Templeton, California

The trailhead to Salmon Creek Falls is located along a pullout just 45 miles south of Pfieffer Burns State Park on the Highway 1. The falls are only about .25 miles from the trailhead, perfect for a quick visit if you are already driving through Big Sur. Though the Salmon Creek Trail continues on...

Feel free to hike Salmon Creek Trail at your own pace – you can choose to turn back at any point, or at the Spruce (2 miles in) or Estrella (3.25 miles in) sites. The trail leads to open vistas of the coast, giving stunning views of the cliffs and ocean. Around 2 miles in, follow the fork to the...

San Martin Top is a magical spot overlooking the coast in Big Sur. Accessible via a rutted, windy dirt road, it’s remote enough to guarantee some privacy though you’ll see fellow adventurous souls on surrounding ridges. Take care on the drive up, then set up camp overlooking the ocean or rolling ...

Just south of Ragged Point, San Carpoforo Creek is an open beach that is fun to explore. There is a quick hike from the highway to the beach.  During heavy rain years, the creek will be flowing deeper, so you might need to do some swimming. There are waves occasionally here with a couple of surfe...

Head into Big Sur and get a campsite at Plaskett Creek. You can either make a reservation through recreation.gov or show up and hope to luck out on one of the first-come, first-serve campsites. The campground is much more crowded during the prime summer months, so if you want to get better surf ...