Big Sur is an awesome stretch of spectacular coastline in central California, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise over 5,000 feet from the ocean. The area is characterized by craggy coastal head lands backed by mountains and carved canyons. The area¿s topography, as well as its wilderness and national forest designations, have kept Big Sur unspoiled.
Day Hikes Around Big Sur includes a cross-section of 80 excellent hikes
lying along the coastline and throughout the interior mountains. These hikes accommodate every level of hiking experience, ranging from easy beach strolls to elevated climbs with far reaching views. The trails have been chosen for their scenery, variety, and ability to be hiked within a day. Highlights include isolated beaches, eroded coves with tide pools, rugged marine terraces, redwood and Monterey cypress groves, canyons, waterfalls dropping into mossy glens, oak studded meadows, lighthouses, and numerous overlooks from the ocean to the mountain peaks. Undoubtedly, these hikes include some of the best scenery in Big Sur and California.
Each hike includes its own map, accurate driving and hiking directions, and a quick overview of distance/time/elevation. The summaries allow hikers to choose a trail appropriate to their ability and desire. This 184-page book is a comprehensive hiker¿s guide to the Big Sur area.
Companion hiking guides, also by Stone, include Day Hikes Around Monterey & Carmel and Day Hikes On the California Central Coast.
Big Sur and its Trails 7
Map of the Hikes 10
Point Lobos State Reserve
Map of Point Lobos State Reserve 12
1. Granite Point and Moss Cove Trails 14
2. Whalers Knoll Trail 15
3. North Shore Trail 18
4. Cypress Grove Trail 20
5. Sea Lion Point Trail 22
6. Lace Lichen¿Mound Meadow¿Pine Ridge Loop 24
7. South Shore Trail 26
8. Bird Island Trail¿China Cove, Pelican Point and Gibson Beach 28
9. South Plateau¿Mound Meadow Loop 30
Garrapata State Park
10. Soberanes Canyon Trail 32
11. Rocky Ridge¿Soberanes Canyon Loop 34
12. Soberanes Point Trails 36
13. Garrapata Beach and Bluff Trail 38
Rocky Point to Point Sur ¿ Palo Colorado Road ¿ Old Coast Road
14. Rocky Point 40
15. Skinner Ridge Trail to overlook 42
16. Mount Carmel 44
17. Little Sur River Camp 46
18. Pico Blanco Road to Little Sur River 48
19. Old Coast Road¿Northern Access 50
20. Old Coast Road¿Southern Access 51
21. Point Sur Lightstation State Historic Park 54
Andrew Molera State Park
Map of Andrew Molera State Park 56
22. Headslands Trail to Molera Point 58
23. Creamery Meadow¿Molera Beach Loop 60
24. Ridge Trail¿Hidden Trail¿River Trail Loop 62
25. Bluffs¿Panorama¿Ridge Loop 64
26. Bobcat Trail to Coyote Flat 66
27. Bobcat¿River Loop 68
28. East Molera Trail 70
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Map of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park 72
29. Liewald Flat 74
30. Buzzard¿s Roost 76
31. Pfeiffer Falls¿Valley View Loop 78
32. Nature Trail 80
33. Gorge Trail 82
34. Oak Grove Trail 84
35. Mount Manuel Trail 86
36. Pine Ridge Trail to Terrace Creek 88
37. Coast Ridge Road to Terrace Creek Trail 89
38. Pfeiffer Beach 92
f039. De Angulo Trail to Partington Ridge 94
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Map of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park 96
40. Partington Cove 98
41. Tanbark Trail to Tin House 100
42. Fire Road Trail to Tin House 101
43. McWay Falls and Saddle Rock 104
44. Canyon Trail to Canyon Falls 106
45. Ewoldsen Trail 108
Garland Ranch Regional Park
46. Waterfall¿Mesa Loop 110
47. Snivley¿s Ridge¿Sky Loop 112
48. Garzas Canyon¿Redwood Canyon¿Terrace Loop 114
49. Veeder¿East Ridge¿Terrace Loop 115
50. Laureles¿Vasquez¿Spring Loop 118
Interior Big Sur: Carmel Valley Road ¿ Tassajara Road ¿ Arroyo Seco Road
51. Carmel River Trail to Danish Creek¿Los Padres Reservoir 120
52. Big Pine Trail to Danish Creek Camp¿Los Padres Reservoir 121
53. Anastasia Trail to Cahoon Spring 124
54. Pine Ridge Trail to Church Creek Divide 126
55. Horse Pasture Trail to Horse Pasture Camp 128
56. Horse Pasture Trail to¿The Narrows at Tassajara Creek 130
57. Rocky Creek Trail to Rocky Creek Camp 132
58. Santa Lucia Loop 134
Limekiln State Parkr59. Hare Creek Trail 136
60. Waterfall Trail 138
61. Redwood Trail to the Limekilns 140
62. Kirk Creek Beach 142
Interior Big Sur: Nacimiento¿Ferguson Road ¿ Central Coast Ridge Road
63. Vicente Flat Trail from Kirk Creek Campground 144
64. Vicente Flat Trail from Cone Peak Road 145
65. San Antonio Trail to Fresno Camp 148
66. Cone Peak Trail 150
67. North Coast Ridge Trail to Cook Spring Camp 152
68. Mill Creek Trail 154
69. Pacific Valley Flats 156
70. Sand Dollar Beach 158
71. Jade Cove and Plaskett Rock 160
72. Willow Creek Trail 162
Silver Peak Wilderness
Map of Silver Peak Wilderness 164
73. Cruickshank Trail to Upper Cruickshank Camp 166
74. Redwood Gulch 168
75. Soda Springs and Lower Buckeye Trails 170
76. Buckeye Trail to Buckeye Camp 171
77. Salmon Creek Falls via Salmon Creek Trail 174
78. Spruce Creek Trail to Spruce and Estrella Camps 176
South Big Sur Coast
79. Nature and Cliffside Trails¿Ragged Point Inn 178
80. Ragged Point 180