This is part 5 in my series on our California Highway 1 road trip.
Big Sur country in California is famous for its hiking and camping and my husband and I were determined not to leave the park without doing at least some walking.
For the most part this holiday was very much a road trip, mostly along Highway 1 south of San Francisco. We had a rental car, we moved from place to place each night, and our travel companions were a few decades older than us and keen to take it easy. Any hardcore hiking in Big Sur would clearly have to wait until another time. (It might be possible this summer, now that I have my driving licence).
But my husband and I still managed to fit some hiking in. The opportunity came with our overnight stay at the Big Sur Lodge. The national parks officer at Big Sur recommended we try Buzzard’s Roost – an hour and a half loop from the valley to the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and back. Big Sur Lodge was ideally located for this so we set our alarm and started our hike around 8 o’clock in the morning – arriving back just in time to catch our family having breakfast.
The hike started by passing a grove of giant redwood trees and then a shady stroll by a creek. Then we started to climb the hill and as we did we could see the ridges behind us to the east lit with a brilliant golden light. The path went up and then down a little and then up again, with a steady but not steep incline. At the top of the hill the vegetation became sparse and scrubby, presumably because of the salt from the nearby ocean. There was some sort of radio tower on the bluffs and a good view of the sea.
Driving Highway 1 series:
Part 1: Pescadero and the Duartes Tavern
Part 2: Santa Cruz and the Lost Boys Railroad Bridge
Part 3: McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Part 4: Big Sur Lodge and Pfeiffer Falls
Other related posts:
Steinbeck country: The Carmel Valley Road
Photo Friday: Monster rocks at Point Lobos
Mmmmm. Looks like a great walk in the morning. Those pictures only give a taste of the spectacle, I’m sure! I’ll bet breakfast tasted extra good when you got back.
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Those mountain ranges look spectacular, makes me tired just looking at them!
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