Dramatically rising out of the Pacific Ocean, the severe coastline of Big Sur along the Central Coast of California is one of America’s truly great outdoor destinations. With mile high mountains mere yards from the water, this environment is jagged and rough. Don’t expect to find many gas stations or cell signals!
Beyond simply being an epic hiking destination, Big Sur has rare and endangered wildlife, vast wilderness, and some of the most incredible roads in the world (not an exaggeration!).
Even better, Big Sur is a 4 season destination. Being located right on the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, the temperatures are temperate all year on the coast. Inland, summer afternoons can be brutally hot when you get away from the water, so be careful to not get dehydration!
Not only do you not have to deal with a cold winter, but Big Sur gets very little rain throughout the year as well. This means a lot of blue skies all year long, and most importantly no snow to deal with! Unfortunately, this can have the side effect of serious wildfires!
We put together a list of the 5 best easy, moderate, and difficult hikes in Big Sur. We don’t claim this is a definitive list of the absolute best hikes in the area, but all of these trails are great, and certainly deserve your attention. Keep reading to learn about 15 of the best Big Sur hikes!
Big Sur is a great road trip destination, but be sure to save as much money as you can!
Best Easy Big Sur Hikes:
Partington Cove Trail
Clocking in at just over 1 mile round trip, this is a short jaunt down to the ocean. While the hike is short, there is a bit of elevation gain and loss, so be prepared for a short bit of climbing.
Your payoff for your effort is an up close view of a small rocky cove along the severe coastline of Big Sur. If you’re looking for a short stop on a drive through the area, this is a nice hike to consider!
Overlook Trail to McWay Falls
By far the most famous view in Big Sur, the overlook of McWay Falls really is an iconic image. McWay Falls is a very unique waterfall as it drops directly onto the beach and into the ocean off the coastal cliffs.
This is a must hit destination on any trip through Big Sur, and it is a very easy hike for one of the best views in California!
Soberanes Point and Whale Peak
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
This hike takes you to a point jutting out into the Pacific and a summit overlooking the coast. Starting just off the highway, the trail first ascends Whale Peak. While it is not a true mountain summit, Whale Peak provides expansive views up and down the coast, as well as out to sea.
After the hike up Whale Peak, the trail takes you down to the coastal cliffs. The trail takes you through the low shrubby foliage of the Big Sur coast, and if you visit in spring, there is an excellent chance of this foliage being brilliantly colored by flowers. The views from the point look in all directions, and provide magnificent views each way!
The Pfeiffer Falls Trail
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
Located in the heart of Big Sur at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, this short hike to Pfeiffer Falls takes you through one of the region’s most beautiful Redwood forests. The waterfall itself lies at the end of a short but somewhat steep climb, so if you are looking for a totally flat walk, this might not be the trail for you.
If you want to see a stunning Redwood forest, explore the banks of the Big Sur River, and make your way to a very pretty waterfall, this trail is worth checking out!
Creamery Meadows Trail
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One of my go to hikes in Big Sur, this is an easy hike that takes you to a hidden beach. The hike itself is essentially totally flat, so it’s a really easy hike and a nice pleasant walk through the coastal forest.
One of the highlights of the hike is the river crossing at the beginning. Usually, you will need to take your shoes off and simply ford the river, but at some times throughout the year, there is a bridge across the river. It makes for a fun adventure to start an otherwise simple hike!
Best Moderate Big Sur Hikes:
Beach, Bluffs, Panorama, Ridge, and Creamery Meadows Loop
Another trail at Molera State Park, this hike begins on the same trail that takes you to the beach. After crossing the river, this hike turns left and ascends the coastal bluffs.
This trail will provide you with sweeping ocean views throughout, for not too much work. The hike as described here is a loop, though you could shorten it and make it an out and back.
The Buzzards Roost Trail
The hike up to Buzzards Roost is a short but steep climb up to a sweeping viewpoint. Starting in the inland forest, the trail climbs out of the foliage onto an open summit. From the top, you will be treated with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and the Pacific in the distance.
This hike starts in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park near many other trails and the Big Sur Lodge, so whether or not you are just driving through, or using this area as your basecamp, this would be a great moderate hike to get the lungs working!
South Shore Trail to Cypress Grove Trail
Another one of my favorite hikes in the area, this hike could be considered easy, but there are many variations and ways to lengthen and toughen the hike. At the northern limit of Big Sur, Point Lobos is an incredible wildlife viewing area, and you have a good chance of seeing otters, seals, sea lions, or even whales!
