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In the spectacular Big Sur area, this park is still relatively undeveloped and offers visitors great hiking, fishing and beachcombing.

Miles of trails wind through meadows, beaches and hilltops. A primitive walk-in trail camp, popular with hikers and bikers, is located approximately one third mile from the parking area.

Andrew Molera SP Trail Camp
There are 24 identified sites. Camping is allowed only at these sites with a maximum of four people per site. Registration will continue to be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The establishment of 24 sites with a limit of four people per site will allow for maximum availability of individual campsites, yet continue to meet the required carrying capacity. Due to these changes, however, group camping at Trail Camp is no longer feasible. Please contact the park for additional information.

 Located among majestic Coastal Redwood trees along the pristine Big Sur River, Big Sur Campground and Cabins offers camping and lodging with the emphasis on Family. Enjoy tent and RV camping on the forest floor as you watch the kids inner tube by in the cool water. Or pamper your family in one of several styles of cabins, from rustic tent cabins to fully equipped cabins with kitchens and fireplaces.

Big Sur Campground and Cabins offers a variety of great activities for the entire family. Enjoy an afternoon of swimming in the river, or take advantage of our inner tube rentals. Gaze in awe at the towering redwoods. Or enjoy the relaxation of sitting around the campfire, telling stories.

We offer basketball and volleyball, along with a great playground for the kids. And don't forget to line up for our happy-hour soft serve ice cream special during the summer camping season. You'll also find beach access and miles of spectacular hiking trails just a few minutes drive along the highway.  

Big Sur Lodge is located in ancient groves of redwood and oak trees in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on the central coast of California. Big Sur, California is famous for its pristine natural beauty and dramatic, rugged coastline and has been an inspiration to writers, artists, and seekers of a more simple life. Only a few minutes stroll to the Big Sur river, with gorgeous views of the Santa Lucia mountains, each of our 61 spacious cottage-style rooms has its own deck or porch.

Numerous hiking trails are located in the 1,006 acre park and a scenic highlight is Pfeiffer Falls trail which winds over rustic bridges across Pfeiffer Redwood Creek and ends at a 60-foot high waterfall. From this trail, some of the finest redwood groves in the Big Sur region can be viewed. Wildlife is abundant in the park and condors soar overhead, often stopping to rest in the top of a redwood tree right outside the entrance to the main lodge. Be sure to check out the Calendar of Events to see what's happening while you're in Big Sur.

Your stay at the Big Sur Lodge includes free access to the following local state parks: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Point Lobos State Reserve. More information about your complimentary state park pass.

Big Sur Lodge includes a Conference Center, (the only conference center in Big Sur) where you can have your Big Sur Wedding or corporate event. In addition, Big Sur lodge has a Restaurant, Gift Shop, Grocery Store and a seasonal heated swimming pool. Swimming is also available in the Big Sur River.

Big Sur Lodge is located 150 miles south of San Francisco and 311 miles north of Los Angeles. Big Sur Lodge is the ideal vacation resort or comfortable overnight stop as you tour the spectacular Central California Coast.

Nestled amid towering redwoods along the scenic Big Sur River, lies the historic Big Sur River Inn. Founded by one of Big Sur's most prominent pioneering families, it has been the site of fun family vacations and quiet getaways for many generations. Relax from the pressure of civilization on the sun-dapped deck by the Inn's inviting outdoor pool. Renew your spirits with great food and drink in the rustic dining room overlooking the lawn and river. Remember childhood dreams as you lie back in the soft, fragrant grass alongside the Big Sur River. The Big Sur River Inn is steeped in romance, history and 1930's nostalgia without sacrificing modern convenience and comfort. The Big Sur River Inn is a small country inn located in the heart of the Big Sur Valley alongside the beautiful Big Sur River. Located 25 miles south of Carmel, California on beautiful Highway 1, our cozy rooms deliver the essence of the Big Sur Experience.  In addition to our 20 guestrooms, we have a full service restaurant and bar featuring home-cooked meals made from the freshest organic and sustainably harvested ingredients available. Our General Store is a combination of a fresh, natural foods emporium and the best convenience store you ever visited. It is also home to the Big Sur Burrito Bar, featuring made-to your-order burritos, wraps and smoothies--great to pack up for a hike or a day at the beach. Enjoy our sun-drenched heated swimming pool or pull up a chair and relax by the river. Big Sur River Inn--the essence of the Big Sur experience.

Products and Services
-20 cozy guest rooms including 6 Riverside Suites
-High Speed Wireless Internet in all and public spaces
-Big Sur River Inn Restaurant and Bar serving Big Sur Country Cuisine
-Big Sur General Store featuring a full array of natural, organic and convenience items
-Big Sur Burrito Bar featuring burritos, wraps and smoothies
-The Schoolbus Café featuring fresh pastries, espresso and coffee drinks
-Outdoor heated swimming pool
-Heartbeat Gallery featuring handmade jewelry, clothing, art and photography
-Full Service Gas Station
-Massage services

Bottchers Gap Campground is located 8 miles inland at the end of Palo Colorado Road.

