Continue north from Morro Bay, and all of a sudden, you’re in the mountains of Big Sur. The first pull-off after you begin your climb up from sea level provides a few great views.
You’re obliged to take some pictures here, even though you’ll have many more opportunities, just up the Pacific Coast Highway.
A little further…
From here on to Monterrey, the Pacific Coast Highway clings to the hillside, curving in and out into every canyon. On almost every outside curve, you’ll find room to pull off and take in the view.
Once every few years, heavy rains will wash sections of Highway 1 into the Pacific ocean. You’ll constantly see signs of where the highway has been rebuilt or reinforced.
At about this point, I began to realize I had a problem: the sun was way too low in the sky, and I had much too far to travel. There are almost no motels in the Big Sur range. So, I started picking up the pace.
Near Nacimiento Road
Just a few miles before the turn-off to Nacimiento Road, you’ll find a wide pull-off area on the ocean side of the road. The parking area just off the Pacific Coast Highway provides easy access to some great views of the Big Sur Mountains and coastline.
Notice that small beach down below? That’s our next stop. A small road drops down from the parking area, underneath the Hwy. 1 bridge, down to the pebble-lined shore.
The tide can be a little tricky here, and I almost ended up wet, as the waves crashed towards me. Had a big one hit the beach, I would have had nowhere to go.
Another shot from the shore.
One of my favorite pictures from the trip.
Note: This trip was first published in 2004.