Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

For most visitors, “Big Sur” means Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The state park—and its brief but popular trail system—is dominated by the Big Sur River, which meanders through redwood groves on its way to the Pacific Ocean, five miles away.

John Pfeiffer, for whom the park was named, homesteaded 160 acres of mountainous terrain between Sycamore Canyon and the Big Sur River. In 1884, he moved into a cabin perched above the Big Sur River Gorge. (You can see the reconstructed “Homestead Cabin,” which is located on the park’s Gorge Trail.) John Pfeiffer sold and donated some of his ranchland to the state in the 1930s, and it became the nucleus of the state park.

This walk, which follows the Pfeiffer Falls Trail and Valley View Trail, is an easy “leg stretcher” suitable for the whole family. lt visits Pfeiffer Falls and offers a good introduction to the delights of the state park.

Directions to trailhead: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is located off Highway 1, some 26 miles south of Carmel and two miles south of the hamlet of Big Sur. Beyond the entry booth, turn left at the stop sign, then veer right (uphill). Very soon, you’ll find some day use parking. A much larger parking area is located near the store and restaurant at the bottom of the hill.

The hike: From the signed trailhead, follow the trail to Pfeiffer Falls. Very shortly, on your left, you’ll spot a trail heading left to Valley View; this will be your return path. The walk continues under stately redwoods and meanders along with Pfeiffer-Redwood Creek.

You’ll soon ascend a redwood stairway to a junction with Oak Grove Trail, which leads rightward 1.5 miles through oak and madrone woodland over to the Mt. Manuel Trail. Stay left at this junction and follow Pfeiffer Falls Trail through the forest and past a second branch of the Valley View Trail.

A stairway leads to an observation platform at the base of the falls. Pfeiffer-Redwood Creek cascades over a 40-foot precipice to a small grotto.

After enjoying the falls, descend the stairway and bear right on the Valley View Trail, which leaves behind the redwoods and ascends into a tanbark oak and coast live oak woodland.

At a signed junction, turn right and follow the pathway along a minor ridge to a lookout. The Pacific Ocean pounding the Point Sur headlands and the Big Sur River Valley are part of the fine view.

Backtrack along Valley View Trail and at the first junction stay right and descend on Pfeiffer Falls Trail back to Pfeiffer-Redwood Canyon. Another right at the canyon bottom brings you back to the trailhead.

© 2007 The Trailmaster, Inc.
Trail descriptions and maps have been reproduced with the permission of the author.