Palo Colorado Road winds its way up a narrow canyon through a Redwood grove, taking you to the campground at 2,100'. The campground is situated in a ridge saddle among Oak and Madrone trees. Bottchers Gap provides an excellent view of the Ventana Double Cones in the Santa Lucia Mountains within the Ventana Wilderness. The Skinner Ridge trailhead is located at the campground.

The campground has 12 units, each with a picnic table, fire ring and pedestal grill. Several of the sites are walk-in sites.

Fee: $12.00 per night
6-8 persons per site.

Bottled water is available from the campground manager.

Parks Management Company

Deetjens invites you to relax in comfortable, cabin-like rooms nestled among the redwoods of Castro Canyon. Deetjens Big Sur Inn, located on Highway 1, is convenient to hiking, mountain biking trails, and sea kayaking. The surrounding landscape offers white crested waves breaking against the cliffs of Highway 1, the azure blue of the Pacific and the ever changing colors of the sky. The Deetjens' settled in Big Sur in the 1930's. Almost immediately they began offering hospitality to the adventurous travelers of the brand new Highway 1. The Inn and restaurant have attracted artists, writers, and peace-seekers alike--often bringing together Old Hollywood glamour and the eccentric bohemian Big Sur lifestyle. There's a little something indescribable about a stay at Deetjens. The Inn exists today because when Helmuth Deetjen died in 1972, he left the Inn to be forever enjoyed by transient guests wanting to experience the peace, friendship, and beauty that can be found at the Inn and in Big Sur. The Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places by the US Department of the Interior.  It is operated on a non-profit basis by the Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn Preservation Foundation. Rooms & Cottages Rooms at Deetjens are cozy, rustic and decorated with a blend of antiques and funky treasures from the past. "Grandpa" Deetjen designed each room and oversaw the building of Deetjens Big Sur Inn in the 1930's. We have tried to preserve the look and feel he created in the style of his native Norway.  Each room has a unique personality. A charming mix of French toile, cotton floral prints, velvets and crepe cover the beds and drape windows that look out onto lush redwood forest. Some rooms are decorated with furniture made by Grandpa himself with his assistant Stokes Evans. We work to maintain a peaceful environment for you, extraordinarily different from the buzz of everyday life. To this end we have no televisions, stereos or phones in the rooms. Cell phones do not have reception at Deetjens. On the property there are two pay phones for you. Rooms can be locked from the inside only. Our historic buildings have single-wall construction, and are far from soundproof. To insure a peaceful stay for all our guests, we can accommodate children under 12 only if you reserve both rooms of a two-room building. Please, no pets. All rooms are non-smoking. Prices based on high-season and weekends rates.  

Fernwood Resort is a full service resort located on scenic Highway 1, in the heart of the Big Sur valley,  just 1/2 mile north of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.   We have 12 rustic motel rooms each with a private bath.  Some of the rooms have cozy fireplaces and hot tubs on decks under the stars and towering trees.   Our rooms our clean and the best value in the Big Sur area.  The central location of the resort lends itself perfectly to exploring the Big Sur area.  Fernwood's campground is located in a magestic redwood grove along the Big Sur River.   We have tent camping, RV sites with water and electric hookups, and tent cabins along the river.  Hiking trails lead right from here into the state park.  Our campers enjoy horseshoes, volleyball and tubing and swimming in the Big Sur River.    We have a grocery store with DVD rental, camping supplies, an espresso bar,  Lappert's Ice cream, and many unique gifts.   The well informed store staff are happy to help you plan the perfect hike for the day and the store has all of the fixin's for building a great picnic to take wtih you. The family friendly Redwood Grill, serving lunch and dinner, offers tasty California Comfort Cuisine at reasonable prices.  Sofanya's Art Gallery is a working art studio, gallery and gift shop. The tavern features live music on Saturday nights and the big screen TV shows all of the major sporting events. With free Wi/Fi in the lounge Fernwood Resort is a great blend of a rustic vacation with all of the comforts of home.  For more photos and information check out our website at fernwoodbigsur.com

Welcome to Glen Oaks Big Sur, located just off a bend in the coastal highway in Big Sur, nestled against a hillside in a grove of historic oaks. Glen Oaks is the perfect place for a romantic weekend getaway or an overnight stop on your coastal road trip adventure. Our remake of Doris Fee's 1957 redwood post and adobe motor lodge reflects what we love most about Big Sur — indoor-outdoor living, close to nature and natural materials, yet with touches as bold and colorful as the dramatic California coast. The Glen Oaks Motel offers clean, comfortable, modestly priced rooms in a cheerful garden setting. We have 15 rooms and 2 cottages.

All of our rooms are single story, of adobe brick and redwood beam construction, in the style of a classic motor lodge. Each room has a private bath with a walk-in shower or tub/shower combination.

