Big Sur Lodge Availability
Rates and Reservations

Book a cabin at Big Sur Lodge

call 831

238 1683

Big Sur Road

How to get to the Big Sur Lodge from the North and South of the most exciting and beautiful 90 highway miles in the world – California Highway One – Carmel to San Simeon or visa versa

More than 3 million visitors a year travel this road. This guide will show the highlights and mark the mileposts.

Coast Highway Guide for Pelican Network Guests at Big Sur Lodge –

Big Sur Lodge is in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Driving to the Lodge from the north, it’s 26 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel. Rio Road is the last traffic light on Highway One going south. To the right is the road to the Carmel Mission and to the left are Carmel Crossroads, Carmel Rancho and The Barnyard.

Driving from the south, the Lodge is 64 miles north of San Simeon, near the Hearst Castle entrance.

Or, driving to the Lodge from the east, it’s 65 miles from King City via Jolon and the winding Nacimiento-Ferguson Road to Coast Highway One, then north to Big Sur.

  

Mileage Road Log

from
the north,

0 .

from
the south.
..
90

Rio Road (Carmel)
The last traffic light going south.

Set your odometer here. Big Sur Lodge is 26 miles south of Rio Road.

Stock up tip
In the Crossroads Shopping Center are a major drug store, two chain grocery stores, a natural foods store and many speciality retail stores. (The Lodge has an excellent general store with picnic and backpacking equipment).

 

03 ……….

 

 

87

Point Lobos State Reserve. California’s state park system was conceived here.

Point Lobos State Reserve opens at 9:00 a.m. daily. The Reserve is open until 1/2 hour after sunset. Sunset time will be posted daily at the Entrance Station.

$8 fee per car, $4 per car for seniors, $3 per car for disabled, and entrance is free with pass for Lodge guests.

China Cove

04

86

Carmel Highlands

Going south, this is the last gas station and convenience store, Carmel General Store, before Big Sur River Valley – 20 miles further.

Always nice people and good coffee. Two dogs, generally one at a time. One, Causie, is very friendly. The other, Casey, is a bit aloof. Excellent selections of local wines.

Big Sur Trail Guide

Trails begin near here. Print it and take on the trails.

06 – 10

80-84

Garrapata State Park

No signs. Several trails at road turnouts.

Bridges for Garrapata and Granite Creeks.
It’s not easy to see the trailheads and their occasional signs, but the beach and mountain experiences are exceptional.

11

79

Rocky Point

Famous cliffside restaurant with expansive views of exquisite coast.

13

77

Rocky Creek Bridge

14

76

Bixby Creek Bridge

Driving south, an alternative route is the Old Coast Road, if this road is not wet. It goes inland 10 miles and back to the coast at Molera Beach State Park entrance. Before the Bixby Bridge in 1932, this was the road to the rest of Big Sur.


An essay “On the Bridge”

15

75

Hurricane Point

Scariest section of Highway One along this part of the California Coast.
The road is safe in good weather, but always be especially careful. Many tourists are so busy looking at the scenery, they’re not sufficiently conscious of other cars. They may also pull in and out of vista turnouts carelessly.

The name “hurricane” comes from the constant winds, often very strong.

17

73

Little Sur River

19

71

Point Sur Lightstation
Used from 1889 to 1974
A dark volcanic cone, marks the most significant break along the whole Big Sur coast. It signifies the northern border of the Big Sur coastal scrub zone. Also, it is home to an historic lighthouse.

21

69

 

Andrew Molera Beach State Park

Magnificent park with awesome vistas. Trails for hikers, mountain bikes and horseback riding. Limited trail use for leashed dogs.

 

 

22

67

 

 

23

66

 

 

River Inn and Village Shops
831 667 2700
Motel, bar, pub, gallery, restaurant

Big Sur Health Center
831 667 0184

 

Big Sur Campground and Cabins

Beautiful setting in old growth Redwood grove along the idyllic Big Sur River. Tent and RV camp sites. Interesting variety of cabins. Playground, showers, river tube rentals,

831 667 2322

 

 

24

65

 

 

25

64

Big Sur Public Library

Excellent branch of Monterey County Library. Great staff, lot of local literature, internett, open Wednesday and Thursday 2-6, Friday and Saturday 11-4
831 667 2537

 

Ripplewood
Store, cabins and restaurant

831 667 2242

Fernwood

Bar, motel, store, campground, cabins and restaurant
831 667 2422

26 …..

