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Pfiefer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur, CA, March 31,
Pfiefer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur, CA, March 31, 2024 Let me just say, for starters, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a great destination. I am pleased that they have been doing a little bit better job trimming the overhead trees that go over the roadways into the campsites. When we were here a few years ago, many of the trees were overgrown and the top of our RV was impacted. We made reservations a few months back for the Easter weekend to celebrate it with my son and his husband. We were in the RV, and they were in a tent. We drove in on a windy Friday morning and arrived right about noon. They weren't checking people to the campground until about 12:30, so we asked if we could go dump our tanks and get freshwater. The Ranger at the front kiosk was very gracious and said we could take care of those tasks and then come back at 12:30. That's what we did and everything worked out very well for the rest of the check-in. Friday night and much of the day Saturday, we had some pretty torrential downpours of rain with wind, lightning, and thunder. I don't know what the official rain total was, but I've heard it was over 2 inches in 24 hours. When we awoke Sunday morning, we had calm blue skies and our spirits were lifted. Unbeknownst to us, there had been a road slip out the night before. They closed off Highway one afterwards. Suddenly, we were being told we were stranded and would not be able to go back north. As you can imagine, we were concerned we might be trapped for many weeks or even possibly months until they got the road repaired. Fortunately, CalTrans determined that the road on the northbound side would be usable to accommodate an evacuation. Before we knew it, we had packed up and were on the road to be part of a 4 PM convoy out of Big Sur. Everything went smoothly and we were able to get out of the area. We originally had planned to stay until Tuesday. However, we had to cut our trip short because of the road situation and mandatory evacuation. The state park was very gracious and refunded our money for the days that our trip was cut short. We probably won't be coming back again during the rainy season when road slip-outs and landslides are more likely to close the road.
Be the first to ReplyOk, so my family has camped here off and on for over 20
Ok, so my family has camped here off and on for over 20 years. Decided to book 2 nights thinking it would be cold making it less crowded but to our surprise sign out front said "Campgrounds full" but the one next to us had a reserve sign on it but no one checked in on either nights. We did still book this 6 months in advance. One BIG thing that has changed over the years is the cost to stay in a regular campsite cost $50.00 no matter which site you pick. I remember in the past only a prime campsite on the river cost this much and the other spots cost 35.00. Plus if you have an extra car it's another 10 dollars a night. Then $12 cash only for a bundle of firewood that might last you 2 fires tops. Now for the spot we picked was campsite #165. Only fit our Ford Transit Van and the entrance was a sludgy mud puddle! The main table was broken off by a big tree limb that was chopped up in a pile that also had a pile of toilet paper near it. YUCK! Not a great welcome but we made the best out of it, to say the least. Gorgeous tall and bushy redwoods galore. Had beautiful full moon nights with lots of stars up above. Some peace and quiet besides a few disrespectful neighbors rolling in late with surrounding bright lights on their van but hey we can't have it being perfect LOL Nearby was the river which was flowing pretty well this time of year. Did a morning hike to Buzzard Roost, which was steep but worth the views. For the most part, it was a great time, riding bikes and hiking but will definitely pick a different spot. Something with more sun. Planning another trip in May with family so hopefully, we will have a better spot but we know we still will have fun every time we come down here. Plus it's only an hour from home:)
Be the first to ReplyYou can hike in or you can drive in, either way in my
You can hike in or you can drive in, either way in my opinion it's worth it. Gorgeous view of the sunset if you go at that time, which I do recommend.
Be the first to ReplyThis state park is incredible with views on both sides of
This state park is incredible with views on both sides of the Hwy. The road is narrow and curvy so come prepared if you get carsick. There are lot of pullouts on Hwy 1 as you drive down to the park. Lime Kiln was my favorite hike, but that burnt in 2020 and has yet to reopen as has that section of the Hwy so you can't drive Hwy 1 the whole distance. Tan Bark Trail is an enjoyable 4.7 mile hike if you're looking for a hike that nicely blends the deep, dark, ferny, redwood forest part with the iconic rugged CA coastline. This trail is classified "hard" by AllTrails app probably due to the 2,043 foot gain. It can be steep. There are steps through part of it. It is a loop trail and generally takes people 4hrs to complete. For a smaller hike, we decided to try out Big Sur River Gorge Trail. It's 1.1 out and back. Not one I'd recommend if you like cutting out into nature. You're on a road for most of the walk. Then you're walking through the campground. At least you exit the campground to the trail, but then there's only maybe a few hundred feet left of trail. It's pretty though.
