Big Sur & Pacific Coast Highway

About

Highway 1 through Big Sur is arguably the most spectacular coastal road in North America. For roughly 90 miles between San Simeon and Carmel, the two-lane road clings to clifftops hundreds of feet above the Pacific, threading through redwood canyons and past sea stacks, waterfalls that tumble directly into the ocean, and headlands carpeted in wildflowers each spring. It's a destination in itself - not just a route to somewhere else.

The drive is an experience accessible to virtually anyone. Dozens of official and informal pullouts allow drivers to park and take in the views from inside their vehicle or from paved overlooks. This is one of the rare major scenic destinations where you don't need to hike or walk significant distances to encounter genuinely breathtaking scenery. Bixby Creek Bridge, one of the longest single-span concrete bridges in the world, can be viewed from a paved turnout with parking directly adjacent. McWay Falls, which drops 80 feet directly onto the beach at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, is visible from an accessible viewpoint near the parking area.

At Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the River Path and Warden's Path follow the Big Sur River and are accessible for wheelchair users and strollers. The park's facilities, including restrooms and the park store, are also accessible. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, just south of Carmel, has an accessible trail to Sea Lion Point - a flat, paved loop with remarkable wildlife viewing.

North along the coast, Elephant Seal Vista Point near San Simeon has paved, wheelchair-accessible viewing areas open daily with no admission fee. November through March, thousands of elephant seals crowd the beaches here.

Note that portions of Highway 1 are periodically closed due to landslides; check Caltrans (dot.ca.gov) for current conditions before visiting.

Accessibility

Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway offer meaningful accessible experiences, primarily through pullouts, viewpoints, and select accessible trails.

Viewpoints and pullouts: Dozens of official pullouts along Highway 1 can be accessed directly from a vehicle. Most are unpaved gravel areas, but many offer spectacular views without leaving the car. Bixby Creek Bridge has a paved accessible pullout with parking adjacent. McWay Falls overlook at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has an accessible viewpoint accessible from the parking area via a short paved path.

State parks with accessible trails: - Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: River Path and Warden's Path along the Big Sur River are accessible for wheelchair users and strollers. Accessible restrooms and park store on-site. - Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: Short accessible path to McWay Falls overlook. Accessible restrooms. - Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (Carmel area): Sea Lion Point Trail is a paved, flat accessible loop with excellent wildlife viewing. - Pfeiffer Beach (Los Padres National Forest, Big Sur area): Hard-packed sand and paved access, disability parking, some accessibility features.

Elephant Seal Vista Point (San Simeon, north of Big Sur): Free, wheelchair-accessible viewing areas open daily year-round. Best viewing November through March.

Practical notes: Highway 1 is a two-lane road with no passing lanes through Big Sur. Pullouts are the primary viewing option. Some sections have experienced closures due to landslides - check dot.ca.gov for current road conditions before visiting. The road's winding nature means motion sickness is possible on longer segments.

For current state park accessibility details, visit parks.ca.gov or call (831) 667-2315 for Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

More accessible places in California

• Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles)
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (Los Angeles)
• San Diego Zoo (San Diego)
• Yosemite National Park (Yosemite)
• Exploratorium (San Francisco)
• Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach)