Old Coast Road

Total Miles
10.1

Elevation

354.60 ft

Duration

2 Hours

Technical Rating

3

Easy

Best Time

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

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Old Coast Road 4

Trail Overview

Winding dirt road meanders downhill through cool wooded valleys with large sycamore and redwood trees, then climbs steeply to scenic rangeland high above the Pacific coastline. Take binoculars to see every detail below, including historic Point Sur Lighthouse. Street-legal vehicles only. Drive road in either direction. No turns to get lost. Great hiking in Andrew Molera State Park at south end.

Photos of Old Coast Road

Old Coast Road
Old Coast Road
Old Coast Road

Difficulty

Easy: Suitable for passenger cars when dry, but you'll want 4-wheel drive if you get caught in the rain. Road can even be impassable in very wet conditions.

History

Towards the end of the trip on a clear day, you can look down and see the Point Sur Lighthouse perched atop a large rock dome along the shore. The lighthouse was a manned facility from 1889 to the early 1960s. Today it is automated and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard as part of Point Sur State Historic Park. Call (831) 625-4419 for information on guided tours.

Technical Rating

3

Status Reports

David Back
Mar 30, 2024
2022 Ford Bronco
Temporarily Closed
Kyle Bakewell
Mar 06, 2024
2002 Chevrolet Silverado
Temporarily Closed
Closed Gate
Posted Sign
On the North end of the trail you can get about half a mile out, and then you will come up to a small caution sign. The sign is definitely passable, but I didn't bother to go behind it, lots of ranger activity. on the south end of the trail you can go maybe 1 mile, and then you will encounter an impassible closed gate.
Alex Rooney
Feb 18, 2024
4x4
Temporarily Closed
Closed Gate
On the south side it’s open for a mile and then the gate is closed.
L S
Jan 14, 2024
2018 Chevrolet Colorado
Temporarily Closed
Closed Gate

Access Description

Take Hwy. 1 south from Monterey about 17 miles. Turn left immediately before crossing Bixby Bridge. There is an overlook on the right at this point. To start on south end, take Hwy. 1 north from Big Sur about 2.5 miles and turn right opposite the entrance to Andrew Molera State Park.

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