Big Sur Spectacular

HIGHLIGHTS:

We will first explore Big Sur’s south coast, camping at Plaskett Creek, less than ½ mile from beautiful Sand Dollar Beach. Every day promises sweeping ocean views of this barely tamed stretch of coast. Then we pack up and move north to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park which will serve as our base for two more hikes, one in the Park and one along the coastal bluffs of Andrew Molera State Park.

TRIP INCLUDES:

Camping & parking fees; guided hiking; nightly dinners; shuttle transportation; evening programs; dinners, hot water/coffee, light breakfast and lunch fixings.

FACILITIES:

You will be camping out each night so you will need appropriate gear including sleeping bag, mattress or pad, and tent with rain fly. Since seating at some of the camp sites is minimal, we recommend you bring a folding chair.

 CAMPGROUNDS:

• Nights 1 & 2: Plaskett Creek Campground – no showers
• Nights 3, 4 & 5: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park – hot showers (Token-operated. Campers may purchase tokens in $1 increments at the entrance kiosk or select bathrooms throughout the campground. $1 = 2 tokens = 4 minutes).

DAILY HIKING:

8 to 11 miles per day

TYPES OF HIKING SURFACES:

Canyon, ridge and bluff trails, varying surfaces from sand to gravel to mud. Trekking poles provide excellent stability, especially while crossing tricky terrain and streams.

FITNESS REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to hike up to 10 miles with elevation gains of up to 2000 ft.

PARKING:

Cars will be parked at or near each campground.

CLIMATE

Ocean temperatures are normally in the mid- to upper-50s year-round so expect moderate temperatures with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the high-40s. There may be morning fog. Rain is unlikely but is a possibility. It can be windy on the bluffs, beaches and ridge lines.

SHOWERS

There are no showers at Plaskett Creek. Consider bringing a solar shower bag if you have one.

TRANSPORTATION:

Meet at Plaskett Creek Campground May 22. We encourage you to carpool to Big Sur; information about carpooling TBA.

Hikers will have their own vehicles at each of the camp sites so they may bring and keep whatever they like in them.

FOOD:

Coffee (and decaf), juice, and milk will be available each morning, as well as a variety of breakfast and lunch foods. Each evening there will be a Happy Hour, with soft drinks, beer or wine and appetizers. Coastwalk will provide your first beverage and if you would like an additional beverage, please feel free to bring your own beverage.

Dinners are provided each evening.

You will only need to carry lunch items, water and layers while hiking.

BE SURE TO BRING:

Cash for showers at Pfeiffer Big Sur state Park.

BE SURE NOT TO BRING:

Shorts.

Sunday, May 22 – SEE MAP BELOW

• Arrive for orientation 3pm
• Easy walk to Jade Cove and Plaskett Rock. South on Hwy 1 to trail at Milepost MON 13.3.
• Camp at Plaskett Creek (Milepost MON 13.7)

Monday, May 23 – SEE MAP BELOW

Drop some cars at Soda Springs TH (Milepost MON 3.8)

• Carpool to Cruikshank Trailhead (Milepost MON 6.5)
• Cruikshank Trail to Upper Cruikshank Camp to Buckeye Trail to Soda Springs Trailhead (Milepost MON 3.8) – 8 miles, 1600’
• Shuttle back to camp
• Camp at Plaskett Creek

Tuesday, May 24 – SEE MAP BELOW

Pack up in morning

• Drive to Kirk Creek Campground (Milepost MON 19)
• Vicente Flat Trail from Kirk Creek Campground to Vicente Flat, return – 10 miles out and back, 1700’
• Continue to second camp at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (Milepost MON 46.9)
• Camp at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Wednesday, May 25 – SEE MAP BELOW

Carpool from Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground to Partington Cove/Tanbark Trailhead (Milepost MON 37.8)

• Partington Cove/Tanbark Trail to Tin House to Fire Road Trail to Highway 1 (at Milepost MON 36.9) to Partington Cove – 6.4 mile loop; 1900’
• Walk back to Partington Cove on west side of Highway 1 (0.9 miles)
• Walk down to Partington Cove – 1 mile out and back
• Carpool back to camp at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
• Camp at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Thursday, May 26 – SEE MAP BELOW

Carpool to Andrew Molera SP (Milepost MON 51.2)

• Creamery Meadow Trail to Bluffs Trail to Panorama Trail to Ridge Trail – 9-mile loop, 1100’.
• Carpool back to camp.
• Camp at Pfeiffer Big Sur SP.

Friday, May 27 – SEE MAP BELOW

Pack up in morning

Easy walk along Pfeiffer Falls and/or Buzzards Roost and/or Valley View trails

• Stop at Pfeiffer Beach (turn west on Sycamore Canyon Road at Milepost MON 45.64)
• Adios!