Be the first to ReplyWe stayed at the campground for one night.
It is a very large campground that runs along the river. Lots of trails and things to do here. Most campsite are shaded. If you can book in advance there are some sites that are right beside the river that looked fun for kids. We stayed at site 19. Average site. Very clean and well shaded. Bathrooms were also pretty clean. We were pretty close to the camp host and he was very friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back here
Be the first to ReplyAlways a great place to reset.
The trail up to the waterfall had been closed for a few years now, an alternate route had been created. Helpful hint: along the drive down here from the north, heed the message board just before heading up past Pt. Logos, it will usually tell you road conditions to Big Sur and if there are road closures and / or delays. Today's message was road closed 38 miles south of Big Sure on Hwy 1. Watch out for pedestrians crossing the highway on those blind corners.
Be the first to ReplyIt was beautiful.
We were in awe of the beauty. We were in space 45... a pretty nice spot. I am disabled and it is considered a disabled spot. What makes it disability friendly is that it has an asphalt pad for the rv. HOWEVER, the asphalt is buckling and has huge mounds. Not the best for a lady with a cane. The lodge had a really good salmon salad. Hidden gem: the general store down the road has THE BEST burrito prepared on site.
Be the first to ReplyWent to Pfeiffer Big Sur SP two times this month, last time
Went to Pfeiffer Big Sur SP two times this month, last time was Sat 6/17/23. Hiked Buzzard Roost about 5 miles loop, strenuous and Pfeiffer Falls the Valley View Trail. Buzzard Roost was tough, and no views at the top, all fogged in. Then we went to Valley View Trail because the easier Pfeiffer Falls trail is closed. Lots of climbing, but little bit short. Park by lot 1 larger or 2 (smaller lot). Go early cuz it fills up! Other time I got to hike River Gorge Trail, forgot to bring my sandals so didn't go into the cold water, friends liked it. Park by lot 3. Worth going! Worth a visit for hikes.
Be the first to ReplyA beautiful state park along Highway one in Big Sur.
The drive there is breathtaking and not a mile goes by without a beautiful view. The state park is lovely which includes redwoods and oak trees. We were there in spring so there were flowers as you walk. Going to the Falls, which takes about 45 minutes at a fair clip is well worth it. we were there in the first half of May and it was not that crowded and as you walk to the falls the crowd thins out. I highly recommend this State Park and you probably want to spend at least 2 to 4 hours there.
Be the first to ReplyI feel as if there are some confusing reviews about
I feel as if there are some confusing reviews about Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in this particular listing. Some reviews call out the waterfall (McWay Falls) at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is an entirely different park, further south. Others have posted a review of Pfeiffer Beach which has its own entrance fee and down the road on the west side of Highway 1. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is it's own entity along the Big Sur river on the east side of Highway 1. It has a lodge, restaurant, campgrounds, river and redwood trails and is home of Pfeiffer Falls. They do a great job of keeping their website updated with park and trail information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570 I love visiting this park for the peaceful woods and river walk. Some popular trails include the semi-loop up to Buzzards Roost, Valley view and a side journey to Pfeiffer falls. In the winter storms of 2023, part of the trail to the falls (including a recently built footbridge) sustained major damage so is only partially accessible, The hikes don't feature the standard sweeping Big Sur views but are lovely in their own ways. Spring brings an array of wildflowers and it's a place to enjoy the redwoods along the coast. The entrance fee will also cover the fees for Andrew Molera and Julia Pfeiffer parks but Pfeiffer Beach collects its own fee. They also accept the CA state parks day use pass. Great park for relaxing strolls, short but steep hikes and an up close look at the river. One of my favorite state parks!
Be the first to ReplyPeople come here to camp celebrates get married or just to
People come here to camp celebrates get married or just to enjoy the state park. It's a great place to see redwoods in to enjoy the Big Sur river. There's a restaurant in Lodge and gift shop but most people come here to camp. At the end of camp there's a river you can walk up to it and not far away is a gorge for swimming.
