125-743: Highway segment/road name Coast Highway may refer to certain segments of the following highways: California State Route 1 Big Sur Coast Highway Old Coast Road (Big Sur) San Diego County Route S21 U.S. Route 101 U.S. Route 101 in California U.S. Route 101 in Oregon U.S. Route 101 in Washington See also [ edit ] Coast Highway station , Oceanside, California Pacific Coast Highway (disambiguation) Pacific Highway (disambiguation) List of roads or other routes with
250-651: A 'scenic highway' with piles of shit up and down the highway. There are only 16 public restrooms along the entire coast to accommodate the almost 5 million annual visitors. The number of visitors far exceeds the available restrooms , and most restrooms are not available in locations where tourists frequently visit. Businesses report that the large number of visitors using their bathroom has overwhelmed their septic systems. If visitors can locate them, they can use bathrooms within California State Parks or federal campgrounds without paying an entrance fee. But many of
375-533: A 2,000,000-cubic-foot (57,000 m ) slide blocked the highway at Mud Creek, north of Salmon Creek near the San Luis Obispo County line, to just south of Gorda . The road was reopened on July 18, 2018. The region is protected by the Big Sur Local Coastal Plan, which preserves it as "open space, a small residential community, and agricultural ranching." Approved in 1986, the plan is one of
500-752: A 320-foot (98 m) span that passes over the Bixby Creek gorge, the Rocky Creek Bridge , and the Big Creek Bridge . After crossing the Carmel River, SR 1 turns inland and runs along the eastern boundary of Carmel and the western boundary of Carmel Valley before becoming a freeway in Monterey . After bypassing the immediate coastline of Pebble Beach and the rest of the Monterey Peninsula ,
625-648: A 54-mile (87 km) stretch in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and across the Golden Gate Bridge . The highway is designated as an All-American Road . In addition to providing a scenic route to numerous attractions along the coast, the route also serves as a major thoroughfare in the Greater Los Angeles Area , the San Francisco Bay Area , and several other coastal urban areas. SR 1
750-402: A few stretches between Los Angeles and San Francisco have officially been designated as a scenic highway, meaning that there are substantial sections of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community. The entire route is designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway to recognize those in
875-618: A four lane road as the Cabrillo Highway. It rejoins the coast in Morro Bay , running through that city as a freeway, where it crosses Morro Creek at the site of a prehistoric Chumash settlement dating to the Millingstone Horizon . From there, SR 1 proceeds north to Cayucos until it again becomes a winding, two lane road with occasional passing lanes. It then continues along the coast through Cambria and San Simeon , and past
1000-479: A freeway from its southern terminus all the way to Oxnard, including building an offshore causeway from the Santa Monica Pier to Topanga Canyon Boulevard south of Malibu, were ultimately killed by 1971 due to local opposition. In 1980, another section was added northwest of Ventura near Emma Wood State Beach , when several miles of the old two-lane alignment of U.S. Route 101 were posted as SR 1 where
1125-620: A narrow, winding, steep road known as Pedro Mountain Road connected Montara with Pacifica. That highway was completed in 1914 and provided competition to the Ocean Shore Railroad , which operated between San Francisco and Tunitas Creek from 1907 to 1920. SR 1 also used to run along the coast between Pacifica and Daly City, but this segment was damaged and rendered unusable after a 5.3 magnitude earthquake on March 22, 1957. A small stub remains near Thornton Beach . Route 56 along Big Sur
1250-625: A northeasterly route up the slopes of Mt. Manuel. Hikers following this route can access Vado, Launtz Creek, and Tin House campsites. It connects to the Little Sur trail that provides access to the Little Sur River watershed. The trail is not maintained. The North Coast Ridge Road (USFS 20S05) is accessible from the road to the Ventana Inn and indirectly from the south via Limekiln State Park . Parking
1375-567: A parking spot at a trailhead parking lot and take a 14-passenger van to Pfeiffer Beach. In response to visitor abuses, an anonymous Big Sur resident began an Instagram account in May 2019 named BigSurHatesYou intended to shame visitors into treating the Big Sur region better. The television series Big Little Lies , which is filmed in the Monterey and Big Sur area, has increased the number of visitors to
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#17328553619571500-505: A popular destination for visitors from across the world. With 4.5 to 7 million visitors annually, it is among the top tourist destinations in the United States, comparable to Yosemite National Park , but with considerably fewer services, and less parking, roads, and related infrastructure. Big Sur Village is a collection of small roadside businesses and homes. The larger region known as Big Sur does not have specific boundaries but