64

Excellent picnic areas by the Big Sur River in the redwoods.

Fire pits, tables and cooking grills. Supplies at Lodge park store

Big Sur Lodge
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Front desk: 831 667 2171

PelicanNetwork 831 238 1683

Redwoods, River and Mountains

Take time out for a hike:

Access the PelicanNetwork trail guide.

Pfeiffer Falls (photos at right)

Pfeiffer Redwood Creek trail to the falls is through a lively, dense old redwood grove. It is an instructive trail. You can see how a redwood forest makes its own soil and understory. The creek cuts through alluvial deposits, and you can see how the valley built up over the eons.
Big Sur Lodge Gift Shop and Park Store
At the Lodge there is an excellent restaurant, Expresso Bar, Ice Cream Bar, Wine and Beer bar on the River Deck with satellite sports TV.


Pfeiffer Falls

Call Pelican Network for guided hikes 831 667 2025

25 ….

63

Big Sur Station

Visitor Center and Multi Agency Facility.
Offices for State Parks, California Department of Transportation and U.S. Forest Service

831 667 2715

Trailhead for Pine Ridge Trail into Ventana Wilderness

28 ……..

62

Sycamore Canyon Road – 2.1 miles to Pfeiffer Beach

well camuflaged road to the famous beach

29

 

61

Loma Vista
Site of Big Sur Bakery, Spirit Garden and a gas station.

Big Sur Bakery – Excellent, imaginative cuisine in an informal homesteader setting – and a popular morning coffee and pastry house.

Post Ranch and Ventana Inn

Two luxury resorts

31

59

Nepenthe Inn
A timeless wonder. This place sedately evokes all the epocs of Big Sur cultural history. And it is a perch onto the Pacific and Santa Lucia Mountains. It’s a restaurant of rare architectural perfection and ambiance of unprecedented taste. Downstairs is a gift, book, clothes, chime and jewelry shop of quintessential Big Sur flavor.

831 667 2394

Hawthorne Gallery
831 667 3200

A family of fine and innovative artists in a unique building that is must-see Big Sur experience.

Across the road from the southern entrance to Nepenthe.

31.5

58.5

Henry Miller Memorial Library

831 667 2574

32.5

57.5

Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn
An ensemble of Norweigian barns and cabins, Deetjen’s straddles Castro Canyon in a storybook setting. The restaurant is legendary for its delightful breakfasts. And, now with its chef Domingo Santamaria, it is becoming a dinner house legend amidst a quaint candlelit and wood fire glow. Filled with Big Sur memorabilia and pioneer spirit, Deetjen’s is always a memory in the making.

831 667 2377

34

56

 

Coast Gallery
historic art gallery now for sale

Native yuccas on the Big Sur coast symbolize the extraordinary biodiversity in this mountain range. They luxuriate here in the last outpost of Redwoods.


Big Sur sunsets are to live for.

35

55

Partington trailheads
In an easterly bend in the highway are trailheads for Tan Bark Trail and Partington Cove –
/trailguide.htm

37

53

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

70 foot waterfal into McWay cove is a major Big Sur attraction. Short walk on Overlook Trail is a good leg stretcher.

41

49

Esalen Institute
World famous for self improvement retreats and mineral baths.

831 667 3000

Enlightenment and human potential workshops. Famous for clothing optional hot tubs – which are open to the public in a very restricted window.

Visits by reservation only.

45

45

Big Creek
Large, double-arched bridge.
University of California ecological reserve, Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve covers off shore kelp beds and extends up two canyons, Big Creek and Devils. This is a research site that is open to the public only one weekend in May each year.

50

40

Lucia
Restaurant, store and lodging. Views of granite cliff lined chalky cove and endless Pacific Ocean
Entrance to New Camoldoli Monastery is nearby on the south.

831 667 2391

 

Near Lucia is the sign designation of the original Sea Otter Refuge.The legislative campaign for the refuge was led by California Senator Fred Farr who established a family refuge at Point 16


Lucia Lodge

 


Entrance at Highway to New Camoldoli Hermatige – across from Kirk Creek campground


Nacimiento-Fergusson Road leads to San Antonio Valley, Fort Hunter Liggett, Mission San Antonio de Padua, US 101 and King City .

The Mission has a great museum and exhibits on the grounds of the Salinan Indian era.

51

 

 

 

 

37

 

Limekiln
State Park with intriguing trails in a lovely redwood forest. Beautiful trails into redwood forests – and a magnificent waterfall.

