and Tanbark trails. |
INFO ON CLOSUERS FROM FIRE DAMAGE:  GREAT NEWS !!!: after being closed 2 years from 2008 fire damage; the Limekiln Creek Falls Trail is still closed but other trails and the Limekiln Creek California State Park itself are open and they now have first-come-first-serve campsites available!!! ( Limekiln State Park Reopening News Article Monterey Harold ) Their official announcement 07/02/2010 reads: ” As of July 2, 2010 Limekiln SP will reopen for hiking and camping. The Falls Trail will remain closed, but the Limekiln Trail and the Hare Trail are open. Campsites are available on a first come first serve basis and will not be on the reservation system. Visitors should be aware that construction noise will be ongoing during the summer due to work on the bridge.”; for more information the Limekiln State Park telephone # 831-667-2403.
ALSO NOW REOPENED: The Pine Ridge Trail and U.S. Forestry Campgrounds along the way like Sykes Hot Springs Campground, Ventana Camp and Barlow Camp call the Big Sur Ranger Station (831) 667-2315 for more info.
Most Pacific Coast Highway 1 businesses are business-as-usual for tourist season 2010, unaffected by fire damage from the big 2008 wildfires, the majority of the damage was to the Big Sur backcountry and nature is helping the backcountry to recover but both the California State and U.S. Federal governments are short on funds and being slow to get the affected trails and campgrounds repaired and to reopen park closures. MORE GREAT NEWS! Escondido Campground has finally reopened: “May 28, the Escondido Campground on the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest will reopen to the public” the USDA recentally announced, (Forestry Announcement) the campground was closed for nearly two years following the 2008 Indians Fire. Before you start any adventure you may want to check online and double check by telephone that your desired trails and camping destinations are open and passable. Ventana Wilderness Alliance website is a great resource for all Big Sur area trails (V.W.A. Website) and can check for current conditions and closuers via telephone or in person at the Big Sur Ranger Station (831) 667-2315. Personnel are available during normal business hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (PST) and have information about hiking, camping, road conditions and more. While in Big Sur you can pick up trail maps, books, posters, and lots of other information. They also have public restrooms. At the more southern end of the Scenic Big Sur Highway you can get help and information via telephone or in person from the Pacific Valley Ranger Station (805)927-4211. The damage from the 2008 fires was relatively moderate along the Pacific Coast Highway but some interior portions of Pfeiffer Big Sur and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Parks are closed and Limekiln Creek State Park is under construction making reparations and also partially closed down, the Limekiln Creek Falls Trail is still closed but the Limekiln Trail and the Hare Trail are open; camping is now available at Limekiln Creek Campgroung on a first come first-serve-basis (07/02/2010); you can check for up-to-date information by calling Limekiln Creek State Park 831-667-2403.
TOURIST BUSINESS ARE SLOW NOW: The tourist traffic is down because of the global economy and so consequently Big Sur businesses could use your support more than usual now. Also because business has been slow and people are tight with their money many tourist oriented business have rolled back their prices to those not seen for many years. To sum the Big Sur tourism situation up, traffic and prices are both down now is in spite of the fact that this is the “busy season”: it is the perfect time to come and enjoy the beauty, serenity, and peace that define the Scenic Big Sur Coast.
Check Highway conditions, Pacific Coast Highway One, PCH 1, and other California Highway construction, delays or closures:
PCH 1, Pacific Coast Highway 1 -The Pacific Coast Highway 1 remains open unless it is closed by the California Department of Transportation; for current California Highway conditions call 1-800.427.7623, or on the internet you can check California Highway Conditions:
PCH 1 and all California Highway Conditions at the California Department of Transportation website Mobile.
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