Point Lobos and Big Sur..we only have two days to visit both
May 17th, 2010 | 07:55 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 134
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Point Lobos and Big Sur..we only have two days to visit both
I have been looking at a lot of pictures of Point Lobos. I am a amateur photographer but LOVE taking pictures and want to make sure I spend an entire day at Point Lobos. My question is: Is a day enough to see all the beauty of this place? Should I skip Big Sur and spend two days in Point Lobos? My husband and I love hiking so that is what we would plan on doing the whole time in both places. Do you find a day in Point Lobos will satisfy every area we want to see or should see? Thanks for any help!!!!
May 17th, 2010 | 09:38 PM
#2
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,106
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Should you skip Big Sur? Definitely not!
Point Lobos does not have any redwood trees that I can recall. All the trees are like Monterey pines, etc.
You need to spend time hiking among the redwoods.
One day for Point Lobos is plenty for photography.
http://www.pointlobos.org/
From the Point Lobos entrance, drive to the first parking lot (square on map) and try to park there. Usually there's a ranger and you can trade in your license/car keys for a pair of binoculars.
Then take the Sea Lion Point Trail, which is wheelchair accessible, so is a very easy trail. Most days you can hear the sea lions barking in the distance and you can just follow the noise to where they are flopped on rocks sunning themselves.
Then take the Allen Grove Trail which will be to your right (if you're facing the ocean at the Ranger station). There's a little bit of climbing over some rocks, but it's still an easy trail.
Next, back at the Ranger Station, take the road that leads to the South Shore Trail where you can clamber among tidepools and strange rock formations on the beach.
Click on "trail map" to get an idea of the areas that you can hike.
Whalers Cover and that area is more for divers, as half of Point Lobos Reserve is under water.
Important thing about Point Lobos is that you must see it in sunshine to get the full beauty of the area.
When are you coming? If you are coming when we have "June Gloom" that means that mornings the coast will be fogged in, so you may have to plan accordingly.
Big Sur: I'd suggest two parks in Big Sur.
Pfeiffer Big Sur:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570
This is inland and will be sunny even if the coast is socked in. I'd suggest the moderate hike to Pfeiffer Falls. Beautiful redwoods along the way.
You could do a longer hike if you enjoy hiking a lot. Ask the rangers at the Ranger Station for recommendations. There are several good trails in this park. You can also overnight at Big Sur Lodge.
The second park I'd recommend is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578
There's a very easy trail to the only waterfall that falls into the Pacific Ocean in California: McWay Falls. The trailhead to McWay Falls is not well marked but is easy to find. Once you are inside the Park, park in the parking lot to the left. From this parking lot, go across the road to a short set of stairs. Go down the steps and follow the trail to the RIGHT.
I wouldn't suggest taking the inland trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns since you have better trails at Pfeiffer Big Sur.
Dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, bring a hat, some water, and if you have one, a trekking pole/staff or two.
Check with the rangers on the mountain lions situation in your particular park and never hike alone.
One last thing, make sure you map carefully the distances you have to drive from one park to the next, as the entrances are easy to miss.
If you're driving from north to south, then the entrance to Point Lobos is on your RIGHT about 2-3 miles south of the Carmel Valley Road juncture with Highway 1.
Pfeiffer Big Sur is about 26 miles south of Carmel and its entrance is on your LEFT.
JFB is about 37 miles south of Carmel and the entrance is to your LEFT.
Sounds like a great trip! Have a wonderful time!
Point Lobos does not have any redwood trees that I can recall. All the trees are like Monterey pines, etc.
You need to spend time hiking among the redwoods.
One day for Point Lobos is plenty for photography.
http://www.pointlobos.org/
From the Point Lobos entrance, drive to the first parking lot (square on map) and try to park there. Usually there's a ranger and you can trade in your license/car keys for a pair of binoculars.
Then take the Sea Lion Point Trail, which is wheelchair accessible, so is a very easy trail. Most days you can hear the sea lions barking in the distance and you can just follow the noise to where they are flopped on rocks sunning themselves.
Then take the Allen Grove Trail which will be to your right (if you're facing the ocean at the Ranger station). There's a little bit of climbing over some rocks, but it's still an easy trail.
Next, back at the Ranger Station, take the road that leads to the South Shore Trail where you can clamber among tidepools and strange rock formations on the beach.
Click on "trail map" to get an idea of the areas that you can hike.
Whalers Cover and that area is more for divers, as half of Point Lobos Reserve is under water.
Important thing about Point Lobos is that you must see it in sunshine to get the full beauty of the area.
When are you coming? If you are coming when we have "June Gloom" that means that mornings the coast will be fogged in, so you may have to plan accordingly.
Big Sur: I'd suggest two parks in Big Sur.
Pfeiffer Big Sur:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570
This is inland and will be sunny even if the coast is socked in. I'd suggest the moderate hike to Pfeiffer Falls. Beautiful redwoods along the way.
You could do a longer hike if you enjoy hiking a lot. Ask the rangers at the Ranger Station for recommendations. There are several good trails in this park. You can also overnight at Big Sur Lodge.
The second park I'd recommend is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578
There's a very easy trail to the only waterfall that falls into the Pacific Ocean in California: McWay Falls. The trailhead to McWay Falls is not well marked but is easy to find. Once you are inside the Park, park in the parking lot to the left. From this parking lot, go across the road to a short set of stairs. Go down the steps and follow the trail to the RIGHT.
I wouldn't suggest taking the inland trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns since you have better trails at Pfeiffer Big Sur.
Dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, bring a hat, some water, and if you have one, a trekking pole/staff or two.
Check with the rangers on the mountain lions situation in your particular park and never hike alone.
One last thing, make sure you map carefully the distances you have to drive from one park to the next, as the entrances are easy to miss.
If you're driving from north to south, then the entrance to Point Lobos is on your RIGHT about 2-3 miles south of the Carmel Valley Road juncture with Highway 1.
Pfeiffer Big Sur is about 26 miles south of Carmel and its entrance is on your LEFT.
JFB is about 37 miles south of Carmel and the entrance is to your LEFT.
Sounds like a great trip! Have a wonderful time!
May 17th, 2010 | 09:45 PM
#3
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
Yes, indeedy. Easytraveler gave you perfect advice. You can and should see both parks. Even a half day could be enough for Point Lobos. It's a beautiful park, but you should see Big Sur as well, and you'll be glad you did. You can do a lot in 2 days. The parks are not that far apart.
May 18th, 2010 | 06:07 AM
#4
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Thanks to both of you! We are going in June..the 15th-20th to be exact. Our plan is to do Point Lobos on Thursday the 17th and Big Sur on Fri the 18th. We do have Sat to do anything we feel we have missed (Tuesday the 15th is driving from Yosemite so we think we may have time to go to Aquarium once we get in (staying in Pacific Grove) and Wed the 16th is a five hour Trolley wine tour.
It sounds like we may deal with some fog then. I have heard that Cypress Grove is not to be missed...do you think we will have time to fit that in too?
It sounds like we may deal with some fog then. I have heard that Cypress Grove is not to be missed...do you think we will have time to fit that in too?