Fascinating kiln history, beach and campground, varrying plant communities from the beach to the alpine reaches of Cone Peak – a sceene of great biological diversity.

33 tent camping sites – and a few 24 ft and under RV sites on the beach. Trailers ok up to 15 ft. Showers.

1 800 444 7275

Sea stacks at point south of Limekiln Creek


Entrance to Limekiln State Park

51

 

 

 

 

 

36


Kirk Creek Campground

Kirk Creek Campground
and Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, the way to the coast from Highway 101.

Dramatic coastal setting. 33 unreserved campsites. Fire pits and cooking grills. RVs up to 30 feet ok. Restrooms.

Mission San Antonio de Padua is near Nacimiento Road as an inholding enclave on Fort Hunter-Liggett. Driving in the Army base requires vehicle registration and insurance.

 


Vicente Flat Trail trailhead across the road from Kirk Creek Campground.

Trail Heads into Los Padres National Forest and Ventana Wilderness.

 

54

 

35

Mill Creek – Forest Service picnic area. Great ocean setting. Picnic tables, cooking grills. Open 10 am to 6 pm. Vault toilets.

4.5 mi south of Lucia

58

31

 

 

Pacific Valley
John Steinbeck’s mother taught at the school here.

 

 

59

30

Sand Dollar Beach – U.S. Forest Service Picnic Area

Longest accessible sandy beach on Big Sur Coast. Grassy meadow, ocean bluffs, trails. Pets ok on leash. Day use fee.


Plaskett Rock separates Sand Dollar Beach from Jade Cove.

54

35

 

 

Plaskett Creek Campground

45 first-come sites with tables, fire rings and grills. Hiker and bike sites. Open all year. 831 385 5434

11.7 mi south of Lucia

Jade Cove

Half mile south of Sand Dollar Beach.

“Steep trail leads down theserpentine cliff face to several rocky coves. A popular diving area; a two-ton jade boulder has been reported nearby.” Coastal Commission

58

31

59

30

 

 

 

62

28

Willow Creek

2.2 miles south of Sand Dollar Beach. Day use picnic area.

 

63

27


Treebones Resort

Gorda
Quaint store and lodging complex. Very expensive gas station.

75

15

Ragged Point Inn
Accommodations in a lovely, woodsy, cliffside setting. Restaurant and store

 

85

5

Piedras Blancas Viewing Area
Look for the great white rock blocks in the sea close to shore. The white comes from eons of guano.

Walk out on the bluffs to see the amazing Elephant Seals

90

0

 

San Simeon
Entrance to Hearst Castle. Good State Park historical center. Bed and Breakfast Inn and historic Hearst pier in State Park on West side of highway.

The real thrill is on the beach with 12,000 + elephant seals mating and birthing. Best in winter months.

 

Arriving at Big Sur, Big Sur Lodge, and checking in

In Big Sur and to the Lodge – and checking in

(The following description is oriented for an arrival from the North.)

Along Highway One you will see three signs for the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on your right. The middle one has the Big Sur Lodge sign.

That is the entrance to the Park. Drive in and bear right passing the sign “For Lodge Guests,” so you don’t check in with the rangers at the entrance kiosk.

Park at the Lodge (the building where you will find the lobby, store, gift shop, and restaurant), and go to the front desk.

There you will get directions to your cottage.

Check-in time is 4 p.m., but you can arrive early. The desk staff will get you set up for whatever time you and they agree to get you into your cottage.

When you first arrive at the front desk, the staff will give you a pass to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (where the Lodge is) which also allows admission and parking at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Point Lobos State Reserve and Limekiln State Park.

Places to go – Things to do

If you are early, you may want to begin to enjoy some real genuine Big Sur experiences.

Very near the Lodge is a very good Interpretative Center of local natural history.

Trails at Big Sur State Park

At the Pfeiffer Big SurState Park, there are several great trails. The one to the Pfeiffer Falls is enchanting, and moderate and very gratifying, through some very old redwoods. The Restaurant at the Lodge is very pleasant.

The PelicanNetwork Trail Guide

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park trail maps are available in the shop at the Lodge.


Pfeiffer Falls at the State Park

Seven other options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven other options

1) Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Take a 15 minute drive 11 miles south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. You may see condors on the way to the park.

• Make a pleasant one-quarter mile walk to the McWay Falls overlook. A rare and spectacular sight. Some visitors have even seen gray whales in the cove.

