Three Days on Big Sur: Waterfalls, Cliffs & Highway 1
Redwoods, waterfalls & the wildest coast in California.
Three days on the best hiking in Big Sur: McWay Falls and the Ewoldsen Trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns, the Pfeiffer Falls and Buzzards Roost loops, and the headlands at Andrew Molera, all strung along Highway 1.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
13 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Carmel, Big Sur & Julia Pfeiffer Burns · Central California Coast
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
5 of the stops on these 3 days.
Plan and book your 3 days in Big Sur, one step at a time
How 3 days in Big Sur split up
Big Sur is the rugged 90-mile stretch of central California coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains drop straight into the Pacific and Highway 1 (CA-1) clings to the cliffs above. There are no big towns out here, just redwood canyons, hidden waterfalls, and turnouts where the fog peels back to reveal the bluest water in California. It is one of the most scenic drives on earth, and the hiking trails in Big Sur, California are every bit as good as the views.
Day 1: Drive the coast in · Bixby Bridge & Andrew Molera
5 stops · Day one
Day 2: Redwood loops in Pfeiffer Big Sur · Pfeiffer Falls & Buzzards Roost
4 stops · Day two
Day 3: South coast finale · McWay Falls & the Ewoldsen Trail
4 stops · Day three
Drive the coast in · Bixby Bridge & Andrew Molera
Start in Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea and drive south on Highway 1 into Big Sur. The first stretch is a greatest-hits reel: pull over at Bixby Creek Bridge, the most photographed span on the coast, and at the turnoff to Point Sur Lighthouse on its volcanic headland. Take it slow, the road is narrow and winding, and the turnouts are the whole point.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~30 min to Big Sur · fuel up first · DriveStart in Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea and drive south on Highway 1 into Big Sur. Fill up on gas, download offline maps, and check Caltrans for CA-1 conditions before you go, since the road periodically closes for landslides. The road is narrow and winding, so plan for slow going and frequent photo stops.
- Bixby Creek Bridge viewpoint
Iconic Highway 1 span · ViewpointPull over at Bixby Creek Bridge, the most photographed span on the Big Sur coast, where Highway 1 arcs across a deep canyon above the Pacific. There are small turnouts on both sides, but they fill fast in season, so arrive early or late and never stop on the bridge itself.
Point Sur LighthouseLighthouse on a volcanic headland · ViewpointPoint Sur Lighthouse sits on a dramatic volcanic headland just south of Bixby Bridge. You can only visit the lighthouse itself on a guided tour, run on a set schedule, but the headland is a striking stop from the road. Check the tour times if you want to go inside.
Andrew Molera Loop / Headlands~8 mi loop or shorter options · HikeStretch your legs at Andrew Molera State Park, the wildest of the Big Sur parks. The full headlands loop runs about 8 miles, but shorter out-and-backs reach the beach and bluffs. The beach trail fords the Big Sur River, easy in late summer and fall but deep or impassable after winter rain, so check conditions first.
- Stay in Big Sur
Big Sur Lodge / Ventana · books far ahead · lodgeLodging in Big Sur proper is limited and expensive, with Big Sur Lodge, Ventana, and Post Ranch Inn all booking far ahead. Staying central puts you close to the redwood and south-coast trails. If Big Sur is full or over budget, base in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Monterey and drive in.
Redwood loops in Pfeiffer Big Sur · Pfeiffer Falls & Buzzards Roost
Spend the morning inland among the redwoods at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The Pfeiffer Falls / Valley View Loop (about 2 miles) climbs a fern-lined canyon to a slender 60-foot waterfall, then up to the Valley View overlook above the Big Sur River gorge. It is the easiest way to sample the best hiking in Big Sur without a big day on your feet.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Pfeiffer Falls / Valley View Loop
~2 mi · easy · redwoods to a waterfall · HikeSpend the morning among the redwoods in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The Pfeiffer Falls / Valley View Loop (about 2 miles) climbs a fern-lined canyon to a slender 60-foot waterfall, then up to the Valley View overlook above the Big Sur River gorge. It is the easiest way to sample the best hiking in Big Sur.
- Buzzards Roost Loop
~3 mi · moderate · ridgetop ocean view · HikeIn the afternoon take on Buzzards Roost (about 3 miles, moderate), a quieter loop that climbs out of the redwoods to a ridgetop with views over the river valley and out to the ocean. It is the best way to earn a coast view without leaving the Pfeiffer Big Sur trail network.
- Pfeiffer Beach
Purple sand & sea arch · unmarked road · ViewpointCap the day at Pfeiffer Beach, reached by a narrow, easy-to-miss unmarked road (Sycamore Canyon Road) off Highway 1 just south of the Big Sur post office. It is famous for its purple-tinted sand and a sea arch that lights up at sunset. The small lot charges a day-use fee and fills early on clear afternoons.
