...hard to find,
but worth the effort

Private property and Big Sur's steep terrain makes most of its coastline inaccessible to the public. Fortunately for the visitor, however, several State Park and U.S. Forest Service beaches are open to the public all year. The following beaches are recommended due to easy access and breath-taking scenery:

Download our local Big Sur Visitors Guide in Adobe PDF.

Andrew Molera State Park	(831) 667-1112 Located 23 miles south of Carmel, Andrew Molera State Park is the largest state park on the Big Sur Coast. A wide, scenic, mile-long path leads to a sandy beach that is sheltered from the wind by a large bluff to the north. The path itself is as much a delight as the beach, taking you through a meadow filled with wildflowers and sycamore trees, offering fine views of the coastal mountain range to the east. The path parallels the Big Sur River, which enters the sea adjacent to Molera's beach. Aerial photos of Andrew Molera State Park Andrew Molera State Park is famous with bird watchers and the Ventana Wildlife Society has their office there. From this office several birding studies of the area are conducted in which the public is invited to participate. Click Here to view a bird checklist of the Andrew Molera State Park are
Garrapata State Beach	(831) 624-4909 The park has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Pacific. The park offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails running from ocean beaches into dense redwood groves. The park also features outstanding coastal headlands at Soberanes Point. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters frequent the coastal waters and California gray whales pass close by during their yearly migration. Aerial photos of Garrapata State Beach Garrapata State Beach Brochure (PDF)
Mill Creek	Mill Creek is a Day Use Area. No overnight camping. There is no fee at this site. Aerial photographs of Mill Creek.
Jade Cove	Jade Cove provides outstanding opportunities for rock-hounding and diving for jade. The beach is a designated hang-glider site. Jade Cove is a day use area. No overnight camping. Aerial photographs of Jade Cove
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park	(831) 667-1112 No beach access. This state park is named after Julia Pfeiffer Burns, a well respected pioneer woman in the Big Sur country. The park stretches from the Big Sur coastline into nearby 3,000-foot ridges. It features redwood, tan oak, madrone, chaparral, and an 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the ocean from the Overlook Trail. A panoramic view of the ocean and miles of rugged coastline is available from the higher elevations along the trails east of Highway 1. Location-Directions: The park is 37 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, and 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur. Aerial photos of JP Burns State Park.
Partington Cove	Partington Cove holds a special piece of Big Sur history. Much of the tan bark and lumber was shipped out of this cove. There is a tunnel that goes through the ridgeline that opens into a beautiful cove which still has parts of the shipping tools bolted to the rocks. In addition, hiking inland from Partington Cove into Partington Canyon is a great hike! And the Tan Bark Trail is also a great and exhilerating climb. Aerial photographs of Partington Cove
Pfeiffer Beach	Pfeiffer Beach is located in the heart of Big Sur and is one of the favorite beachs in all of Big Sur. Pfeiffer Beach is a Day Use Area, no overnight camping. Hours 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM 7 days a week. $10.00 entrance fee. Aerial photographs of Pfeiffer Beach
Plaskett Creek	From a large parking lot across the Highway One from Plaskett Creek Campground, a well-built stairway leads to a crescent-shaped beach that's protected, like Andrew Molera State Park's beach, from the wind by bluffs. Sand Dollar offers visitors the widest expanse of sand along the Big Sur Coast, and possibly the mildest weather. Standing on the beach and looking northeast, towering 5,155-foot Cone Peak is visible. For an interesting side trip, visit Jade Cove, which is located two miles south of Sand Dollar Beach. Big Sur's south coast is famous for its jade reserves, and Jade Cove is a popular spot for beachcombers and rockhounds. Aerial photographs of Plaskett Creek
Point Lobos	(831) 624-4909 Point Lobos contains headlands, coves and rolling meadows. The offshore area forms one of the richest underwater habitats in the world popular with divers. Wildlife includes seals, sea lions, sea otters and migrating gray whales (from December to May). Thousands of seabirds also make the reserve their home. Hiking trails follow the shoreline and lead to hidden coves. The area used to be the home of a turn-of -the-century whaling and abalone industry. A small cabin from that era still remains on Whaler's Cove, near Carmel. Location-Directions On the central coast of California in Monterey County. The entrance is located three miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. Aerial Photographs and Virtual Panoramas available on their website.
Sand Dollar Beach	Sand Dollar Beach is one of the most beautiful and scenic beachs on the Big Sur coast. Sand Dollar Beach is the longest strand of sandy beach along the Big Sur coast. Great surfing, exploring and fishing are here within walking distance of Plaskett Creek campground, located directly across Hwy. 1. Sand Dollar Beach is a Day Use Area, no overnight camping. Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m / 7 days $10.00 entrance fee per vehicle. Campers staying at Kirk Creek and Plaskett Creek, Ponderosa and Nacimiento Campgrounds still receive FREE DAY USE at Sand Dollar Beach. Aerial Photos of Sand Dollar State Beach
Willow Creek	Willow Creek Picnic Area and Beach. This rocky Big Sur beach is a favore for surfers, photographers and anglers. Willow Creek is a Day Use Area, no overnight camping. There is no fee at this site. Aerial photographs of Willow Creek.

Download our local Big Sur Visitors Guide in Adobe PDF.

PFEIFFER BEACH - Big Sur's most popular coastal access point, Pfeiffer Beach is hard to find if you've never been to it before. The trick is locating unmarked Sycamore Canyon Road. Here's a tip - Sycamore Canyon Road is the only paved, ungated road west of Highway One between the Big Sur post office and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Once you find the turnout, make a very sharp turn. Then follow the road for about two miles until it ends. Drive carefully - this is narrow and winding road. It is unsuitable for trailer traffic. From a large parking area at the end of the road, a short, well-marked path leads to the beach. Cliffs tower above this breathtaking stretch of sand, and a large arch-shaped rock formation just off-shore makes for some dazzling sunsets.
Aerial photos of Pfeiffer Beach.

Pfeiffer Beach -- a great place for sunsets. Photo by Stan Russell ©2001

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park stretches from the Big Sur coastline into nearby 3,000-foot ridges. The park features redwood, tan oak, madrone, chaparral, and an 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the ocean from the Overlook Trail. A panoramic view of the ocean and miles of rugged coastline is available from the higher elevations along the trails east of Highway 1. The park is 37 miles south of Carmel on Highway One; 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. (not to be confused with Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park). Aerial photos of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

Garrapata State Beach (All photos: ©Stan Russell)

Aerial photographs of Jade Cove, Garrapata State Beach, Partington Cove, Mill Creek, Plaskett Creek, Pfeiffer Beach, Sand Dollar Beach.

Wondering where all these beachs are in relationship to one another? Click Here to view a map of the Big Sur Coast.

If you walk inland from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park waterfall lookout area you'll find wooded areas like this as well as some of the best coastal views in Big Sur.

©Photo by Brock Bradford