Be the first to ReplyBeautiful scenery, and even saw deer and turkeys.
Great friendly staff. Didn't get to see more due to the bad weather, but will definitely return to see it again.
Be the first to ReplyOn our drive through Big Sur we stopped at Pfeiffer Falls
On our drive through Big Sur we stopped at Pfeiffer Falls to do the short hike. The first day we got there was close to dark so we opted to come back the next day and do the 1.3 mile hike to the waterfall. We stopped in to get a coffee and enjoy the fire when we went across awesome staff there in the café. Executive Chef William had us sample the deep fried artichokes as seen in the picture. The next day since the food was so delicious we went back to try the grilled cauliflower and that was even more amazing. It was such a great experience to our girls trip that me and my girlfriends will be talking about this for years to come. A lovely experience and a great stop. Thank you .
Be the first to ReplyCool lil beach, but it's $15 a car and not really a very
Cool lil beach, but it's $15 a car and not really a very big beach especially when it starts to get crowded, we went around 9am and were able to easily have parking options and not too many ppl, but by 11, it started to feel crowded and the lot was full. Cool rock feature
Be the first to ReplyWe did the Kirk Creek to Vicente Flat Camp trail.
It was 5.1 miles roundtrip and had such wonderful views!
Be the first to ReplyLast summer, before we hit the road on a long road trip, we
Last summer, before we hit the road on a long road trip, we spent a few days camping in Big Sur. I grew up camping all up and down this coast, and over the years, I've become very familiar with it.About 45 minutes north of our camping location, we visited Pfeiffer Big Sur state park. One thing I've learned about this area is that in the last decade or so, it has become very popular... Crowded is probably a better descriptor. The early bird gets the worm, but the early hiker gets the parking spot.Which is to say, if you arrive mid morning or later, you're probably going to have a bad time at many popular locations. Pfeiffer beach, for example, with its famous waterfall onto the purple Sands below, was an absolute Disneyland like nightmare of cars and people. Park rangers did their best to try to manage it, but it was downright dangerous.We continued north a little bit from there, however, to visit the state park. Our camping tag in the window at a different state park served as our entrance fee, and we pulled inside and found parking in one of the lots near the creek. It was a warm day inland, with that usual ribbon of dense fog and mist hugging the extreme coastline, and clear blue cerulean skies just inland over the redwood forest and riparian areas.We had a great time hiking around, seeing the different sites, taking family photos, and getting in a little exercise after eating one too many s'mores. It happens when you're camping.There's lots to see here, and thankfully, there are still a few places that have not been overrun by people... Especially the ones that don't pop up at the top of the list when you Google "Big Sur." But regardless of where you visit, I hope you enjoy, keep it clean, and do your part to protect and preserve this unique California resource.
Be the first to ReplySuch a beautiful park! The rangers were super nice in
Such a beautiful park! The rangers were super nice in guiding me around with the hiking trails. Parking was only 10 the whole day! I cannot wait to visit again!
Be the first to ReplyCamped in the.
main camp ground over a weekend in the summer time with family and friends. This whole Big Sur coast is amazing and the Park is no exception. The campsites vary greatly. We had two sites - one was in a big field with not many trees or shades. Had amazing views of the stars at night. The other campsite was hidden in trees, with lots of shade, pretty sloped and no view of the sky. Make sure you know what you'd like before booking. The highlight for us was the Gorge. A stretch of the Big Sur River with swimming holes, rocks and small waterfalls. It's a very short hike to get to it from one end of the campground. We were there around 4 or 5 p.m. each day and a lot of the other visitors had cleared out which left us to a nice serene setting. The bathrooms in the campground were so, so. About what you would expect for a State Park campground. There are showers (I didn't try them) and a store within the campground with essentials and memorabilia. The hiking options were great. There are some short hikes in and around the river which was great for the Kiddos. We did the hike to a Waterfall, which involved lots of steps, but was sort of underwhelming once we saw the Waterfall. It's no Yosemite Falls. Years ago I did the 10 mile hike (one-way) to the Hot Springs with the trail head starting near the campground. Definitely worth the outing, but make sure to leave early enough and bring plenty of water and supplies.