1625-541: A single shuttle van that operates on Thursday through Sunday from the Big Sur Station to Pfeiffer Beach. The owner of the Nepenthe restaurant estimated in 2017 that the number of visitors had increased by 40% since 2011. Big Sur residents and business owners are concerned about the impact visitors are having on the region. Traffic and parking is consistently bad during summer and holidays weekends and some visitors don't obey
1750-420: A single, narrow two-lane highway that for most of its length clings to the steep coastal cliffs. North-bound traffic during the peak summer season and holiday weekends is often backed up for about 20 miles (32 km) from Big Sur Village to Carmel Highlands . Due to the large number of visitors during the summer, congestion and slow traffic between Carmel and Posts is becoming the norm. However, during
1875-546: A very large rock formation at the tip of the point that is called the Mugu Rock. At that point, PCH leaves the coast and heads north, and then northwest as a freeway along the northeastern boundary of Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu for several miles to an interchange at Rice Avenue, Pleasant Valley Road, and Oxnard Boulevard in Oxnard . The reconstructed interchange at Rice Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road channels traffic north on
2000-630: A winding, two lane road as it passes over the Marin Hills to rejoin the coast at Muir Beach . After passing Stinson Beach and the Bolinas Lagoon , SR 1 avoids the immediate coastline of Point Reyes National Seashore and the rest of the Point Reyes Peninsula , and instead heads towards, and then along, the eastern shore of Tomales Bay . Leaving Tomales Bay, SR 1 heads further inland to intersect with Valley Ford Road just north of
2125-522: Is 25 miles (40 km) south of the Big Sur village on Highway 1. A steep staircase leads down to the beach from the highway. Jade Cove , 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Sand Dollar Beach, is also sometimes popular with visitors. Swiss Canyon Beach is a long, sandy beach visible when looking north from the mouth of the Big Sur River in Andrew Molera State Park. The eastern side of the beach
2250-469: Is also the location of a Catholic monastery, the New Camaldoli Hermitage . The Hermitage in Big Sur was founded in 1957. It rents a few simple rooms for visitors who would like to engage in silent meditation and contemplation. Normally all retreats are silent and undirected. The Big Sur International Marathon is an annual marathon that begins south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and ends at
2375-511: Is available in the north at Cadillac Flat near the Ventana Inn. From Ventana Inn, the trail climbs steeply to the crest of the coastal ridge and south about 30 miles (48 km) to near Cone Peak . There are wide views in all directions for almost the entire hike. It connects to several trails over its length, including Terrace Creek Trail (closed as of January 2018 ), Boronda Trail, DeAngulo Trail, Big Sur Trail, Marble Peak Trail, Bee Camp Trail, Lost Valley Connector Trail, Rodeo Flat Trail, and
2500-535: Is bounded by private land. The beach may be accessible from the southern end depending on the tide. Some beaches are surrounded by private land. At the mouth of the Little Sur river are some of the largest dunes on the Big Sur coast. The mouth of the Little Sur River, the dunes, and the mile-long Little Sur River beach are within the boundaries of the El Sur Ranch and are inaccessible to the public. The owner of
2625-491: Is frequently praised for its dramatic scenery. Big Sur has been called the "longest and most scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the contiguous United States ", a sublime "national treasure that demands extraordinary procedures to protect it from development", and "one of the most beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world, an isolated stretch of road, mythic in reputation". The views, redwood forests, hiking, beaches, and other recreational opportunities have made Big Sur
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#17328553619572750-549: Is generally considered to include the 71-mile (114 km) segment of California State Route 1 between Malpaso Creek near Carmel Highlands in the north and San Carpóforo Creek near San Simeon in the south, as well as the entire Santa Lucia range between these creeks. The interior region is mostly uninhabited, while the coast remains relatively isolated and sparsely populated, with between 1,800 and 2,000 year-round residents and relatively few visitor accommodations scattered among four small settlements. The region remained one of
2875-475: Is locally known as The Fishhook due to its tight loop ramps that resemble a fishhook when viewed from above). After a short expressway section, it skirts downtown Santa Cruz as four-lane Mission Street, regaining the Cabrillo Highway designation (local/historic name is "Coast Road") after it leaves the city and continues north-west as a two-lane road (with occasional four-lane sections) up the coast through Davenport . Entering San Mateo County , SR 1 follows