Family of migrating California Gray Whales seeks refuge in McWay Cove from predatory Orcas.

Photo by Margie Whitnah

Places to go – Things to do

• For some exquisite coastal views, hike over to the South Gardens environmental campsites, south of the Falls trail.

• To see a truly magical redwood forest, canyon and creek scene, go into the park’s picnic ground. There is a short hike into the canyon to another waterfall.

These three little treks are brief in distance, but monumental in beauty.

There is a longer hike, the Ewoldsen Trail, about 2 1/2 miles up to the ridge that overlooks the Pacific. It crosses streams, goes through meadows and is moderately steep in places. (A page in PelicanNetwork about Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in underway – for a preview, go to: /jpb.statepark.htm )


McWay Falls in McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

2) Partington Canyon

This phenomenal hiking place to both a lovely cove and redwood is a little less than 2 miles north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park entrance by the McWay Falls (36 miles south of Rio Road and a little more than 9 miles south of The Lodge). You can read a full description at: /bigsur.hikes.htm

and ( /partington.canyon.htm )


Partington Sunset

3) Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn

Deetjen’s is 30 miles south of Carmel and just 4 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur and your Lodge. Deetjen’s is a very quaint pioneer scene in a picturesque redwood creek canyon with exceptional meals, so it’s a must to make reservations – call (831) 667-2378.

 

4) Phoenix Gift Shop at Nepenthe

The Phoenix has a good book selection, many interesting stoneware and other products . A patio at Nepenthe above the shop has an invigorating view that is powerfully “Big Sur” and hosts a good place for refreshments. This is just three miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and your lodge.

5) Henry Miller Library

This Big Sur destination is tucked behind a wooden fence at Anderson Creek Canyon in a redwood grove on the east side of road at about 30 miles south of Carmel. It is a little less than 4 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Big Sur Lodge. It is an idyllic setting for a library, but it is more of a bookstore and community center.

Henry Miller Library champions the works of the great American author, artist and Big Sur resident. This non-profit organization features an art gallery with a treasure of fine books, art and history of the area. Many items, including rare books, are for sale. Open Thursday – Sunday 11 am – 6pm. In summertime, open every day except Tuesdays. Available for special events. (831) 667-2574.

http://www.henrymiller.org/

6) Pfeiffer Beach

Pfeiffer Beach is always extraordinary, but sometimes windy. Driving 1.1 miles south of the Lodge, make a sharp right turn (only the second one from the Lodge and State Park) at the sign for “Narrow Road” “No Motor Homes or RVs.” That is the unmarked Sycamore Canyon Road. Please heed this, the road is narrow and windy. Drive 2.1 miles to the Beach. Parking fee is $5.

7) Andrew Molera State Park

North of the Park and the Village, is Molera Beach State Park. It is 21.5 miles south of Carmel and four miles north of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and your Lodge. You will find a nature interpretive center operated by the Ventana Wilderness Society (who manage the condor releases), a riding stable for renting horseback rides, the park’s historical museum at the old ranch house, and many miles of great hiking trails. One trail is down to the beach and lagoon of the mouth of the Big Sur River, another is up the bluff along the south side of the park with some of the most incredible views ever to be seen.


California condors are successfully re-introduced to the wild
on the Big Sur Coast
.
Photo by Margie Whitnah

What to read

 

What to read

A great enhancement for your trip could be a couple of books. We recommend The Natural History of Big Sur by Henson and Usner, University of California Press, and A Wild Coast, and Lonely by Rosalind Sharpe Wall, Wide World Publishing.

Galleries

Coast Gallery, built with redwood water tanks and home to a prominent candlemaker, is host to important artists and is sponsor of a summer artists-in-action-program. Henry Miller was not only a great writer, but a prolific and good artist, as the standing exhibit here will show. Nice gift shop and cafe. 7 miles south of the Lodge.

Nepenthe’s Phoenix Shop has many art objects for sale.

The Hawthorne Gallery is on the inland side of the southern entrance to Nepenthe.

Ventana Spa Inn shows good local interest art, including paintings by Kip Stuart, the architect and designer of furniture for Smith & Hawken.

 Limekiln State Park

What fascinating and rewarding experiences this state park readily offers in the heart of Big Sur. Limekiln State Park is located 36 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, centered two miles south of Lucia and two miles north of the eastbound Nacimiento-Ferguson Road turnoff.

PelicanNetwork Home Page

/