Big Sur

For other uses, see Big Sur (disambiguation).

Big Sur, California
Region
Coastline
Coastline
Big Sur, California is located in California
Big Sur, California
Big Sur, California
Location in California
Coordinates: 36°17′57″N 121°52′24″W / 36.299216°N 121.873402°W / 36.299216; -121.873402
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountiesMonterey, San Luis Obispo

Big Sur (/ˈsɜːr/) is a rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Carmel Highlands and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. It is frequently praised for its dramatic scenery. Big Sur has been called the "longest and most scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the contiguous United States",[1] a sublime "national treasure that demands extraordinary procedures to protect it from development",[2] and "one of the most beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world, an isolated stretch of road, mythic in reputation".[3] The views, redwood forests, hiking, beaches, and other recreational opportunities have made Big Sur a popular destination for visitors from across the world. With 4.5 to 7 million visitors annually,[4] it is among the top tourist destinations in the United States, comparable to Yosemite National Park, but with considerably fewer services, and less parking, roads, and related infrastructure.[5][6][7][8][9]

Big Sur Village is a collection of small roadside businesses and homes.[10]: 2  The larger region known as Big Sur does not have specific boundaries but is generally considered to include the 71-mile (114 km) segment of California State Route 1 between Malpaso Creek near Carmel Highlands[11] in the north and San Carpóforo Creek near San Simeon in the south,[12] as well as the entire Santa Lucia range between these creeks.[10] The interior region is mostly uninhabited, while the coast remains relatively isolated and sparsely populated, with between 1,800 and 2,000 year-round residents[13] and relatively few visitor accommodations scattered among four small settlements. The region remained one of the most inaccessible areas of California and the entire United States until, after 18 years of construction, the Carmel–San Simeon Highway (now signed as part of State Route 1) was completed in 1937. Along with the ocean views, this winding, narrow road, often cut into the face of towering seaside cliffs, dominates the visitor's experience of Big Sur. The highway has been closed more than 55 times by landslides, and in May 2017, a 2,000,000-cubic-foot (57,000 m3) slide blocked the highway at Mud Creek, north of Salmon Creek near the San Luis Obispo County line, to just south of Gorda. The road was reopened on July 18, 2018.

The region is protected by the Big Sur Local Coastal Plan, which preserves it as "open space, a small residential community, and agricultural ranching."[14] Approved in 1986, the plan is one of the most restrictive local-use programs in the state,[15] and is widely regarded as one of the most restrictive documents of its kind anywhere.[16] The program protects viewsheds from the highway and many vantage points, and severely restricts the density of development. About 60% of the coastal region is owned by governmental or private agencies which do not allow any development. The majority of the interior region is part of the Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Silver Peak Wilderness or Fort Hunter Liggett.

  1. ^ Marvinney, Craig A. (1984). "Land Use Policy Along the Big Sur Coast of California; What Role for the Federal Government?". UCLA Journal of Environmental Law & Policy. 4. Regents of the University of California. doi:10.5070/L541018694. Accessed 22 August 2016.
  2. ^ Lindsey, Robert (January 28, 1986). "Plan for Big Sur Severely Restricts Development". New York Times. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  3. ^ "Big times in Big Sur". Washington Times. July 7, 2006. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  4. ^ Thomas, Gregory (December 30, 2020). "Big Sur is fed up with 'selfie tourism.' Here's its new plan to transform travel in the region". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  5. ^ "Initiatives". Community Association of Big Sur. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference caltransguide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway - LosApos". Losapos.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "Our response to California State Parks Preferred Alternative". Big Sur Land Trust. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "Top 10 Tourist Destinations in the United States". WorldAtlas.com. August 1, 2017. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference henson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Magazine2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Big Sur Magic - Carmel Magazine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Agha, Laith. "The Long Road to Work". voicesofmontereybay.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  14. ^ "Letter from Karin Strasser Kauffman". The Big Sur Local Coastal Program Defense Committee. April 4, 2015. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  15. ^ Barnett, Mary (March 1981). "Big Sur LCP Adopted by County Planners" (PDF). Big Sur Gazette. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2014.
  16. ^ 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.