 Relevant Mileposts:

• Andrew Molera – MON 51.2
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park – MON 46.9
• Sycamore Canyon Road (to Pfeiffer Beach) – MON 45.64
• Partington Cove/Tanbark Trailhead – MON 37.8
• Tin House Fire Road – MON 36.9
• Lucia – MON 23
• Limekiln State Park – MON 20.95
• Kirk Creek Campground – MON 19
• Ferguson-Nacimiento Road – MON 18.9
• Sand Dollar Beach Picnic Area/Parking – MON 13.8
• Plaskett Creek Campground – MON 13.7
• Jade Cove – MON 13.3
• Gorda Springs MON 10.1
• Cruikshank Trailhead – MON 6.5
• Soda Springs trailhead – MON 3.8
• Buckeye Trailhead – MON 2.4

• Hiking shoes, boots or sturdy walking shoes
• Waterproof sandals
• Spare walking shoes & laces
• Comfy camp shoes
• Hiking poles
• Water-proof windbreaker/ or parka for cold nights
• Long pants and long sleeve shirt (protection against sunburn, poison oak, and bugs)
• Layers for upper body
• Hat for sun protection that ties under chin
• Beanie for cold, windy conditions
• Other clothing – underwear, T-shirts, lots of socks, etc.
• Bandana
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Sunscreen (minimum 30 spf)
• Natural bug repellant
• Personal first aid kit (band aids, blister pads)
• Personal medicines
• Day pack
• Plate, cup, bowl, and eating utensils
• Sturdy Tupperware for leftovers
• Flashlight & headlamp with new batteries
• Spare batteries
• Folding camp chair
• Tent & Ground Cloth
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• REUSABLE Water Bottle
• Trail snacks (power bars or jerky)
• Credit Card & cash for camp showers and treats
• Solar shower if there is no shower at campsite
• Shower towel

What’s Included:

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided.

Breakfast:

• Coffee: (Regular in percolator with caffeine free available upon request), Teas, Cocoa, Juice, Milk (1/2 & 1/2, 2% Milk, Soy & Almond Milks)
• Sweeteners- (sugar, honey)
• Yogurt
• Biscotti
• Hot Cereals (Instant Oatmeal, and prepare it yourself steel cut oats available)
• Granola
• Walnuts or assorted nuts
• Fruit (fresh)- (Blueberries, Bananas, Apples, Oranges / Cuties)
• Fruit (dried)- Raisins & Craisins

Lunch:

• Breads- (Multi Grain & Gluten Free)
• Almond Butter
• Fruit spreads
• Cold Cuts
• Cheeses (sliced)
• Condiments, (Mustard, Mayonnaise)
• Butter, (Regular and dairy free)

Dinner: 

• Dinners are included and will be provided by Coastwalk’s Volunteer Food Angels. 

Our Chuckwagon Wrangler will do their best to accommodate you but if you have special dietary needs please bring your food in a small cooler and we will be sure to provide you with ice throughout the trip.

Tom Bliss: A Southern California native, Bliss has walked the Del Norte, San Luis Obispo, Lost Coast, Catalina and Sonoma Coastwalks, as well as the Santa Monica Backbone Trail.

Bob Adams: I was born to a mom that loved taking her dogs for long walks. It was the 50’s & 60’s and San Francisco was a much less “developed” area, offering large areas to hike or drive to one of the many open coastal properties nearby for a daily 4-6-mile walk.

My dad would arrange family gatherings and camping adventures throughout the Western United States. I then spent 24 years flying Air Force Cargo Aircraft around the world which afforded me access to hiking and camping opportunities throughout the globe so that I was able to hike on every continent-including Antarctica!

Alone, with family or like-minded groups I have spent my years with a love of the outdoors. I spent 20 years as a RN at medical, surgical, oncology hospitals units.

I joined Coastwalk several years ago for another opportunity to discover new hiking and camping experiences and have been a Chuckwagon Wrangler supporting Coastwalks in almost every coastal county. This is my first year as a Walk Leader & organizer and I look forward to sharing some of my favorite hiking areas with like-minded friends & coastal enthusiasts”.

Volunteer Support Staff 

Gail Williams: Gail is a retired Air Quality Planner who loves the coast and hiking and found Coastwalk a natural fit.  Gail has volunteered with Coastwalk for many years in various capacities including food angel, shuttle driver, camp host and walk leader. Gail has enjoyed hiking many Coastwalks over the years including Santa Catalina, San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo and Jug-Handle at Fort Bragg.  It is Gail’s dream to walk as many miles on the California Coastal Trails as time allows, especially with fellow Coastwalkers.

Gail is a retired Air Quality Planner who loves the coast and hiking and found Coastwalk a natural fit.  Gail has volunteered with Coastwalk for many years in various capacities including food angel, shuttle driver, camp host and walk leader. Gail has enjoyed hiking many Coastwalks over the years including Santa Catalina, San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo and Jug-Handle at Fort Bragg.  It is Gail’s dream to walk as many miles on the California Coastal Trails as time allows, especially with fellow Coastwalkers.

Camp Host: Bertha Riley (Bertha on the right & Donna Barnett)

• Plaskett Creek Campground https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231959
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570
• Weather https://www.weather-us.com/en/california-usa/big-sur-climate#temperature
• Hiking in Big Sur http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes.html
• Big Sur history http://www.visitbigsurcalifornia.com/History.html
• Big Sur alerts https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29841
• Trail Conditions https://bigsurtrailmap.net/trailconditions.html
• More Trail Conditions https://www.ventanawild.org/forums/trail-reports