The cottages are larger, and offer greater privacy and more amenities. Each cottage has one queen size bed in the bedroom, a tub/shower combination in the bathroom, a private deck and fireplace.

Our sunny location in the Big Sur river valley, 25 miles south of Carmel, gives you easy access to all the natural wonders of Big Sur. Also nearby are: 12 restaurants, 3 gift shops, 3 art galleries, 5 grocery stores and a post office tending to the daily needs of our guests and visitors.

Convenient for our guests and just steps from your room, are the Ripplewood Cafe serving breakfast and lunch and the Bonito Roadhouse serving dinner. Accommodations Queen Rooms Queen rooms feature modern gas fireplaces, a Peroba wood queen bed and large dresser, two comfortable upholstered side chairs with bamboo magazine table, and closet with room for suitcase storage and clothes hanging. Queen room baths have a walk-in shower, built-in soap dispensers, stylish chrome and white porcelain bath fixtures, and radiant heat floor. All rooms feature wireless internet access. There are no televisions or phones. No pets, no smoking. King Rooms Spacious king rooms have bamboo floors with wool felt carpets, seating area with leather sofa, bamboo coffee tables, Peroba wood king bed and dresser, and a large closet with room for suitcase storage and clothes hanging. King baths have large oval sinks, walk-in showers, built-in soap and conditioner dispensers, stylish chrome and white porcelain bath fixtures and radiant heat floor. All rooms feature wireless internet access. There are no televisions or phones. No pets and no smoking. Archie's Archie's is a Studio cottage with the following amenities: outdoor deck
gas fireplace
king-size bed
kitchenette with sink, under-counter refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine and toaster bath with tub/shower The Cottage The cottage has one bedroom with the following amenities:
outdoor deck
gas fireplace
queen-size bed
full kitchen with sink, stove/oven, under-counter refrigerator, coffee maker, toaster, dining area bath with tub/shower

Since the opening of Highway 1 in 1937, Gorda has been a stopover oasis for millions of travelers. The gardens and scenic wonders at Gorda are a nature lover's and photographer's paradise. There are many nearby hiking trails, fishing coves, & beaches for surfing and beach combing. Gorda's natural spring water was enjoyed by the Costanoan and Esalen Indian tribes for centuries before Gorda was first settled in 1878 as a stage coach stop. During the Big Sur gold rush in the 1880's Gorda developed into an important mining town bordering the famous Gorda and Los Burros gold mines. Because of the deep waters immediately offshore, Gorda is one of the most unique Pacific locations for whale watching. The beach below Gorda is also a designated sanctuary for a spectacular colony of elephant seals. Facilities Guest Facilities include the World Famous Whale Watcher Cafe, Private & Modern Uniquely Furnished Ocean View Cottages & Studios, The Gorda General Store, The Snack Shack, Romantic Ocean Vista Garden Gazebo & Deck for Weddings & Receptions and Beautiful Garden Areas & Walking Trails. World Famous Scenery This enchanting ocean front resort is on Highway 1, 65 miles south of Carmel, Calif. and 25 miles north of Hearst Castle. The drive to Gorda along the Big Sur Coast is breathtakingly beautiful.

Trails on the west side of Highway 1, including the McWay Falls Overlook trail, Partington Cove, and the environmental campsites, are open for public use and enjoyment. All trails and picnic areas on the east side of Highway 1 and east of the main parking lot will remain closed until further notice. Closed trails include the Ewoldson trail, the Tan Bark Trail, Tin House Road, and the Canyon Falls trail. Parking in the main parking lot is available, though limited. Additionally, the parking lot may be closed completely during significant storm events throughout the winter due to hazardous conditions.

Due to the fire and a sizeable rockslide, the ADA access ramp to the McWay Falls Overlook trail will be closed until further notice. 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.

Facilities - Activities

Whale Watching
In December and January the bench at the end of Overlook trail is an excellent place to watch for gray whales migrating southward to their breeding and calving grounds off the Baja California coast. Many whales pass close to shore at this point, and occasionally one will come into the mouth of the cove. In March and April, they can be seen returning north to their summer feeding grounds in the North Pacific.

Sea otters can sometimes be seen in the cove, and harbor seals and California sea lions are occasional visitors. Many sea and shore birds - Sleek black cormorants, seagulls, brown pelicans, and black oystercatchers also make an appearance.

Underwater Area
Between Partington Point and McWay Creek is the Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwater Area, which was established in 1970 and is now a scuba diving area. The rocky shoreline is the access to the underwater park. Special-use permits allow experienced scuba divers to explore the reserve.

McWay Waterfall House
The terrace is all that remains of Waterfall House, the residence of Lathrop and Helen Hooper Brown. When the Browns began to acquire their Big Sur acreage in 1924, Mrs. Brown became acquainted with Julia Pfeiffer Burns, the daughter of a Big Sur pioneer family. In 1962, Mrs. Brown gave the ranch to the state for use as a state park dedicated to the memory of Julia Pfeiffer Burns.