Be the first to ReplyMy kids were definitely not amused with the hike to the
My kids were definitely not amused with the hike to the falls which was uphill all the way there & the falls themselves aren't exactly robust. Nonetheless l, it's a lovely park.
Be the first to ReplyI loved this park! It was a beautiful place, very peaceful,
I loved this park! It was a beautiful place, very peaceful, and there was so many things to see! The only downside i would say is all the flies and the McWay Falls trail was closed during the time I went.
Be the first to ReplyThis is our second time visiting Big Sur.
Last time parts of it had been closed due to forest fires/construction, so we got the chance to check out what Big Sur has to offer. Some tips on trip planning:1) Bring Swim Suits and Swim Gear. You can get to the Big Sur River Gorge pretty easily by parking in lots 3 or 4. Just follow the trail signs. You will hike about .5 miles, up a hill and past a campground, where you will find lots of areas to wade and/or swim. Put down your outdoor chairs or towels and get ready for some fun. For higher temperature try to get to the gorge around 1:00 pm. Nice swimholes, good rocks/streams for water tracing. Just watch out for slick rocks due to algae.2) Picnic Areas. Lots 3 and 4 have pretty good picnic areas, if you need a place to rest and fuel up. There are some grills there as well, so you can bring charcoal and cooking items of your choice.3) Pfeiffer Falls. You will park in lot 1 or 2, and then hike out of the State Park, past the Big Sur Lodge, and finally to the Pfeffer Falls trail (alternatively you can just park at the lot near the trail). This trail has a nice loop. Waterfall is pretty minimal in the summer. Give yourself 1.5-2 hours to complete this trail4) Facility cleanliness. The bathrooms are well maintained, especially for such a popular state park. You might want to bring your own toilet seat covers and toilet paper, just in case.
Be the first to ReplyGotta watch out for the law enforcement there they are
Gotta watch out for the law enforcement there they are liars do anything to make themselves look good by not admitting there unlawful actions on duty... The infantile out of control rookies escalating fritening and scaring the children like they did.. VERY CONCERNING WHAT TOOK PLACE!!!!
Be the first to ReplyNice place for hiking and well kept.
$10 per vehicle and if you want to save on the state park fees, the $10 ticket is valid for the full day at other state park areas like Point Lobos Reserve if you want to take advantage of a few stops in one day.My crew took the Pfeiffer Falls trail, which is pretty although a short hike. Everything is well marked on the trail but I recommend always having an offline map as that comes in handy when there's no signal out in these areas. There are some steps going uphill... nothing intense but you'll get a bit of "hiking" in.There's a little cafe/restaurant and maintained restrooms in the building near the lot. Make sure that you don't miss the river trail not too far for some cool pics too!
Be the first to ReplyWent to Big Sur this weekend for a birthday trip.
I absolutely love hiking and haven't been to Big Sur in a while so this was the perfect get away to try something new. The Big Sur area isnt too far from Monterey which is a big tourist attraction and also another great place to explore. Monterey has plenty of beaches, shops, and other favorites that your sure to love. I enjoy the cooler weather and Big Sur is the perfect in between of the 70s right about this time. Also, for those who cant decide of the are coastal lovers or those who love the pines Big Sur has both so you don't have to pick. The main attraction you might have heard about is Mcway Falls in Big Sur which is one of my favs. One this trail another waterfall that captured my attention was Pfeiffer Falls. Its about 30 mintues to reach the falls. A relatively easy hike with plenty of cool picture taking opportunities. Although it can be tricky getting started on the hike because you arent given a map; there is only one map before you hike the park and some signs you you really have to keep your eyes open for your correct turn or else you might miss it. Loved how being on these trails made me feel like I was so far away from the beach and into a whole other world. That was especially true for the next trail Buzzards Roost. This was a longer, more difficult trail for intermediate to advanced hikers. This trail has a steep incline..bc you are hiking a mountain! When youre hiking uphill it feels like it takes forever..but when you reach the top its an amzing view. As you go down watch for the steep incline. The way back down is much faster. Definitely a cool spot to check out. There is also so more river trails that the map offers as well.
Be the first to ReplyWe were able to do a quick hike up to Pfeiffer Falls.
It was pretty simple and we were able to see a lot of beautiful landscape sights along the way.
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