This California Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime

When you think of epic American road trips, a few immediately spring to mind. Getting your kicks on Route 66, famously nicknamed “Main Street America,” is a must-do. For Atlantic Coast adventures, the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway is a two-day smorgasbord of fishing villages and beaches. And in the West, of course, there’s the rugged and remarkably scenic Big Sur Coast Highway.

Originally proposed as a route along the Central California coast as far back as the late 1800s, construction of the Big Sur Coast Highway finally started in 1919 and finished 18 years later in 1937. An amazing feat of American ingenuity and engineering, some 70,000 pounds of dynamite were needed to blast through granite cliffs, while 33 bridges had to be built across once impassable canyons. Today, this section of the iconic California State Route 1 is so important that it has been designated a National Scenic Byway, welcoming millions of visitors annually to navigate countless curves and switchbacks while enjoying spectacular Pacific Ocean views that seem to stretch on forever.

The Northern Gateway: Carmel to Bixby Bridge

The route kicks off at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, three miles south of Carmel. This 550-acre reserve has six miles of trails that wind through Monterey cypress groves and along rocky promontories where, if you’re lucky, you might see sea otters floating among the kelp forests. One of the easiest, the China Cove Trail leads to a protected beach where harbor seals sun themselves on the rocks. The Bird Island Trail is also easy and has handy telescopes to spot cormorants, brown pelicans, and, during migration seasons, gray whales passing close to shore.

Eight miles further south, the much larger Garrapata State Park’s Soberanes Point Trail climbs to whale-watching viewpoints 200 feet above the surf. The inland portion of the park presents an entirely different landscape, with the Rocky Ridge Trail ascending through grasslands and redwood groves to peaks reaching 1,920 feet. If you can handle the climb, the panoramic views from Point Lobos to Point Sur are simply spectacular.

The star attraction, however, is Bixby Creek Bridge. Completed in 1932, this reinforced concrete arch spans 714 feet, with its main arch stretching 320 feet across a canyon that’s 260 feet deep. It was a tough slog for construction crews who had to haul 45,000 sacks of cement up scaffolding made from 300,000 board feet of Douglas fir. The bridge's location on a curve adds to its appeal, and a pullout on the north side allows you to appreciate both the engineering achievement and the views.

The Heart Of Big Sur

Just six miles south of Bixby Bridge and you’ll find yourself in Point Sur State Historic Park. This unique volcanic rock formation is connected to the mainland via a sand tombolo, providing access to the 361-foot summit with its lighthouse. Built in 1889, it’s still operational and accessible via interesting guided tours that include the lighthouse keeper's quarters, the original Fresnel lens, and displays about the shipwrecks that prompted the lighthouse's construction.

Big Sur’s largest state park, Andrew Molera State Park, is ideal for hiking. The easy two-mile Beach Trail follows the Big Sur River to a mile-long beach where the river meets the ocean. Prefer something more challenging? More ambitious hikers should tackle the eight-mile Ridge Trail loop, climbing through meadows where California condors with their 10-foot wingspans can be spotted (visit the park's Discovery Center for fascinating exhibits on these endangered birds).

Next up, make a stop at the small community of Big Sur Village. Here, the highway briefly leaves the coast to wind through redwood groves along the Big Sur River valley. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park encompasses 1,006 acres of this inland forest, with the Valley View Trail winding through redwoods and oak woodlands to overlooks of Point Sur and the coastline. The park's Pfeiffer Falls Trail leads to a 60-foot waterfall that flows year-round, fed by mountain springs.

Hidden Beaches And Dramatic Coastline

A narrow, unsigned road near Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park descends through dense sycamore trees to Pfeiffer Beach, famous for its purple sand created by manganese garnet particles eroding from the surrounding cliffs. The beach's most amazing feature, Keyhole Arch, frames the setting sun during the winter months when the angle aligns perfectly for an excellent photo.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is where you’ll find McWay Falls. Another must-see while traveling Big Sur, it drops 80 feet directly onto a beach in a quiet cove and is best seen from the half-mile McWay Waterfall Overlook Trail, the only legal viewpoint, as the beach below remains closed to preserve its unspoiled state.

Continuing south, the highway passes through Lucia, home to the historic Lucia Lodge with its dramatic clifftop ocean views. Ten miles from Lucia, Limekiln State Park preserves four massive lime kilns built in the 1880s that are accessible by a short trail.

Southern Reaches: San Simeon and Cambria

The highway enters San Luis Obispo County at San Carpóforo Creek, 71 miles south of Carmel Highlands. Here, at Ragged Point, the road reaches its highest elevation at 800 feet. The Ragged Point Inn & Resort's clifftop location makes it a must-stay getaway destination, with views extending 20 miles in clear weather. From here, a steep trail switchbacks 300 feet down to a beautiful black sand beach (it can be tiring, but it is certainly worth the effort).

Fifteen miles south, the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is home to up to 17,000 northern elephant seals. These massive creatures reach up to 16 feet in length and weigh 5,000 pounds, and can be seen breeding, giving birth, and molting on the beaches, depending on the season. Viewing areas with interpretive panels line a four-mile stretch of coastline here, allowing close-up views from boardwalks just yards from the seals.

Five miles inland from San Simeon, Hearst Castle was once a home of William Randolph Hearst and is well-worth a visit. Built between 1919 and 1947, this massive 165-room estate includes 127 acres of gardens, terraces, and pools, including the massive Neptune Pool with its Greek temple façade. Guided tours are available.

Like all good things, this remarkably scenic byway has to come to an end. That occurs in charming Cambria, a seaside village that’s split in two along Main Street. East Village preserves buildings from the 1860s when Cambria thrived as a whaling and mining town, while across Highway 1, Moonstone Beach boasts a mile-long boardwalk above tidepools and drift logs. It’s the perfect spot to sit down and reflect on your epic drive along the Big Sur Coast Highway.

The Final Word

Of all of America’s many scenic byways, none can offer the kind of spectacular coastal scenery you’ll experience with a drive along the Big Sur Coast Highway. Every mile of this epic drive features the kind of eye-candy scenery that attracts millions of travelers each and every year to tackle this winding scenic route. Whether you allocate a few days or a week or two, Central California’s Big Sur Coast Highway delivers an unbeatable American road trip adventure.