Mileage Road Log
from
the north,
0
.
from
the south.
..90
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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).
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03
……….
87
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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.
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China
Cove
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04
86
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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.
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06
– 10
80-84
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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.
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11
79
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Rocky Point
Famous cliffside restaurant with expansive views
of exquisite coast.
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13
77
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14
76
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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.
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An
essay “On the Bridge”
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15
75
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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.
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17
73
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19
71
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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.
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21
69
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Andrew Molera Beach State Park
Magnificent
park with awesome vistas. Trails for hikers,
mountain bikes and horseback riding. Limited trail
use for leashed dogs.
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22
67
23
66
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River
Inn and Village Shops
831 667 2700
Motel, bar, pub, gallery, restaurant
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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
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24
65
25
64
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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
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Fernwood
Bar, motel,
store, campground, cabins and restaurant
831 667 2422
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26
……..
64
Excellent picnic areas by the Big Sur River in the
redwoods.
Fire pits, tables and cooking grills. Supplies at
Lodge
park store
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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.
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Pfeiffer Falls
Call Pelican Network for
guided hikes 831 667 2025
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25
….
63
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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
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28
……..
62
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Sycamore Canyon Road – 2.1 miles to
Pfeiffer Beach
well camuflaged road to the famous beach
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29
61
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Loma Vista
Site of Big Sur Bakery, Spirit Garden and a gas
station.
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Big Sur Bakery – Excellent, imaginative
cuisine in an informal homesteader setting – and a
popular morning coffee and pastry house.
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Post Ranch and Ventana Inn
Two luxury resorts
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31
59
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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.
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31.5
58.5
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Henry Miller Memorial Library
831 667 2574
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32.5
57.5
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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
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34
56
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Coast Gallery
historic art gallery now for sale
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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.
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35
55
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Partington trailheads
In an easterly bend in the highway are
trailheads for Tan Bark Trail and Partington Cove
–
/trailguide.htm
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37
53
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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.
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41
49
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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.
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45
45
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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.
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50
40
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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
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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
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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.
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51
37
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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
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Sea stacks at point south of Limekiln Creek
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Entrance to Limekiln State Park
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51
36
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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.
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Vicente Flat Trail trailhead across the road from Kirk Creek
Campground.
Trail Heads into Los Padres National Forest and Ventana
Wilderness.
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54
35
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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
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58
31
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Pacific Valley
John Steinbeck’s mother taught at the school
here.
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59
30
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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.
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Plaskett Rock separates Sand Dollar Beach from Jade
Cove.
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54
35
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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
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58
31
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59
30
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62
28
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Willow Creek
2.2 miles south of Sand Dollar Beach. Day use
picnic area.
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63
27
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Treebones Resort
Gorda
Quaint store and lodging complex. Very
expensive gas station.
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75
15
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Ragged Point Inn
Accommodations in a lovely, woodsy, cliffside
setting. Restaurant and store
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85
5
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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
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90
0
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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.
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Arriving at Big Sur, Big Sur Lodge, and
checking in
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In Big Sur and to the Lodge –
and checking in
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(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.
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Places to go – Things to do
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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.
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Trails at Big Sur State
Park
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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.
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Pfeiffer Falls at the State Park
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Seven other options
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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.
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Photo by Margie
Whitnah
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Places to go – Things to
do
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• 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
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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
)
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Partington Sunset
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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.
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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.
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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/
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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.
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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.
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California condors are successfully re-introduced to
the wild
on the Big Sur Coast.
Photo by Margie Whitnah
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What to read
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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.
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Galleries
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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.
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