John Murphy / CC BY-SA 2.0Second night in Big Sur or CarmelStay central for an early start · lodgeStay central a second night so you can reach the south-coast trailheads at Julia Pfeiffer Burns early tomorrow, before the McWay Falls parking fills. Big Sur lodging is limited, so Carmel-by-the-Sea is an easy fallback with more rooms and restaurants a short drive north.
South coast finale · McWay Falls & the Ewoldsen Trail
Drive south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for the signature image of Big Sur. The short McWay Falls Overlook trail (about 0.6 miles round trip) leads to a bluff above an 80-foot waterfall that drops straight onto a cove beach, one of the most photographed scenes on the entire California coast. Just north, the easy Partington Cove trail (about 1 mile) drops through a rock tunnel to a tiny historic cove.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- McWay Falls Overlook
~0.6 mi RT · iconic waterfall onto the beach · ViewpointDrive south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for the signature image of Big Sur. The short McWay Falls Overlook trail (about 0.6 miles round trip) leads to a bluff above an 80-foot waterfall that drops straight onto a cove beach. The beach is closed to access, so the view from the overlook is the experience.
Ewoldsen Trail~4.5 mi · redwoods + coast · confirm open · HikeFor the best hiking-trail day in the park, walk the Ewoldsen Trail (about 4.5 miles), a redwood-canyon-to-coast loop with big ocean views up high. Portions have been closed for storm and fire damage in recent years, so confirm it is open with California State Parks before you count on it, and keep a backup ready.
Partington Cove~1 mi · easy · historic cove · good backup · HikeJust north of McWay Falls, the easy Partington Cove trail (about 1 mile) drops through a rock tunnel to a tiny historic cove on the rocky coast. It is a great short add-on, and a reliable backup if the Ewoldsen Trail is closed. The trailhead is a small unmarked pullout on Highway 1.
- Monterey Bay kayak / SUP · Adventures by the Sea
On the way north · book ahead · activityHeading back north toward Monterey, add a guided Monterey Bay kayak or SUP paddle with Adventures by the Sea on Cannery Row. Monterey sits about 25 miles north of Big Sur proper, so this works best as an add-on on the way in or out rather than a Big Sur day trip. Reserve ahead, especially in summer.
Book the 2 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Big Sur
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
What we actually learned on the coast.
Check Caltrans before you drive
Highway 1 (CA-1) is the only road through Big Sur, and it periodically closes for landslides, sometimes for months at a time. Always check Caltrans for current CA-1 conditions before you set out, because a closure can mean a long detour or a dead end.
Fill up and download maps first
Gas stations are few and far between in Big Sur, and what little fuel exists is pricey. Fill up in Carmel or Monterey before you head south, download offline maps, and do not count on cell service along most of the coast.
Expect a day-use fee at the parks
Most Big Sur state-park trailheads (Pfeiffer Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, Andrew Molera, Garrapata) charge a day-use fee, typically around $10 per vehicle. A single day pass often covers more than one state park on the same day.
Plan around the coastal fog
Marine fog is common and mornings are frequently socked in, especially in summer. It often burns off by midday, so save coastal overlooks like McWay Falls for the afternoon and do redwood hikes early when the canyon is at its best.
Book lodging far ahead
Lodging in Big Sur proper is limited and expensive, and Big Sur Lodge, Ventana, and Post Ranch Inn all book months ahead. If they are full or over budget, base in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Monterey and drive in for the day.
Confirm trail closures
Big Sur trails take a beating from storms and wildfire, and some sections of trails like the Ewoldsen close for long stretches. Confirm your planned hikes are open with the state parks before you go, and keep an easy backup like the McWay overlook in your pocket.
Grab the photo turnouts early
The turnouts at Bixby Creek Bridge, and the small lots at Pfeiffer Beach and McWay Falls, hold only a handful of cars and get stressful, even dangerous, by midday. Aim to be at Bixby around 8 AM, hit the coastal viewpoints early or near sunset, and never stop on the bridge deck itself.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Hiking around Big Sur: the questions people ask most.
The best hiking in Big Sur includes the McWay Falls Overlook at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (about 0.6 miles round trip to an iconic 80-foot waterfall onto the beach), the Pfeiffer Falls / Valley View Loop in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (about 2 miles through redwoods to a waterfall and overlook), the Ewoldsen Trail (about 4.5 miles of redwoods and coast, though it may be partially closed), the Andrew Molera headlands loop (up to about 8 miles, with shorter beach and bluff options), and Buzzards Roost (about 3 miles to a ridgetop ocean view).
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 2 nights, sites along the route
2 × $22$44
- 2 nights, rooms along the route
from $129 a nightfrom $258
Yulia, ExplorOFF founder★★★★★5.0 from 20+ guided tripsGoogleAirbnbFrom$4,4402 people, 2 nights- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide
- Airport pickup, every drive, all the gear
- Weather turns, they rewrite the day
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Booking Big Sur
Everything below is booked with the operators direct. We earn a commission on some of them, which is what keeps the itineraries free to read.
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What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
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How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”