CHAPTER ten

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

AT THE NAME BIG SUR, many picture a landscape of ancient redwoods along clear creeks that cascade down to the Pacific. Others immediately think of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the region’s most popular park, a top spot to camp, picnic, hike, and swim. Hikers come for redwood-lined gorges, oak woodlands, lush forests of sycamores, maples, alders and willows, open meadows blanketed in spring wildflowers, and a deep, narrow canyon along the Big Sur River that offers opportunities to swim and sunbathe. Although the park lies along Highway 1, it’s more than a mile inland—a blessing for those hoping to escape the fog that blankets the coast most summer days.

This parcel belonged to John Pfeiffer, son of Michael and Barbara Pfeiffer, who in 1869 became the first European immigrants to permanently settle in the region. John’s wife, Florence, launched the first resort in Big Sur after deciding to charge freeloading guests for room and board. The Big Sur Lodge stands on this site, while the couple’s 1884 homestead cabin lies along the Oak Grove Trail. In 1930 a Los Angeles developer offered John Pfeiffer $210,000 for his 1200-acre property, with the intent to parcel it off as a subdivision. Fortunately, the offer was rejected, and in 1933 the State of California purchased 700 acres and named the new park in Pfeiffer’s honor.

Sweeping panoramas of jagged ridgetops slice the headwaters between the Carmel and Big Sur Rivers east of Manuel Peak.

DIRECTIONS: The park is on the east side of Highway 1, 26 miles south of the Carmel Valley Road (County Road G16) junction in Carmel and 28 miles north of the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road junction near Kirk Creek Campground.

VISITOR CENTER: Big Sur Station: (831) 667-2315. The station is on Highway 1, a half mile south of the park entrance. Open daily 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. the rest of the year.

NEAREST CAMPGROUND: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (218 sites, $35/standard site, $45/river site; reservations recommended in summer and on holidays). For more information call Reserve America at (800) 444-7275 or visit ReserveAmerica.com.

INFORMATION: Open daily 9 a.m.–8 p.m. There’s a $10/vehicle entrance fee. No dogs or bikes allowed on park trails. No overnight camping.

WEBSITE: parks.ca.gov

PHONE: (831) 667-2315