Sights Along Highway One California

An Overview of Highway One

Highway One is one of the longest, most astonishingly beautiful drives in the United States. The route hugs the California coast, providing views of cliffs, mountains, tunnels, redwood trees, unique wildlife, low beaches and endless vistas. There are many interesting sights along Highway One that merit a stop, including places like Huntington Beach, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. Note that the bulk of Highway One has few gas stations. The ones found directly along the route are notoriously overpriced, so be sure to plan accordingly. Also note that large swaths of Highway One don’t have stable cell-phone services, so downloading or printing maps beforehand is recommended.

Sights Along Highway One California – From South To North

Bubblegum Alley

Located in the small city of San Luis Obispo, this is a strange tourist attraction created with thousands of pieces of chewed bubblegum plastered to the wall. The unusual site isn’t all San Luis Obispo offers, with Bishop Peak, the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and a pleasant downtown shopping area all in the region.

Morro Bay and Beaches

Morro Bay is a scenic shoreline area with surprising coastline diversity. Additionally, the nearby landmark of Morro Rock offers dramatic geologic features, low cliffs and churning tidepools. The wide sandy areas of Morro Strand State Beach are popular for swimming, surfing, sandcastle-building and picnics. The nearby Morro T Bay Pier is a popular site for wildlife viewing, especially sleepy otters which lounge in the area. The coastline is also home to camping grounds and the Morro Bay Dog Beach for canine enjoyment.

Cayucos State Beach

This is a protected beach which is part of the California State Park system. The sand shoreline is perfect for swimming and surfing. The classic beachfront is also home to a large pier extending into the sea. Nearby, visitors can easily access Half Seal Cove and the rugged landscape of Estero Bluffs State Park

Harmony Headlands State Park

With stunning overlooks into the sea below, this coastal park follow rolling hills, mellow meadows and steep grasslands leading to Pacific Ocean panoramas.

Piedras Blancas Lighthouse Lens

Located in the seaside village of Cambria, this large glass enclosure was constructed by the “Friends of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse Lens” to protect the original historic lens and clockwork of the lighthouse. The village of Cambria also has access to the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, the tidal pools of Moonstone Beach, and some of the last reasonably affordable gas stations before entering the longer portions of Highway One.

Moonstone Beach Park

This lovely park, found on the northern end of the seaside village of Cambria, is home to tranquil beaches with bluffs, boardwalks and swirling tide pools. There’s also a Seal View Beach Deck where lounging marine mammals can be seen in large groups. The unique, low beaches framed by cliffs makes this one of the excellent sights along Highway One.

Hearst San Simeon State Park

As one of the oldest features of the California State Park System, this protected area has rocky coastlines, rare habitats and arcs of wildflowers. The site offers paid-for camping for those wishing to stay overnight.

Hearst Castle

Located off of Highway One, Hearst Castle (formerly La Cuesta Encantada), is a large, historical estate created by William Randolph Hearst, a publishing tycoon and his architect, Julia Morgan. The castles design and decorations are astonishing, famous for its sheer opulence. There are vaulted interiors, a Roman swimming pool, dual spires, long halls and manicured grounds.

Elephant Seal Vista Point (San Simeon)

This viewing point contains an observational deck overlooking shores known for large elephant seal sightings during both birthing and breeding seasons. Around 17,000 elephant seals and smaller groups of whale seals call this beach home. The free-to-view lookout along the Elephant Seal Boardwalk is best visited in late January, April and October, though it’s common to see seals throughout the year. Once a highly endangered species, these large, floppy-nosed, earless elephant seals are some of the most unusual sights along Highway One.

Piedras Blancas Light Station

This white tower with its picturesque visage is a classic 1875 lighthouse set inside a wildlife sanctuary.

Ragged Point

Ragged Point, California is a popular stop along Highway One, with scenic views overlooking cliffs, rolling valleys and the thin Black Swift Waterfalls which leads Young Creek into the ocean. The area has small gardens, several restaurants, a convenance store and a wooden art feature known as Public Art “Portal to Big Sur.”

Nathaniel Owings Memorial Redwood Grove Overlook

This is a fantastic patch of forest made of towering Redwoods overlooking the sea. The site has a small creek trickling between the trees, adding the picturesque nature of the area. There are several hiking trails around this park of Highway One.

Big Sur Lookout

A small cliffside turnoff with commanding views of the coastline and the Pacific.

Willow Creek Rocky Boulder Beachfront (Willow Creek Picnic Area and Beach)

This is a uniquely rugged beach filled with rounded stones and scenic panoramas. It’s one of the easier water-access points along the high cliffs of Highway One.

Big Sur Jade Cove

A small cove area with narrow hiking trails where bits of green-tinted jade stones can be found. Note that the trail is quite rugged and uneven.

Sand Dollar Day-Use Beach

This is an extremely scenic, undeveloped beach area with high bluffs, stone islands and a series of campgrounds nearby. Note that the campgrounds are often full, especially during weekends and holiday seasons.

Old Limekiln Falls and Ruins

Found in Limekiln State Park, this portion of Highway One contains a series of hiking trails leading up to an overlook near Limekiln Creek. There are views of the ocean, redwood trees and the Old Limekiln Ruins, a set of four giant, abandoned, steel-and-stone lime kilns located roughly twenty minutes away (walking) from the 100 foot Limekiln Falls waterfall.

Big Creek Bridge

This bridge is one of the iconic features of Big Sur, a 589-foot-long concrete deck arch stretching over the Big Creek chasm. There’s a turnoff point where many travelers often stop for photos, making it one of the most commonly photographed sights along Highway One.

John Little Nature Reserve

This is a relatively quiet protected patch of land known for its steep, rugged cliffs. It’s a decent point to stop and relax while driving along Highway One.

