Monterey and Redwoods
Aug 14th, 2007, 07:29 PM
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Monterey and Redwoods
My wife and grand daughter (and I) would love to see some redwoods while were are driving up the Big Sur coast and stopping for two nights in Monterey. My understanding is that the Big Basin Redwoods state park is the furthest south that the redwoods grow. Is it possbile to drive from Monterey to Big Basin for a short visit and back in 4 hours? Or are there redwoods closer? Thanks
Aug 14th, 2007, 07:49 PM
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Big Basin is not the furthest south that the redwoods grow along the coast.
The furthest south is Limekiln State Park.
In fact, you can visit a number of really great state parks with redwoods before reaching Monterey or Big Basin.
If you are coming from the south, from Los Angeles/Santa Barbara, the first state park is Limekiln.
The next one is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is about 20 miles further north along the coast. The entranceis to your right. I'd highly recommend a stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns (JPB). There is a short and wheel-chair accessible path that leads to the ocean. You will see the only waterfall that falls into the Pacific Ocean if you take this path. You should be able to do this easy hike back and forth in less than an hour.
About 15 miles north of JPB is Nepenthe, which will be on your left. Stop here at this restaurant even if you don't eat, it's for the view. Breathtaking on a clear day.
After Nepenthe, the road curves inland and away from the coast. A few miles north (no more than 2-5 miles), you'll come to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Definitely stop here. There are some very easy hikes at Pfeiffer Big Sur as well as some moderately difficult ones. If you enjoy hiking, do try the hike to Pfeiffer Falls. Again, a very short hike, but more rugged than the walk at JPB.
So, those are the stops that I'd recommend before Monterey:
1) JPB for McWay Falls
2) Nepenthe Restaurant for the gorgeous view
3) Pfeiffer Big Sur for the redwoods hikes.
Once you are settled in Monterey, you may want to backtrack one day and go to Point Lobos State Reserve which is a couple of miles south of Carmel. Another beautiful scenic area where you can walk along the beach, gaze into tidepools, listen for the barking seals/sea lions. Easy hikes.
Stop off in Carmel and wander its charming streets.
Also plan a visit to Carmel Beach either early morning or at dusk when the owners bring their dogs. Your granddaughter would probably love this beach.
You didn't say how old she is, but lots of kids and adults too like the Monterey Aquarium.
Have a great trip!
The furthest south is Limekiln State Park.
In fact, you can visit a number of really great state parks with redwoods before reaching Monterey or Big Basin.
If you are coming from the south, from Los Angeles/Santa Barbara, the first state park is Limekiln.
The next one is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is about 20 miles further north along the coast. The entranceis to your right. I'd highly recommend a stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns (JPB). There is a short and wheel-chair accessible path that leads to the ocean. You will see the only waterfall that falls into the Pacific Ocean if you take this path. You should be able to do this easy hike back and forth in less than an hour.
About 15 miles north of JPB is Nepenthe, which will be on your left. Stop here at this restaurant even if you don't eat, it's for the view. Breathtaking on a clear day.
After Nepenthe, the road curves inland and away from the coast. A few miles north (no more than 2-5 miles), you'll come to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Definitely stop here. There are some very easy hikes at Pfeiffer Big Sur as well as some moderately difficult ones. If you enjoy hiking, do try the hike to Pfeiffer Falls. Again, a very short hike, but more rugged than the walk at JPB.
So, those are the stops that I'd recommend before Monterey:
1) JPB for McWay Falls
2) Nepenthe Restaurant for the gorgeous view
3) Pfeiffer Big Sur for the redwoods hikes.
Once you are settled in Monterey, you may want to backtrack one day and go to Point Lobos State Reserve which is a couple of miles south of Carmel. Another beautiful scenic area where you can walk along the beach, gaze into tidepools, listen for the barking seals/sea lions. Easy hikes.
Stop off in Carmel and wander its charming streets.
Also plan a visit to Carmel Beach either early morning or at dusk when the owners bring their dogs. Your granddaughter would probably love this beach.
You didn't say how old she is, but lots of kids and adults too like the Monterey Aquarium.
Have a great trip!
Aug 14th, 2007, 08:05 PM
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easytraveler is correct, you can see redwoods in Big
Sur. They are not as big as some that you can see at Big Basin however.
