Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph

The Big Sur photography coastal drive in California is one of the most spectacular drives in the whole world. While I am pretty sure there are many amazing places around the globe where you can enjoy stunning seascapes on long stretches of highway.

What truly sets the Big Sur Coastal Drive apart is its length. Stretching over 200 kilometers, it definitely requires some planning for a successful photography trip.

Big Sur Photograhy
 – Places to See and Photograph

There are ongoing discussions about the actual length of the coastal drive because Big Sur is technically a small village that takes only five minutes to drive through. Because of this and the drive’s impressive length, people often mean different things when they refer to the Big Sur Coastal Drive.

Big Sur Photography Map

I have my own definition of what is and what is not part of the drive, both of which are motivated by my photography. For me, the coastal area from Morro Bay to Monterrey is the most logical range of the Big Sur Coastal Drive. Why? This stretch has a high concentration of stunning photo locations that make it convenient to plan your visit and photograph them.

Related: Best Photography Spots in Hong Kong

After driving along Big Sur for the first time, I realized that I missed half of the key locations on my trip. It took me half a dozen more visits to become familiar with the area so that I could decide my favorite spots for myself.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 1

At the same time, the truth is that you simply cannot plan every single location you want to visit on the drive. Because of its length and high concentration of scenic vistas, state parks, national parks, and simple observation points, it is unrealistic to plan everything. That’s why I suggest a combination approach that balances both planning and freestyle or impromptu stops.

To help with your visit to Big Sur or to even inspire you to take the most unforgettable drive of your life, I have listed a few key locations to visit. The rest is up to you as you discover your favorite spots along the Big Sur Coastal Drive.

This is how it usually works: You drive along the coast and see something interesting so you stop to take a couple of shots and, in five to ten minutes, you continue on your way. After my first drive, I had blisters on my hands because I folded and unfolded my tripod hundreds of times during the day. Now, I always rent a bigger car so I can keep my tripod unfolded for the duration of the drive, which saves a tremendous amount of time and my hands.

Another issue I want to address is the best direction for the Big Sur road trip. If you are staying in San Francisco, the most convenient way is to drive north to south but, I prefer driving from south to north because of the position of the sun. When driving towards the south, you are driving against the sun for nearly the whole day, which puts a strain on your eyes and makes the landscapes look washed out and dull. So, even when I start my trip from the San Francisco area, I take an inland freeway and drive to Morro Bay or San Simeon in order to start my trip from there.

Big Sur Photography Road Trip – Top Places to Visit

Now that we have addressed direction, let’s talk about planning the trip itself.

When I start my drive in Los Angeles, I drive north with the goal to arrive at Morro Bay around sunset. This is where the real drive begins.

Related: Kodachrome Bassin State Park Landscapes

If I am in the San Francisco area, I take Highway 101 past Solinas. Then, I cut to the shore using Route 46.

1. Montaña De Oro State Park

This is one of the many locations along the Big Sur Coastal Drive that I found by accident. When driving from Los Angeles on my very first coastal trip, I took a wrong turn around Morro Bay and discovered Oro State Park. I suggest spending at least a couple of hours at the park and visiting Spooner’s Cove.  

Montaña de Oro State Park, located in Monterey County not far from the town of Morro Bay. The state park offers a wealth of fascinating scenery and a range of opportunities for photography.

Within the park’s boundaries are three major features:

  • 7 miles Big Sur coastline, which offers a variety of scenic vistas.
  • A lava bed, a landscape of immense volcanic beauty.
  • A hilly inland area is known for its vast diversity of flora and fauna.
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 2
Lava bed
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 3
Big Sur coastline with town of Morro Bay in the distance
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 4
Spooner’s Cove

2. Morro Bay

I normally stay in Morro Bay for the night.

The Morro Rock, which is the area’s main attraction, is a 180-meter tall volcanic plug. Try shooting the rock at sunset or in the morning from Morro Creek Beach.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 5
Morro Bay Dunes
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 6
Morro Bay
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 7
Morro Creek Beach

3. Moonstone Beach

I always take Moonstone Beach Drive to see if there are any photo opportunities. Along the way, I love to treat myself to breakfast with a spectacular ocean view at the Leffingwell Landing State Park.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 8
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 9

4. Piedras Blancas Light Station

The main attraction of the Piedras Blancas beaches is the Elephant Seals Rookery. Here, you can observe the sea animals at such close proximity that you can actually touch them.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 10

While most people spend hours watching the elephant seals, I follow the coastal trail to explore other interesting spots to shoot seascapes.

5. Transition from Dunes to Mountains

This is where the flat part of the drive ends and the famous Big Sur mountainous stretch begins.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 11
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 12

6. Ragged Point

This is the first mountain vista point. The view is spectacular but it is somewhat difficult to photograph. The only direction that is not obstructed by trees is from the south and, if you arrive in the morning as I normally do, you have to shoot against the sun. To overcome this challenge, I often use the HDR technique.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 13
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 14

7. McWey Falls

This is another signature location of the Big Sur. The beautiful sandy beach at McWey Falls was recently formed by a major road slide that left State Route 1 unpassable for 12 months in 1980.

