Big Sur California PCH 1 Road Trip Vacation Drive Photo Mile 28 Willow Creek Beach Big Sur California

Click to enlarge this picture of the Willow Creek Beach day use area

Information: Willow Creek Beautiful Beach Access: When coming from the south Willow Creek is a welcome easy beach access the first since the abandoned Piedras Blancas Motel about 20 long miles south. It is nice after so many miles to get down close to the Pacific Ocean; the surf ocean fishing, beachcombing and rock-hounding are sometimes good at Willow Creek Beach and the surrounding countryside and vistas are gorgeous. There are public restrooms and sometimes picnic tables. Willow Creek Beach day use area provides an opportunity for rock-hounding and diving for jade; you might find some of that highly prized green rock if you go at the right time, know what to look for and how to find Big Sur Jade .
Near Points of Interest: Willow Creek Beach is a 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. Willow Creek 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 of Sand Dollar Beach Picnic Area 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: For jade hunting, tide-pooling, and rock-hoping the rocky beach at Willow Creek Beach is fine but just 2 miles north if you are looking for a beach to play and lay 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: My 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) and the closest restaurant to the south is the Whale Watcher Cafe at Gorda Springs or Treebones Big Sur Yurt Resort both of which are less than 1 mile.
Near Hotel Lodgings & Resorts: Lucia Lodge 11 miles ahead to the north and the south both Gorda Springs Cottages and Treebones Big Sur Yurt Resort are less than 1 mile away, Treebones is the closest look for the sign just off the Pacific Coast Highway on the dirt turnoff road.
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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