When stopping at a viewpoint be sure that your vehicle is entirely off the roadway. You can stop to admire the scenery at one of the many dirt turnouts and vista points along the route. When driving on Highway 1 through Big Sur, be alert for traffic conditions, especially during summer vacation periods and holiday weekends, when the northern portion of the highway can be congested. It ends near San Simeon (where the Hearst Castle is located). It was anglicized as Big Sur by European settlers in 1915.īig Sur begins a few miles south of Carmel and includes the small settlements of Palo Colorado Canyon, Big Sur Village (between Andrew Molera State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park), Posts, Lucia, and Gorda. The name during the Spanish colonial period was 'el país grande del sur', meaning 'the big country of the south', referring to the vast relatively unexplored region south of the city of Monterey, which was the capital of Alta California under both Spain and Mexico. The area is great for outdoor recreation and contains several state parks, two national wilderness areas, and is part of the Los Padres National Forest, all of which include hiking trails. While the region has no specific borders, most residents consider Big Sur to be bounded on the north by Malpaso Creek, approximately 129 miles south of San Francisco, and on the south by San Carpóforo Canyon, 244 miles north of Los Angeles. It contains vast wildernesses and breathtaking views as it stretches 72 miles along the rugged Pacific Ocean. Follow Caltrans or local media for updates.īig Sur coastline with glimpse of Bixby Bridge, Highway 1īig Sur is a region on the Central Coast of California. Travel between the two sections is possible via a lengthy detour on US Highway 101. Note: Numerous rockslides have closed Highway 1 from Ragged Point to Lime Creek, with no estimated time of reopening.

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