Related: How to Explore and Photograph the Bryce Canyon

There is no access to the beach itself, which means photo opportunities are limited. One time, I visited the falls just before sunset and found a big group of photographers from San Francisco vying for the best view. We practically had a tripod fight over the best spot.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 15

8. Pfeiffer Beach

Pfeiffer Beach is arguably the most beautiful beach in Central California and is a must-visit travel photography destination. At the same time, it is also the most secluded. Without planning and research, it is almost impossible to find since there are no signs or directions on California State Route 1. The only way to get to the beach is to take a narrow, rundown one-lane road through the mountains.

Related: Shooting and Editing Horseshoe Bend in Arizona

During my travel photography trips to California, Pfeiffer Beach is always a strategic location for me. This is the place where I allocate extra time for my photography while also allowing myself plenty of time to rest and enjoy a picnic in the beautiful surroundings.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 16
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 17
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 18

9. Point Sur Lighthouse

The Point Sur Lighthouse is where the most popular and iconic stretch of the Big Sur begins. Most tourists driving from Monterey typically turn around when they reach this point, which is an expansive 50-kilometer stretch where most car commercials are shot.

Point Sur Lighthouse is part of Point Sur Lighthouse Historic State Park. It is located in the Los Padres National Forest near the town of Big Sur, California. The historic lighthouse, built in the late 1800s, was the first light station to be built on the Pacific Coast. The lighthouse was transferred to the National Park Service in 1965 and has been restored to its original condition.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 19
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 20
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 21

10. Bixby Bridge

It is impossible to miss the iconic Bixby Bridge since there is no way around it. When parking in the lot next to the bridge itself, it does not look that impressive. However, when you take the time and travel approximately 2 kilometers south of the bridge, you will be completely astounded by its architecture and the surrounding natural beauty.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 22
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 23

11. Little Sur River Beach

This is the place where the Little Sur River enters the ocean. Every time I pass this spot it looks different because the small river makes its way to the ocean differently with each rainfall and season.

Related: New Zealand North Island Road Trip

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 24
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 25

12. Garrapata State Park

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 26

Related: Best Spots in New Zealand South Island

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 27

13. Point Lobos

I call the Point Lobos State Reserve a crown jewel of the entire drive. The Point Lobos is so beautiful that it deserves its own article, so all I will say here is to be ready to dedicate a full day to the park.

Related: Atlantic Seascapes of Grand Manan Island

I try to arrange my drive so that, on the last stretch, I am at Little Sur Beach around sunset. From there, I drive directly to my motel in Monterey. The following day is dedicated exclusively to Point Lobos.

Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 28
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 29
Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph 30

Big Sur Photography: Conclusion

I hope my Big Sure photography guide will help you to navigate your road trip and not to miss the best travel photography locations.

Articles Related to “Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph“

by Viktor Elizarov
I am a travel photographer and educator from Montreal, Canada, and a founder of PhotoTraces. I travel around the world and share my experiences here. Feel free to check my Travel Portfolio and download Free Lightroom Presets.

13 thoughts on “Big Sur Photography – Places to See and Photograph”

  1. I can’t believe you didn’t sell this as a book! Thanks.

    Reply
  2. Hi Viktor,
    I’m afraid I have to take issue with you regarding what is the most spectacular photogenic coastal drive in the world. It is not Big Sur but The Great Ocean Raod Coastal drive in Victoria Australia.
    I have done both and Great Ocean Road is miles in front. Cheers,
    Bob

    Reply
  3. Planning to go there this January, so thank you for the perfect timing. Wondering if I should spend 1 or 2 days here, it’s obvious I need 2, at least.

    Reply
  4. I’m planning a trip for later this year. Thanks for all the helpful information and photos.

    Reply
  5. Thank you for the lovely guide. My husband and I are planning a visit to CA in Oct 2019. How many days would you recommend taking to drive the Big Sur?
    Thanks again

    Reply
  6. Thanks so much for your detail write up. Many tourists get opportunity to drive that area once in their life time, so your article really helps them planning the drive efficiently.

    Reply
  7. Very well done! Thank you for taking the time to put this together! I’ve been there before but missed Garrapata State Park. Have you ever been to Lime Kiln State park? You’ll get some wonderful pictures of the coastal redwoods there.

    Reply
  8. Thanks for sharing! These are beautiful photos and the tips are really helpful in choosing what spots to stop at (hard to pick though!).

    Reply
  9. As a wedding photographer in Big Sur I can say this list is incredible! So many awesome spots people should check out for the hobbyist or professional.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to PhotoTrekr Cancel reply