3000-754: Is marked as such in Long Beach, but originally bore the name of Hathaway Avenue east of the traffic circle and State Street west of there. PCH then passes through the Los Angeles districts of Wilmington and Harbor City . While bypassing the immediate coastline of Palos Verdes , SR 1 continues to head west into the cities of Lomita and Torrance along the route of the former Redondo-Wilmington Boulevard. PCH then turns north through Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach . Upon entering Manhattan Beach , it becomes Sepulveda Boulevard and turns back into PCH designation through El Segundo . At Imperial Highway, it regains
3125-713: Is nonexistent) from the Mobil Pier Undercrossing runs for 54 miles (87 km), passing through the City of Santa Barbara and its neighboring communities along the coast of Santa Barbara County. The route then turns away from the Gaviota Coast at Gaviota State Beach , avoiding Point Conception , and heads due north through Gaviota State Park and the Gaviota Tunnel . In Las Cruces , SR 1, now named Cabrillo Highway, splits again from US 101 and heads northwest to
3250-593: Is part of the Los Padres National Forest , Ventana Wilderness , Silver Peak Wilderness or Fort Hunter Liggett . Big Sur is not an incorporated town but a region without formal boundaries in California's Central Coast region. The region is often confused with the small community of buildings and services 26 miles (42 km) south of Carmel in the Big Sur River valley, sometimes referred to by locals as Big Sur Village , but officially known as Big Sur. The various informal boundaries applied to
3375-439: Is sometimes rated as the best beach in Big Sur. Depending on the season, visitors can view sea otters, sea lions, seals, and migrating whales from the beach. The beach is barely visible from Highway 1. Pfeiffer Beach is very popular but is only accessible via the narrow 2 miles (3.2 km) Sycamore Canyon Road. The parking lot at the beach only accommodates 60 vehicles and is usually full on summer and holiday weekends. During
3500-679: Is the longest state route in California, and the second-longest in the US after Montana Highway 200 . SR 1 has several portions designated as either Pacific Coast Highway ( PCH ), Cabrillo Highway , Shoreline Highway , or Coast Highway . Its southern terminus is at Interstate 5 (I-5) near Dana Point in Orange County and its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 101 (US 101) near Leggett in Mendocino County . SR 1 also at times runs concurrently with US 101, most notably through
3625-813: The California Western Railroad . North of Fort Bragg as a two-lane highway again, SR 1 passes MacKerricher State Park and the towns of Cleone and Inglenook before crossing Ten Mile River . After passing Westport-Union Landing State Beach , the road goes through a series of redwood-forested switchbacks before reaching Rockport . North of Rockport, the highway turns away from the Lost Coast to avoid steep and unstable highlands created by Mendocino triple junction uplift. The highway follows Cottaneva Creek inland through redwood-forested mountainous terrain before terminating at US 101 just outside Leggett . SR 1 has become famous worldwide, but
3750-622: The Federal Highway Administration ordered Caltrans in 1995 to re-evaluate the proposed tunnel. Then on November 5, 1996, San Mateo County voters approved Measure T to change the county's official preference from the bypass to the tunnel. Ground eventually broke in 2005, and the Tom Lantos Tunnels opened in April 2013. In 2014, two-way traffic was restored along the original PCH segment from Copper Lantern to Blue Lantern streets in
3875-569: The Federal Highway Administration . The California State Legislature has also relinquished state control of segments within Dana Point , Newport Beach , Santa Monica , and Oxnard ; those segments are now maintained by those respective municipalities. The Big Sur section from San Luis Obispo to Carmel is an official National Scenic Byway . SR 1 is eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System ; however, only
Coast Highway - Misplaced Pages Continue
4000-589: The Great Depression , the paved two-lane road was completed and opened on June 17, 1937. The road was initially called the Carmel-San Simeon Highway (Route 56), but was better known as the Roosevelt Highway, honoring the current President Franklin D. Roosevelt . A 1921 law extended Route 56 south over the county road to Cambria . Route 60, from Oxnard via the coast to San Juan Capistrano ,
4125-512: The King Range National Conservation Area . The roadway along Devil's Slide , south of Pacifica , became the site of frequent deadly crashes and roadway-closing landslides . Beginning in 1958, Caltrans supported a plan to construct an inland bypass over Montara Mountain as an alternate route, but was eventually opposed by community and environmental groups who supported a tunnel instead. After decades of legal disputes,
4250-558: The Monterey County Supervisors in 1981, states that the region is meant to be an experience that visitors transit through, not a destination. For that reason, development of all kinds is severely restricted. Besides sightseeing from the highway, Big Sur offers hiking and outdoor activities. There are a large number of state and federal lands and parks, including McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park , one of only two waterfalls in California that plunge directly into
