 Pack Your Bags, beautiful Big Sur Scenic Coast Highway 1 is STILL OPEN!!!
It is ironic that the Big Sur Coast’s best weather comes after the busy summer season is over and the crowds are gone and the only people there to enjoy the beautiful days are the locals and a few privileged others. Winter began here December 21st and typically during the fall/winter, an area of high pressure builds at the surface over the Great Basin (the area between the Sierra Nevada range to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east) and begins to dominate Central California coastal weather. These conditions most often produce northeasterly (offshore) winds, especially during the night and morning hours. These winds bring the relatively dry air to our shoreline, pushing the marine layer far out to sea, which produces sparkling, clear visibility along our beaches and the warmest temperatures of the year. The tourists desert the Big Sur Coast after summer leaving it sometimes eerily peaceful but with the lack of rains and relatively warm days and nights it hardly feels like winter.
Even in the depth of winter there are some flowers in bloom to feed the humming birds and the wildlife doesn’t hibernate in Big Sur, you can see the gray whales heading south, sea otters and elephant seals have their pups and even a few monarch butterflies can be seen till the end of February. On weekends at 10AM the California State Parks puts on Ranger guided grey whale migration watching presentations, (831-667-2315). They meet at the vista point on Highway 1 at mile marker 37,1-mile north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park; also docents are also often available when viewing the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals.
Ragged Point
is always a must stop on any Big Sur road-trip to at vert least check the California coastal views. In the tiny village of San Simeon at the south end of the Big Sur Coast visit Sebastian’s General Store and Café who feature Hearst Ranch natural free range grass fed beef is getting a reputation for their great food with both tourists and locals alike and their latest addition a tasting room for Hearst Ranch Wines so now have a wine tasting room there! Do some exploring and have some adventures along with getting pampered at one of the fine resorts on the scenic Big Sur Coast Highway 1!
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; peal clothes off when it warms, pile them on when it starts to get cool or damp.
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A few trails east of Highway 1 are still closed including the Ewoldsen and Tanbark trails at Julia Pfeiffer Burns. |
INFORMATION ON TRAIL AND CAMPGROUND CLOSUERS:  GREAT NEWS !!!: It’s been over two years since the Big Sur fires and most trails and campgrounds are back open. The exceptions which are campgrounds closed are Ventana Campground; Limekiln Creek California State Park's is open and assigning campsites on a first come first serve basis.
The long awaited trail to Sykes Hot Springs is back open as is the Pfeiffer Falls Trail. In fact most trails that had closed because of the fires have now reopen including Tanbark but Ewoldsen Trail remains closed at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park .
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.
With the rainy season underway the highway can close at anytime always check before you go: 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.
If the highway closure keeps you home use this photo gallery to help plan your next Big Sur PCH 1 vacation, take a virtual photo road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway 1 from San Simeon to Monterey.
 It's always a good idea to check Highway conditions; Pacific Coast Highway One, PCH 1, has recently been describe by Cal-Trans as geologically unstable and there is highway construction, delays and closures:
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| Slide Danger |
PCH 1, Pacific Coast Highway 1 -It is never really safe to travel the scenic Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway 1 during or soon after a rain storm and it is especially dangerous when there has been a lot of rain and the ground is saturated. Although rock slides can happen at any time the more saturated the ground and if there is currently or in the near future a rain storm, especially if it is heavy then the more likely flash flooding and severe rock slides are imminent. It only takes one small falling rock to ruin your day and a one large boulder can end your life! 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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