a b Diehl, Martha V. (May 15, 2006). "Land Use in Big Sur: In Search of Sustainable Balance between Community Needs and Resource Protection" (PDF). California State University Monterey Bay. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2016 . Retrieved August 22, 2016. Swiss Canyon Beach is a long, sandy beach that's visible when looking north from the mouth of the Big Sur River in Andrew Molera State Park. The eastern side of the beach is bounded by private land. The beach may be accessible from the southern end depending on the tide. [64]

The section of Highway 1 running through Big Sur is widely considered one of the most scenic driving routes in the United States, if not the world. [40] [41] [42] The views are one reason that Big Sur was ranked second among all United States destinations in TripAdvisor's 2008 Travelers' Choice Destination Awards. [43] The unblemished natural scenery owes much of its preservation to the highly restrictive development plans enforced in Big Sur; no billboards or advertisements are permitted along the highway and signage for businesses must be modestly scaled and of a rural nature conforming to the Big Sur region. The state of California designated the 72-mile (116km) section of the highway from Cambria to Carmel Highlands as the first California Scenic Highway in 1965. [44] [45] In 1966, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson led the official scenic road designation ceremony at Bixby Creek Bridge. [46] In 1996, the road became one of the first designated by the federal government as an "All-American Road" under the National Scenic Byways Program. [6] [47] [48] [49] CNN Traveler named McWay Falls as the most beautiful place in California. [50] Driving popularity [ edit ] Big Sur typically enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, with a sunny, dry summer and fall, and cool, wet winter. Coastal temperatures range from the 50s at night to the 70s by day (Fahrenheit) from June through October, and in the 40s to 60s from November through May. Further inland, away from the ocean's moderating influence, temperatures are much more variable. The weather varies widely due to the influence of the jagged topography, creating many microclimates. The Big Sur region is largely rural and the 1,800 to 2,000 residents are widely distributed. There are a concentration of homes in the north at Palo Colorado Canyon, Big Sur Village, and Posts. Other residential areas include Otter Cove, Garrapata Ridge, Garrapata Canyon, Bixby Canyon, Pfeiffer Ridge, Sycamore Canyon, Coastlands, and Partington Ridge. Henry Miller Memorial Library". September 25, 2014. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016 . Retrieved August 30, 2016.Thomas, Amelia. "Driving California's Big Sur". Archived from the original on August 27, 2016 . Retrieved August 11, 2016. The Big Sur Folk Festival was held from 1964 to 1971. It began unintentionally when Nancy Carlen, a friend of singer Joan Baez, organized a weekend seminar at the Esalen Institute in June 1964 titled "The New Folk Music". On Sunday afternoon, they invited all the neighbors for a free, open performance. This became the first festival. [79] The festival was held yearly on the grounds of the Esalen Institute, except for 1970, when it was held at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Even when well-known acts like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or the Beach Boys performed, the event was purposefully kept small with no more than a few thousand in attendance. [80] State and federal lands [ edit ] State parks [ edit ] Point Sur and light station from the north In 1909, forest supervisors reported that three Indian families still lived within what was then known as the Monterey National Forest. The Encinale family of 16 members and the Quintana family with three members lived in the vicinity of The Indians (now known as Santa Lucia Memorial Park west of Ft. Hunger Liggett). The Mora family consisting of three members was living to the south along the Nacimiento-Ferguson Road. [148] Spanish ranchos [ edit ] Along with the ocean views, this winding, narrow road, often cut into the face of seaside cliffs, dominates the visitor's experience of Big Sur. [135] The views, redwood forests, hiking, beaches, and other recreational opportunities have made Big Sur a destination for about 4.5 to 7 million people who live within a day's drive and for visitors from elsewhere in the world. [136] a b c "Initiatives". Community Association of Big Sur. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020 . Retrieved April 20, 2020.

Swiss Canyon Beach, Big Sur, CA". California Beaches. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022 . Retrieved February 11, 2022. The highway is a dominant feature of the Big Sur coast, providing the primary means of access and transportation. The Big Sur portion of Highway 1 is generally considered to include the 71-mile (114km) segment adjoining the unincorporated region of Big Sur between Malpaso Creek near Carmel Highlands [11] in the north and San Carpóforo Creek near San Simeon in the south. [12] Apple's desktop operating system, macOS Big Sur, announced on June 22, 2020, during WWDC, is named after this region. [274] See also [ edit ] Edging the cliffs and twisting through stands of towering redwoods, California Highway 1 is Big Sur’s main drag. Take your time, both to drive safely and for stops at overlooks, where you can watch tendrils of fog drifting into the redwood canyons.

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Henry Miller moved to Big Sur at the invitation of the Greco-French artist Jean Varda, uncle of filmmaker Agnès Varda. He lived in Big Sur for almost 20 years, from 1944 to 1962. When he first arrived, he was broke and novelist Lynda Sargent was renting a cabin from a local riding club. She allowed Miller to live rent-free for a while. But when the cabin was sold to Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth in 1945, Miller moved several miles south to a wood cabin on Partington Ridge that had been owned by his friend Emil White. [127] a b c d Surfer Magazine (February 21, 2006). Surfer Magazine's Guide to Northern and Central California Surf Spots. Chronicle Books. p.97. ISBN 978-0-8118-4998-2. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017 . Retrieved January 13, 2011. During the first survey of the coast conducted by the U.S. Coast Survey in 1886, the surveyor reported: The Ventana Wildlife Center near Andrew Molera State Park features a free Discovery Center that enables visitors to learn about the California Condor recovery program and other wildlife. [57]