Big Sur in December
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Winter is generally rainy, so there is a good chance it will be soggy and cloudy in December along the Big Sur coast. It doesn't rain all winter though, so there is also a good chance that it will be sunny and clear for at least part of your trip - in which case the coast will be spectacular.
The main issue with travelling through Big Sur in the winter is if a big storm comes through because it isn't advisable to drive the highway during a storm - narrow, twisty road with shear drop offs. Additionally, sometimes there are mudslides that close the road.
So - if you are flexible in your itinerary and can handle a couple days' delay here and there to wait out a storm or two, then I would go. If there happens to be a slide which closes the road through Big Sur, you can bypass it on Hwy 101 between San Luis Obispo and Monterey and then once in Monterey, head south into Big Sur to see some of the coastline - not the same as driving the whole thing, but a good alternative with road closures.
The main issue with travelling through Big Sur in the winter is if a big storm comes through because it isn't advisable to drive the highway during a storm - narrow, twisty road with shear drop offs. Additionally, sometimes there are mudslides that close the road.
So - if you are flexible in your itinerary and can handle a couple days' delay here and there to wait out a storm or two, then I would go. If there happens to be a slide which closes the road through Big Sur, you can bypass it on Hwy 101 between San Luis Obispo and Monterey and then once in Monterey, head south into Big Sur to see some of the coastline - not the same as driving the whole thing, but a good alternative with road closures.
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kgn
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Sep 1st, 2003 02:43 PM




