Big Sur California PCH 1 Vacation Road Trip Scenic Coast Vistas & Natural Beauty, Photo Ops Everywhere...

Click to enlarge this scenic vista picture from the Big Sur PCH 1 photo tour

Information Note: Attention: take some time planning your road trip on Big Sur PCH 1. This beautiful picture was taken here around mile 28 of this road trip but it’s not the scenic vista photo that is the point of this page. Scenic vistas and natural beauty like in this PCH 1 drive tour mile 28 photo is everywhere up here but where is this? It’s the middle of nowhere it’s about 40 miles south before any real civilization and about 60 miles north. Anything else besides the scenic beauty has to be hauled in a long way over the treacherous PCH 1 (it’s going to be expensive) or they will have to grow it or make it here in Big Sur (it’s going to be expensive). There isn’t even electricity out her they have to make their own! So pack plenty of batteries and storage space for your camera and depending on your budget most everything else you might want or need; tourist facilities and traveler services are spread out many many many miles apart and most everything if it is available is expensive.
Near Points of Interest: Willow Creek Beach is a close popular beach (and secret surf spot) destination for southern Big Sur Pacific Coastal Highway travelers and especially for visitors and guests at the two close by resorts Treebones Big Sur Yurt Resort and Gorda Springs Resort. Treebones Resort is at the heart of the Big Sur Coast and offers a virtual treasure trove of outdoor recreational sports opportunities. A good place to get maps, and information is the nearby Pacific Valley Station ( 3 miles north U.S. Forest Service telephone: 805-927-4211), they also have restrooms and public telephones and are located 1 mile north on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway 1. Many outdoor sports enthusiasts of all kinds make Limekiln State Park, Plaskett Creek Campground or Kirk Creek Campgrounds their base camps for their excursions and activities. The steep picturesque mountain country is popular with hang gliders and paragliders; the coastal bluffs above Jade Cove are a designated landing area. Nearby back country roads and trails lead back to the wilderness for 4x4, mountain bike and horseback riding backpacking and hiking fans. Pacific ocean fishermen, surfers and scuba divers all come here for the outdoor recreation opportunities as do kayakers and other small watercraft owners.
Beach Access and Day Use Picnic Areas: Willow Creek Beach offers the first public beach access for 20 miles since Piedras Blancas Motel; Ragged Point Inn nature trail is 13 miles south has beach access but it is a short strenuous hike. For jade hunting, tide-pooling, scuba diving, surfing and rock-hoping the close by rocky beach at Willow Creek Beach is fine but just 2 miles north if you are looking for a beach to play and lay on it's impossible to beat the long white sandy beach at Sand Dollar Beach but 7 miles north Mill Creek Picnic Ground which has a quite nice small picnic spot and easier access to the beach area another a close option 8 miles north is Kirk Creek Campground, it has a nice short trail that leads down to the beach which is a popular spot for surfing, rock fishing and beachcombing. Another mile north past Kirk Creek Campground is Limekiln State Park. One of the best beaches on the Big Sur coast is Pfeiffer State Beach it is 34.5 miles, the turnoff is at Sycamore Canyon; another great long white sandy Big Sur Beach which is popular is just 2 miles north of here is Sand Dollar Beach which provides easy access to a large picnic area with restrooms and barbecue grills on the top of the bluff, there is a nice long big sandy beach at the bottom of some steep stairs, Sand Dollar Day Use Pincnic Area and Beach is a little over 2 miles north.
Near places to Eat: Like its lodgings dinning at the Treebones Resort is a unique experience; the closest other restaurant is the Whale Watcher Cafe at Gorda Springs about 1 mile south. My all time favorite Big Sur Ocean View restaurant Nepenthe is 32 gorgeous miles north on the scenic PCH; Lucia is 12 miles north and has a very nice ocean view restaurant ;try the fish & chips.
Near Hotel Lodgings & Resorts: Lucia Lodge is 11 miles ahead to the north and about 1 mile south are Gorda Springs Cottages.
Near Campgrounds: One of my very favorite Big Sur Campgrounds, Plaskett Creek Campground, is just 2miles to the north. Less than 1 mile to the south and offering very unique camping is Treebones Big Sur Yurt Resort. The closest other campground is to the north 9 miles Kirk Creek Campground; the next closest one to the north would be Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park which is 26 miles north.
Other Facilities, Services or Activities: On the coast in this area the traveler services and tourist facilities are sparse and spread out and this won't change for the next 32 miles.

• First public beach access for 20 miles since Piedras Blancas Motel;
  Ragged Point Inn nature trail is 13 miles south has beach access but it is a short strenuous hike.
• Distance from San Simeon CA: 28 miles; Mileage to Carmel: 61 miles
• Scenic Big Sur Pacific Coast Highway 1 Mile Marker: MON 11.6
• Latitude & Longitude: Lat N 35° 53.561 Lon W 121° 27.649

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