and seminars.
THE GARDEN GALLERY 27 miles south of Carmel, (831) 667-2000. The gallery offers local art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, and herbal products.
HAWTHORNE GALLERY 28 miles south of Carmel, (831) 667-3200, hawthornegallery.com. Represents local artists, featuring painting and sculpture in granite, wood, steel, bronze, glass, and ceramics.
THE PHOENIX SHOP 29 miles south of Carmel, (831) 667-2347, nepenthebigsur.com. At Nepenthe, this shop offers a collection of gifts, books, jewelry, and clothing.
HENRY MILLER LIBRARY 30 miles south of Carmel, (831) 667-2574, henrymiller.org. A nonprofit organization dedicated to the works of the American author, artist, and Big Sur resident Henry Miller. The gallery offers a wide assortment of art and fine and rare books.
COAST GALLERY BIG SUR 33 miles south of Carmel, (831) 667-2301, coastgalleries.com. A historic showplace for local artists and coastal craftsmen, featuring an art gallery, candle studio, and boutique.
Automotive Services
CHEVRON 3645 Rio Road, Carmel, (831) 624-7764. Open 6 a.m.–midnight; gas only.
CHEVRON CARMEL TOWING & GARAGE 4th Avenue and Junipero Avenue, Carmel, (831) 624-3827, [email protected]. Offers 24-hour towing and full-service repairs. Open 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
BIG SUR GARAGE & TOWING 24 miles south of Carmel, (831) 667-2181. Offers 24-hour services: towing, tires, auto repair, and lockouts.
GORDA SPRINGS RESORT, RESTAURANT, STORE & GAS STATION 25 miles north of Hearst Castle and 69 miles south of Carmel, (805) 927-3918, gordaspringsresort.com. Open 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
RAGGED POINT INN RESORT & GAS STATION 14 miles north of Hearst Castle and 80 miles south of Carmel, (805) 927-4502, raggedpointinn.com. Open 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; gas only.
CAMBRIA TOWING 4363 Bridge Street, Cambria, (805) 927-4357. Offers 24-hour services: lockouts and tires.
Events
BIG SUR INTERNATIONAL MARATHON (831) 625-6226, bsim.org. Last Sunday in April. Voted best marathon in North America.
BIG SUR JAZZFEST (831) 667-1530. Spring. Three days of jazz at various Big Sur venues.
BIG SUR RIVER RUN (831) 624-4112, bigsurriverrun.org. Late October. Referred to as “the most beautiful run in the world,” through redwoods along the Big Sur River.
HENRY MILLER LIBRARY (831) 667-2574, henrymiller.org. Summer calendar of international music, circus events, family entertainment, and community open mic.
HIDDEN GARDENS TOUR (831) 667-1530. Late June. One-day tour of various private Big Sur gardens, featuring presenters, artists, and musicians.
JADE FESTIVAL (831) 394-8315, surcoast.com/jfest.html. Early October. Jade, gems, wood, stone, barbecue, and live music in Pacific Valley.
Highway 1 Mileage Log: From Carmel River or Cambria
CHAPTER five
Driving & Destinations Along Big Sur Back Roads
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO ESCAPE the tourism and development of Highway 1, consider venturing east and turning along some of the back roads that gain access into the remote wildlands of Big Sur County.
With this remoteness comes ruggedness. Often county road departments and the US Forest Service close these back roads during storm events and keep them closed until the wet season dissipates in the spring. Maintenance is not high priority along these relatively unused roads, so expect to find ruts and debris (boulders, rocks, trees, and limbs) if you choose a more adventurous route.
Be prepared and note that most unpaved back roads are not suitable for low clearance vehicles, trailers, and RVs. Fortunately, there are a few paved roads that are suitable for your average two-wheel drive vehicle, but you should still expect a steep, windy, and, at times, single-lane ride. Regardless of the route you choose (paved or unpaved), inquire locally about road conditions before you head out, respect private property, fill up your tank, and make sure your vehicle is in good running condition with everything you might need to repair a spare or wait for some time for assistance.
If you plan to enter Fort Hunter Liggett, note the special rules at the three public-access points (Jolon Road, Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, and the northern end of Milpitas Road). All passengers will need to show photo identification to the sentry, and drivers will need to show car registration and proof of insurance. Entry may be denied due to security alerts or military training. Biking, hiking, camping, picnicking, and swimming are prohibited except to anglers and hunters who obtained the required permits from the Outdoor Recreation Office.
For information on road closures contact the following offices:
Fort Hunter Liggett: Call (831) 386-2503 or (831) 386-2310 for military road closures.
Los Padres National Forest: Call the King City office at (831) 385-5434 or visit www.fs.fed.us for seasonal or permanent closures of forest service roads.
Big Sur Station: Call (831) 667-2315 for information on state park and forest service roads.
Cal Trans: Call (888) 836-0866 for information about traffic and road conditions on Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria.
Back Road Camping
IF YOU ARE TURNED OFF by the high price of camping along Highway 1, consider the primitive and remote camping that exists along Big Sur’s back roads. The plus side is that many of these camps provide free camping (simply unheard of along the coast). With the exception of Arroyo Seco Campground and the developed sites at Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoirs, these primitive, rarely maintained camps provide few to no amenities, so expect to bring in water and/or purifying systems and everything else you might need to be comfortable and safe.
Alder Creek Camp
DIRECTIONS: Located 8 miles from Highway 1 on Willow Creek Road (23S01).
CAMPSITES: 2 | COST: Free
WATER: On the creek; no potable water
COMMENTS: For more information contact the Los Padres National Forest Service at (831) 385-5434 or www.fs.fed.us.