4375-684: The Santa Ana River mouth and entering Huntington Beach , SR 1 regains the Pacific Coast Highway designation. It passes Huntington State Beach and the southern terminus of California State Route 39 before reaching Bolsa Chica State Beach and the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve . PCH then continues along the coast into Seal Beach , the final city on its journey in Orange County. PCH enters Los Angeles County and
4500-714: The Sonoma County border. It then rejoins the coast in Bodega Bay , where its name changes to Coast Highway past the Sonoma Coast State Beaches . After bridging the Russian River at Jenner , SR 1 continues to wind along the rugged coast to Fort Ross , Salt Point State Parks , and the planned community of Sea Ranch . SR 1 then crosses the Gualala River and enters Mendocino County . The highway enters
4625-525: The Ventura River and Carpinteria had been an unimproved route along small alluvial fan beaches that skirted coastal bluff rock outcroppings at low tide. Construction of the Southern Pacific Coast Line railroad had created a road flanked by riprap along this area. In order to make this part of the first coastal route for motorists driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles , they paved
4750-612: The historic beach route along the Rincon coast that was originally opened up by the construction of the Railroad Coastal Route from Emma Wood State Beach to the Mobil Pier Undercrossing near Sea Cliff , where it rejoins US 101 about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the Santa Barbara County line near La Conchita . The US 101/SR 1 concurrency (although actual signage mentioning SR 1 through this segment
4875-620: The " Human Potential Movement ", and Gestalt therapy in the United States. Esalen is named after the Native Americans who congregated there at the natural hot springs possibly for thousands of years. Far from the coast within the Los Padres National Forest, the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center , accessible via a steep, narrow, 12-mile (19 km) dirt road, is only open to guests during the summer months. Big Sur
5000-760: The Arroyo Seco Trail. It provides access to Timber Top and Cold Spring Camp. It passes near the summit of Anderson Peak (4,099 feet (1,249 m)) and Marble Peak (4,031 feet (1,229 m)), and through to the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and through connects to the Cone Peak Road. It is not open to vehicular traffic or bicycles. As of January 2018 , the trail is closed. Garrapata State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park all contain short hiking trails. As of January 2018 , almost all trails on
5125-468: The Big Sur region to include only the coastal flanks of the Santa Lucia Mountains , which at various points extend from 3 to 12 miles (5 to 19 km) inland. Some residents place the eastern border at the boundaries of the vast inland areas comprising the Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness, or the unpopulated regions all the way to the eastern foothills of
Coast Highway - Misplaced Pages Continue
5250-635: The Cabrillo Highway turns northwest back towards the coast to Guadalupe . It enters San Luis Obispo County , avoiding the immediate coastline of the protected Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes , before passing through Grover Beach and subsequently joining US 101 for the third time at Pismo Beach . The US 101/SR 1 concurrency then avoids the immediate coastline of Avila Beach and Diablo Canyon Power Plant , and instead heads straight inland to San Luis Obispo . SR 1 splits from US 101 at Santa Rosa Street in San Luis Obispo and then resumes as
5375-545: The City and County of San Francisco , SR 1 splits from Interstate 280, where the road becomes Junipero Serra Boulevard . Shortly thereafter, the highway makes a slight left, becoming the six-lane wide 19th Avenue ; the San Francisco Municipal Railway 's M Ocean View streetcar line runs in the median from this point until a junction to a rail only right-of-way near Rossmoor Drive. SR 1 then turns into Park Presidio Boulevard after it passes through
5500-520: The City of Oxnard received $ 15 million in state funding to build an overpass. The project is estimated to be completed by the fall of 2027. Big Sur Big Sur ( / ˈ s ɜːr / ) is a rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California , between Carmel Highlands and San Simeon , where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean . It
5625-808: The Crossroads Shopping Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The marathon was established in 1986 and attracts about 4,500 participants annually. Civic leaders in Big Sur stage a run each year in October to raise funds for the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Big Sur Health Center. Since the race, known as the Big Sur River Run, was founded in 1971, more than $ 1,025,104 has been donated to the two organizations. The run through
5750-553: The Dana Point city center after 25 years of one-way operation. During that period, only northbound traffic had flowed along this section of PCH while southbound traffic had been diverted onto the parallel Del Prado Avenue. SR 1 has never been planned to extend south into San Diego , or north into Crescent City , where I-5 (which replaced the US ;101 designation and signage between Los Angeles and San Diego) and US 101 serve as