Big Sur to Big Basin should take about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, so yes you could do it, but you really don't need to. Unless you have some other attractions to take in on the way, I'd stick to the redwoods Pfeiffer.
Sur. They are not as big as some that you can see at Big Basin however.
Big Sur to Big Basin should take about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, so yes you could do it, but you really don't need to. Unless you have some other attractions to take in on the way, I'd stick to the redwoods Pfeiffer.
Aug 15th, 2007, 09:08 AM
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I think that Big Basin might have the southern-most old growth redwood groves. These are areas that weren't logged, so you have some really really big trees. Logging happened all over the Santa Cruz mountains, but there are still some stands that were not yet logged when protections were put in place.
Henry Cowell state park is another option - there are some pretty big trees there too. This park is only a few miles from Santa Cruz, about a half hour closer to Monterey than Big Basin - right near the town of Felton. Roaring Camp is there too - you can take a steam train through the woods, which is fun.
Limekiln is one of my favorite parks - it isn't large, but there are a couple nice trails along very pretty creeks. Also, there is a small beach there.
Henry Cowell state park is another option - there are some pretty big trees there too. This park is only a few miles from Santa Cruz, about a half hour closer to Monterey than Big Basin - right near the town of Felton. Roaring Camp is there too - you can take a steam train through the woods, which is fun.
Limekiln is one of my favorite parks - it isn't large, but there are a couple nice trails along very pretty creeks. Also, there is a small beach there.
Aug 15th, 2007, 12:12 PM
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Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has some nice big trees. It is 7 miles out of Santa Cruz on Highway 9 near Felton. You can be here in an hour from Monterey. I seriously doubt if you could get to Big Basin, see the trees, and do it all in four hours.
Aug 15th, 2007, 12:34 PM
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I re-read the OP. No you couldn't drive to Big Basin visit and drive back in 4 hours. Maybe you could visit Henry Cowell but you couldn't linger in the woods for long at all. Wouldn't be worth the drive with your time constraints.
Aug 15th, 2007, 01:16 PM
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Hi LBev769375
As far as redwoods go I have been looking for the southern most naturally growing costal redwood for a couple of years now. It is south of Limekilns, last month I noticed (at 40 mph) a grove off highway one, up a side canyon about 3.5 miles north of the Monterrey San Luis Obispo county line. In the next couple of years I plan to hike that stretch road to be sure. The northern most grove that I have seen, so far, is up the Chetco river east of Brookings Or. The hikes in Limekiln do give a you good feel for what redwoods can feel like, except the trees are small.
Have Fun
GP
As far as redwoods go I have been looking for the southern most naturally growing costal redwood for a couple of years now. It is south of Limekilns, last month I noticed (at 40 mph) a grove off highway one, up a side canyon about 3.5 miles north of the Monterrey San Luis Obispo county line. In the next couple of years I plan to hike that stretch road to be sure. The northern most grove that I have seen, so far, is up the Chetco river east of Brookings Or. The hikes in Limekiln do give a you good feel for what redwoods can feel like, except the trees are small.
Have Fun
GP
Aug 15th, 2007, 05:19 PM
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Thanks easytraveler and everyone for the information and great suggestions. We plan 8 - 10 hours from SLO to Monterey and it is good news to be able to see redwoods on the way. I now recall the article was referring to "old" growth redwoods. The home schooled grand daughter is 12, so the aquarium is #1 on the list for Monterey and now that we can see the redwoods on the way, Point Lobos is #2 with maybe Carmel in the evening. The wife is the Principal, I'm the history teacher and school will be in session for 15 days of American history in a loop from Georgia to Monterey and back. Thanks for the great suggestions.
Aug 16th, 2007, 11:14 AM
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If you've got the time (or can make the time) take your granddaughter up to Santa Cruz. The Boardwalk and the beach will be a big hit - while you are there, ride the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster There is a surfing museum too, and if you are lucky and the waves cooperate, you may see some world-class surfing there as well. It will be totally educational And don't forget to have a waffle cone and some deep fried artichoke hearts when you are at the boardwalk.
Good grief, I almost talked myself into playing hooky from work today - LOL.
There is a surfing museum too, and if you are lucky and the waves cooperate, you may see some world-class surfing there as well. It will be totally educational And don't forget to have a waffle cone and some deep fried artichoke hearts when you are at the boardwalk. Good grief, I almost talked myself into playing hooky from work today - LOL.