McWay Beach

With a small parking lot available, this area is has several outdoor activities, including dramatic views of the McWay Falls and hikes along the Ewoldsen Trailhead. Unfortunately, there’s no legal way to access the McWay Beach, but it remains one of the most-photographed sights along the route.

Partington Cove

This is a short trail leading to the coast for views of a remote inlet and rugged beach, best reached by use of a dirt trail, small wooden bridge and footpath tunnel.

The California Sea Otter State Game Refuge

Sea Otters are one of the most iconic wildlife features of Big Sur, with dozens of the aquatic mammals visable bobbing in the waves below or perched on low rocks. This large patch of protected land also offers world-class views of the coastline and sea below.

Big Sur Station

This visitor center is the main information point for the trails ranging through Big Sur. The center offers parking and campsites, as well as access to some of the best trails in the region, including the Pfeiffer Falls Trailhead, the River Path Trailhead, Mount Manuel Trail and the Ventana Wilderness route. Steep paths, stone-filled rivers, towering redwoods and beautiful overlooks best defines this area.

Andrew Molera State Park

This is a large, relatively undeveloped State Park with long trails following lonely beaches, broad meadows and a walk-in trail camp. Landmarks in the area include Cooper Cabin, the Molera Ranch House Museum and the ocean-entry point for Big Sur River.

Point Sur Lighthouse

Found within Point Sur State Historic Park, this is a lovely, lonely and historic light station standing at 40 feet, build 270 feet above sea level.

Little Sur River Beach

A small, undeveloped river-side beach, known for beautiful views from Highway One.

Notleys Landing Viewpoint

This is a beautifully scenic stopping point where a grassy plateau ends abruptly, falling into the ocean below.

Garrapata Beach

A perfectly lovely, somewhat hidden beach area with sandy shores and access to Calla Lily Valley, a walking route filled with wild flowers.

Garrapata State Beach

Home to numerous hiking trails and rocky overlooks, popular hiking routes here include Garrapata State Park Bluff Trail, the Soberanes Canyon Trailhead, the Soberanes Point Trails Trailhead and Painters Point.

Bird Island Lookout

Following a trail loop, this hiking route leads to an impressive overlook where the aptly-named Bird Island can be seen. The stark rock is home to thousands of Brandt’s Cormorant which breed and nest on the island from April to July. There are some specific areas which visitors can scuba dive with a permit. For the preservation of wildlife, dogs aren’t allowed in the park.

Point Lobos

This is an outstanding scenic coastal area with diverse landscapes, whale-watching overlooks, numerous blue coves and rugged peninsulas. There is no charge for entry, but parking costs $10 dollars. The entire region is popular for sightseeing, photography, painting, picnicking, scuba diving and hikes. There are several points of interest, including Sea Lion Point, Cypress Grove, the Cypress Information Center, Whalers Cove, Granite Point Lookout, Weston Beach Point Lobos and the Whalers Cabin Museum. With its numerous attractions and unusual scenery, this is one of the best sights along Highway One to visit..

Carmel-by-the-Sea

This is a small beach city known for its beaches, museums and historic communities. Popular areas around the city include Carmel Beach, the quieter Carmel River State Beach, the Carmel Mission Basilica Museum, the Clinton Walker House which is Frank Lloyd Wright’s only oceanfront home, the gorgeous Pebble Beach Golf Links, overlooks at Pescadero Point, and the lonely. seaside landmark known as Lone Cypress.

Monterey

Monterey is a coastal city with many unique features, including the Old Fisherman’s Wharf, a historic center for commercial fishing eventually converted into a popular tourist site. Other attractions include the haunting and beautiful Monterey Bay Area Jellyfish Aquarium and the Cannery Row Monument, which pays tribute to the famous characters of Cannery Row by American author John Steinbeck.

Pacific Grove

Bordering Monterey, Pacific Grove is home to numerous bed-and-breakfasts operating out of beautiful Victorian-era houses. The city is home to some unique features, including a Tree Carved Octopus Attacking Ship on Del Monte Blvd, the Point Pinos Lighthouse historical landmark, a large Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary for migrating butterflies (best visited from November through January) and the rocky shoreline of Asilomar State Beach. The Monarchy Butterfly Sanctuary is one of migratory insects major stopping points in western North America, making this one of the most interesting sights along Highway One.

Moss Landing

This is a small, historic fishing community following the coastline. Aside from being a great place to access Salinas River State Beach, view otters, birds and sea lions at the Elkhorn Slough Safari or book whale watching tours, the small town has some unique artworks. Found at J&S Surplus, a military surplus store, there are large sculptures of motorcycles crafted from creatively welded junk, such as license plates and horse shoes.

Bigfoot Discovery Museum

Located near the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, California, this museum is dedicated entirely to Bigfoot. The museum contains exhibits listing local sightings, a giftshop, Bigfoot in pop culture and small historical displays.

Egg Vending Machine at Glaum Ranch

Located in Aptos, California, Glaum Ranch operates out of a large, red barn with various, high-quality foods inside. However, the best feature of the Ranch is a large vending machine. When used, a tray of fresh eggs slide out, as a group of animatronic chickens begins to dance in the window. The vending machine addition makes this one of the most unusual sights along Highway One.

Santa Cruz Mystery Spot

This Mystery Spot is a humorous, quirky tourist attraction with the ability to defy gravity. Inside a wooden building on the site visitors can watch gravity anomalies occur with visitors seemingly tilted at impossible angles. The Mystery Spot owes it’s anomolies to clever construction and optical illusion techniques.

Swanton Berry Farm

This is an excellent berry farm known for excellent fruits, pies and jams, all available seasonally. Visitors are allowed to roam the fields, picking their own berries.

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