Big Sur

Day Two of a Five Day Drive from LA to Coos Bay

Morro Bay turned out to be an excellent jumping-off point for one of the finest sea cliff drives on the globe — the seventy miles of the Pacific Coast Highway through the Big Sur. I am here counting the southern "start" of Big Sur as at San Carpoforo Creek, but the cliff scenery actually starts five miles before then.

CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, San Simeon Beach, Coastal beach and rocks [Ask for #271.027.]


CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, San Simeon Beach, Coastal beach and rocks [Ask for #271.027.]
The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, just a couple of miles south of Big Sur, gave us amazing views of the seals.

CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, Elephant seals [Ask for #271.029.]


CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, Elephant seals [Ask for #271.029.]
CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, Elephant seals [Ask for #271.031.]


CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, Elephant seals [Ask for #271.031.]


CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, Elephant seals [Ask for #271.032.]


CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, Elephant seals [Ask for #271.032.]
From the south, the Big Sur begins dramatically.

CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, Northern Coast, View toward the Santa Lucia Range and the Big Sur [Ask for #271.036.]


CA: South Coast Region, San Luis Obispo County, Pacific Coast Area, San Simeon, Northern Coast, View toward the Santa Lucia Range and the Big Sur [Ask for #271.036.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Southern Section, Viaduct near Salmon Creek [Ask for #271.040.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Southern Section, Viaduct near Salmon Creek [Ask for #271.040.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Cape San Martin, View from Willow Creek towards the cape. Kelp. [Ask for #271.042.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Cape San Martin, View from Willow Creek towards the cape. Kelp. [Ask for #271.042.]
After 22 miles the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road switchbacks roughly up the cliffs to your right, giving you a series of spectacular views down on the highway hugging the sea cliffs.

CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Mill Creek Area, The Pacific Coast Highway viewed from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road as it climbs above Mill Creek Valley [Ask for #271.071.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Mill Creek Area, The Pacific Coast Highway viewed from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road as it climbs above Mill Creek Valley [Ask for #271.071.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Mill Creek Area, The Pacific Coast Highway viewed from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road as it climbs above Mill Creek Valley [Ask for #271.074.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Mill Creek Area, The Pacific Coast Highway viewed from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road as it climbs above Mill Creek Valley [Ask for #271.074.]
Big Creek Bridge is architecturally similar to, and as stunning as, its more famous cousin on the northern end, Bixby Creek Bridge. This view, from Gamboa Point, is reached at the 30 mile mark.

CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, View from Gamboa Point over China Beach towards Big Creek Bridge [Ask for #271.051.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, View from Gamboa Point over China Beach towards Big Creek Bridge [Ask for #271.051.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, View from Gamboa Point over China Beach towards Big Creek Bridge [Ask for #271.047.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, View from Gamboa Point over China Beach towards Big Creek Bridge [Ask for #271.047.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, View of Big Creek Bridge from the Pacific Coast Highway [Ask for #271.052.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, View of Big Creek Bridge from the Pacific Coast Highway [Ask for #271.052.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, View of Big Creek Bridge from the Pacific Coast Highway [Ask for #271.053.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, View of Big Creek Bridge from the Pacific Coast Highway [Ask for #271.053.]
I am not too sure where I took this, only that it's between the Big Creek Bridge and McWay Cove.

CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, Cliff view from along the Pacific Coast Highway [Ask for #271.070.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Big Creek Area, Cliff view from along the Pacific Coast Highway [Ask for #271.070.]
McWay Cove is the scenic jewel of Big Sur, and possibly the most beautiful waterfall anywhere. Part of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, it's located about 40 miles up. You'll never have any problems with people straying into your pictures; no on is allowed on the beach.

CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Waterfall flows over cliffs onto beach [Ask for #271.066.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Waterfall flows over cliffs onto beach [Ask for #271.066.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Waterfall flows over cliffs onto beach [Ask for #271.062.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Waterfall flows over cliffs onto beach [Ask for #271.062.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Waterfall flows over cliffs onto beach [Ask for #271.067.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Waterfall flows over cliffs onto beach [Ask for #271.067.]
CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Waterfall flows over cliffs onto beach [Ask for #271.063.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Waterfall flows over cliffs onto beach [Ask for #271.063.]
The far north end of Big Sur.

CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Little Sur River, The Pacific Coast Highway loops around the river's mouth, in fog [Ask for #271.077.]


CA: South Coast Region, Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur, Little Sur River, The Pacific Coast Highway loops around the river's mouth, in fog [Ask for #271.077.]

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