Big Sur California PCH 1 Road Trip Vacation Drive Photo Mile 13.5 Ragged Point / San Carpoforo Creek Beach

Click to enlarge this picture of Ragged Point and San Carpoforo Beach from the Big Sur PCH 1 photo tour

Information: This rocky point sticks out and protrudes into the ocean farther than any of the other nearby geography so it can be seen up and down the coast for miles and has been a charted nautical navigation hazard for years. It is a piece of Hearst property that has long been a secret gathering place for locals but a recent conservation easement has made this point and the beach which extends all the way past San Carpoforo Creek accessible to the general public for their free use and exploration. So feel free to enjoy, there is parking just off the highway at the point or you can drive down to San Carpoforo Creek and park there.
Near Points of Interest: The elevation of the highway is about to start rising and many curvy beautiful scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1 lie ahead, take care danger ahead too. The next must-stop is only 1 ½ miles ahead, the wonderful Ragged Point Inn and Resort; a couple of miles north of the San Luis Obispo / Monterey County Line, 5½ miles north of here is the next must-stop the beautiful Salmon Creek Falls. The Piedras Blancas Light Station is just 4 ½ miles south; it is open at times for tours and it is worth your time you should consider a Piedras Blancas Light Station tour in your road trip plans. www.blm.gov/.../tours.html Telephone: (805) 927-2968; the Elephant Seal Rookery is 5½ miles south, the unbelievable historic residence of William Randolph Hearst (Hearst Castle®) and the quaint vintage old San Simeon Village is only 13½ miles south.
Beach Access and Day Use Picnic Areas: There is decent beach access right here or ½ miles ahead is San Carpoforo Creek Beach access.Just 1½ miles ahead Ragged Point Inn and Resort provides the ultimate southern Big Sur coast picnic venue; grab your basket, they have picnic tables or acres of green ocean view grass fields to spread your blanket, snacks and drinks also. If your are agile and physically fit the Ragged Point Resort has a beautiful fun way to get to the beach but to get to their private beach requires a short but strenuous hike on the Ragged Point Inn nature trail. On the Pacific Coast Highway about ½ miles north is San Carpoforo Creek Beach which is quite a bit easier to access; another nice option south 6 ½ miles is the abandoned Piedras Blancas Motel or if you are looking for a beautiful long white sandy beach and tourist facilities like restrooms, picnic tables, standing barbacue grills and more William Randolph Hearst State Beach is back south 13½ miles.
Near places to Eat: Just ahead the Ragged Point Inn and Resort offers many options for places to eat. The next place to the north is 12 ½ miles the Whale Watchers Café at Gorda Springs Resort just past Gorda is Treebones Big Sur Yurt Resort which also has a grill that does lunch and dinner. 13 ½miles back south is Sebastian's General Store and Cafe in old San Simeon; they feature Hearst Ranch free range grass fed beef and have a Hearst Ranch Wine tasting room too, taste the local flavors! Back south also about 13½ miles also are Hearst Castle California State Historical Monument concessions which offer fast food, hamburgers deli sandwiches, espresso and more...
Near Hotel Lodgings & Resorts: Ragged Point is just ahead, the next lodging to the north after that is 12½ miles the Gorda Springs Resort that has motel rooms and cabins; just past Gorda is Treebones Big Sur Yurt Resort. Back south 16½ miles is San Simeon Acres, motels line both side of the highway for about half a mile, of these Best Western Cavalier Oceanfront Resort is the best choice.
Near Campgrounds: 13½ miles north on PCH 1 is Treebones Yurt Resort camping south about 19½ miles is San Simeon Creek Campground.
Other Facilities, Services or Activities: The only thing around here is the Ragged Point Inn and Resort 1½ miles north, Ragged Point / San Carpoforo Creek Beach is really pretty isolated, not much for many miles in either direction; you should just stop at Ragged Point Inn and stay if you like rest, relaxation, great ocean views, good eats and nature, a good hike into the wilderness is just across the highway if you like. If get car sick easy you may want to turn around this is the just the beginning of dramatic curvy cliff-side scenic highway perched on the edge of America that has made Big Sur famous and provides the sort of road trip some people like myself just love!

• This is the beginning of the beautiful rugged coastline that defines the Big Sur coast!
• Distance from San Simeon CA: 13.5 miles; Mileage to Carmel: 72.5 miles
• Scenic Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway 1 Mile Marker: SLO 71.4
• Latitude & Longitude: Lat N 35° 45.619 Lon W 121° 19.677

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