I really can’t recommend this trail enough. The landscape in this northern edge of Big Sur is not as dramatic as it is further south, but the wildlife combined with the tide pools and forest makes for a must see destination!
The Tanbark Trail to the Tin House
Probably the most difficult trail in the moderate category, this hike begins across the street from the Partington Cove trail. Beginning at Highway 1, this trail climbs the coastal hills into the forest and eventually emerges onto open hilltops with wide open ocean views.
If you’re looking for amazing ocean views, this is one of the best options on this list. Though it only clocks in at 6 miles, it is pretty steep, so be prepared if you tackle this hike!
The Brazil Ranch Trail
If views are your thing, this might be the best trail on the list! Not only will you see sweeping ocean views, you will also be treated to beautiful views of some of the high peaks of Big Sur.
Be prepared to deal with a lot of sunshine, as this hike is pretty exposed. On a summer afternoon, it will get hot! This trail is only about 4 miles and the ascent isn’t that long, but the climb is steep and the sun is hot!
If you want a trail that truly captures the essence of what Big Sur is all about, look no further!
Best Difficult Big Sur Hikes:
Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail
Probably the most popular backpacking trip in Big Sur, the trail to Sykes Hot Springs is a Big Sur classic. Don’t take this one lightly. At 18 miles round trip and over 5,000 feet of elevation gain, even the strongest hikers would be hard pressed to do this hike in a day!
When open (it’s not at the moment), do this hike as an overnight backpacking trip to fully enjoy the hot springs. This trail does get very busy, so I would recommend doing it during the offseason, and/or on a weekday.
Please follow leave no trace principles. This area has been trashed by overtraffic and litter, so be a conscientious hiker!
Manuel Peak Trail
The hike to Manuel Peak provides a twofold challenge: not only is it a tough hike at almost 10 miles and 3,400 feet of climbing, but the final stretch to the summit is quite overgrown and will require navigating fallen trees and overgrown trails.
While the trail is tough, the views at the top are worth it. From the summit of a legitimate mountain, you will have wide open views of the Pacific, and looking inland, you will see the high peaks of the Ventana Wilderness.
Kirk Creek Campground to Vicente Flat
From an unassuming pullout along Highway 1, the Vicente Flat Trail climbs up the coastal bluffs to a series of awesome backcountry camping sites. Vicente Flat itself is a Redwood grove in a steep walled valley beneath the imposing face of Cone Peak, and makes for an excellent overnight or day hike!
This trail is one of the only ones that I’ve encountered that has epic ocean views, Redwood forests, and big time mountains. Most Big Sur hikes involve coastal bluffs, but this one really gets you into its more mountainous interior. It’s a great, and unique, combination!
Cone Peak via Highway 1
Another hike that is more of a backpacking trip than a day hike, the trail to the summit of Cone Peak is a challenge that will likely take you 2 days to complete. Cone Peak is one of the highest mountains in the Big Sur region, and rises over 5,000 feet from sea to summit.
This hike involves over 6,000 feet of climbing round trip, and is over 21 miles out and back! When open, this is one of the more popular backpacking trips in the area, but as of March 2021, the trail is closed. It’s a challenge, but the reward is summiting one of the highest costal mountains in California!
Timber Top and Boranda Trail
Looking at the distance on this hike, you might think it would be a moderately difficult hike, but with 2,500 feet of climbing in 2.5 miles, you are basically on a stairmaster the entire way up!
This would make for a really nice day hike, or it can also be done as an overnight backpacking trip. There is a small campground at Timber Top that overlooks the ocean!
Again, this hike takes you from the road and ascends the coastal mountains until you emerge on an open hilltop with huge views of the Pacific. While it is similar to other trails, this one is probably the shortest, with the caveat that it is one of the steepest!
We know this is not a complete list of great hikes in Big Sur, but if you’re looking for some inspiration and a set of hikes to get you started in the area, we think these hikes would serve you well!
Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places in not only the country, but really the entire world. While it doesn’t have the high alpine peaks of the major mountain ranges of the world, it is arguably the most rugged, dramatic, and scenic coastline in the world, and that really is not an exaggeration!
Whether you are driving Highway 1 on a road trip up the Pacific Coast, or you are spending a week camping in the area, we have a hike for you! If you go to Big Sur, and you should, let us know which trails you loved, and if there are any that we absolutely need to add to the list!
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