Pristine. The forests, beaches and mountains that spread between Monterey and Gorda are rough, yet pristine. One of the many ways Henry Miller described Big Sur was as, "An inviting land, but hard to conquer. It seeks to remain unspoiled, uninhabited by man."
Los Padres National Forest comprises most of the public land here, with the Ventana National Wilderness in the south as one of its most popular highlights. Among more than 260 miles of trails, visitors pass through forests of redwoods, big leaf maple and oak as well as low-brush chaparral. In addition to black bear and deer, mountain lion and bobcat roam the area. As the wildflowers bloom in spring, the temperature stays comfortable in the 70's.
The sheer rock cliffs that comprise much of the Big Sur coast make it often inaccessible. One exception is Andrew Molera State Park, where visitors enjoy about 4,800 acres of hiking and mountain biking as well as a beach for surfing, kayaking, and watching the whales go by.
Inland, beyond the dry Salinas Valley and Gabilan Range Mountains, you will find about 46,000 acres of steep hiking trails, caves and tall, craggy rocks in Pinnacles National Monument.
Many people forget about the great camping opportunities north and inland in Santa Clara county. For more rock formations, climbers flock to Castle Rock State Park, which consists of 3,800 acres of wilderness. A bit south, the steep canyons, ridgetops, forests and low grasslands of Henry W. Coe State Park's 80,000-plus acres also remain largely uncrowded.
Pristine. The forests, beaches and mountains that spread between Monterey and Gorda are rough, yet pristine. One of the many ways Henry Miller described Big Sur was as, "An inviting land, but hard to conquer. It seeks to remain unspoiled, uninhabited by man."