Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER
one
Introducing Big Sur
B
IG
S
UR
. T
HE NAME EVOKES IMAGES
of a wild and rugged coast. In the mid-1800s, a
handful of independent and adventurous homesteaders, fur traders, ranchers, and entre-
preneurs settled the area along steep, narrow wagon roads. But Big Sur would remain
remote until Highway 1 was completed in 1938. Modern-day visitors are struck by the
drama of this two-lane roller coaster, which twists and winds through blankets of fog
along sheer cliffs hundreds of feet above the Pacific.
Just where Big Sur begins and ends has long been a matter of debate. Historically,
early Spanish explorers named the vague unexplored wilderness south of Monterey
El Sur Grande
(“The Big South”). Today, the region encompasses a 90-mile coastal
stretch between Carmel to the north and San Simeon to the south, flanked on one side
by the high peaks of the Santa Lucia Range and on the other by the jagged coast and
broad Pacific Ocean.
While Big Sur is widely renowned for its exceptional beauty, few people venture
beyond Highway 1. In addition, few roads cross the Santa Lucia Range, making it one
of the largest roadless areas along the continental US coast. The result? A vast, remote
wilderness waits to be explored.
About This Topic
Trips in
Part I
list day hikes only, as state and federal lands are limited to day use.
While some state parks offer campgrounds, backcountry camping is forbidden. In con-
trast, the wilderness areas described in
Part II
offer more than 300 miles of trails and
restricted roads to explore on either day hikes or extended backpacking treks. Each part
is subdivided into chapters that list trips in geographic order from north to south.
Each trip includes summary information and the hike description itself.
Summary