5875-1016: The Legislature by state law named SR 1 "Pacific Coast Highway" in Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties, "Cabrillo Highway" from Santa Barbara north to San Francisco, and "Shoreline Highway" from Marin County to its northern terminus. Many cities, however, did not change the name of city streets that are part of SR 1, such as Lincoln and Sepulveda boulevards in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and El Segundo; and Junipero Serra and Park Presidio boulevards in San Francisco. Several other cities and communities like Newport Beach and Bodega Bay merely named their respective city streets as "Coast Highway". The freeway portion of SR 1 from Highway 68 in Monterey to Munras Avenue opened in 1956–1960. The segment from Munras Avenue to
6000-416: The Los Angeles area ). Between US 101 at the Las Cruces junction (8 miles [13 km] south of Buellton ) and US 101 in Pismo Beach , and between US 101 in San Luis Obispo and Interstate 280 in San Francisco, the legislature also designated SR 1 as the Cabrillo Highway in 1959, after the explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo who sailed along the coast line. The legislature also designated
6125-401: The Monterey / San Luis Obispo count line is closed to the public. The Pine Ridge Trail (USFS 3E06) is the most popular hiking route into the Ventana Wilderness . Hikers can use it to access many campsites in the backcountry, including Ventana Camp, Terrace Creek, Barlow Flats, Sykes, and Redwood camps. When open, it is accessible from the Big Sur Station . The trail, connecting trails, and
6250-479: The Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch . It is a gathering place for locals and has become the focal point of individuals with a literary mind, a cultural center devoted to Miller's life and work, and a popular attraction for tourists. There are a few small, scenic beaches that are accessible to the public and popular for walking, but usually unsuitable for swimming, because of unpredictable currents, frigid temperatures, and dangerous surf. The beach at Garrapata State Park
6375-417: The Santa Lucia Mountains. Author and local historian Jeff Norman considered Big Sur to extend inland to include the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean. The name "Big Sur" has its origins in the area's early Spanish history . While the Portolá expedition was exploring Alta California , they arrived at San Carpóforo Canyon near present-day San Simeon on September 13, 1769. Unable to penetrate
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#17328553619576500-417: The Soberanes Fire. From north to south, the following state parks are in use: As of January 2018 , some trails and campsites within the following areas are closed, due to damage caused by the 2016 Soberanes Fire and the following winter's rains. During most summer weekends and on all major holidays, Big Sur is overwhelmingly crowded. Although some Big Sur residents catered to adventurous travelers in
6625-454: The United States armed forces; this designation is sponsored by the California Garden Clubs, but the organization has not erected such markers along SR 1 yet. In 1959, the legislature officially designated the segment in Southern California between Interstate 5 (I-5) in Dana Point and US 101 near Oxnard as the Pacific Coast Highway (commonly referred to as "PCH", without the definite article "the", unlike other freeway numbers in
6750-411: The Victorian community of Mendocino . Continuing north, SR 1 crosses Russian Gulch State Park on the Frederick W. Panhorst Bridge , and passes through the town of Caspar . It passes through a roundabout just south of the intersection with the western terminus of SR 20 , where it widens to two lanes, then bridges the Noyo River at Noyo , becomes Main Street of Fort Bragg , and crosses
6875-407: The area, with no connection to the other side of the Santa Lucia Mountains except for Nacimiento-Fergusson Road . The road briefly leaves the coast for a few miles, passing through a redwood forest in the Big Sur River valley. The Big Sur segment of the highway, built between 1919 and 1937, also crosses a number of historic bridges, including the scenic Bixby Bridge , a reinforced concrete arch with
7000-406: The area. Public transportation is available to and from Monterey on Monterey–Salinas Transit . The summer schedule operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day three times a day, while the winter schedule only offers bus service on weekends. The route is subject to interruption due to wind and severe inclement weather. There are only six gas stations along Highway 1 in Big Sur, from Ragged Point in
7125-501: The authority to control the construction of any type, including buildings, housing, roads, as well as fire and erosion abatement structures, and can issue fines for unapproved construction. The Coastal Zone is specifically defined by law as an area that extends from the State's seaward boundary of jurisdiction, and inland for a distance from the Mean High Tide Line of between a couple of hundred feet in urban areas, to up to five miles in rural areas. The Big Sur Local Coastal Plan, approved by
7250-517: The bathrooms are not visible from Highway 1. This is due in part to the fact that restroom signs along Highway 1 were removed for aesthetic reasons. As a result, visitors often resort to defecating in the bushes near locations like the Bixby Creek Bridge. Residents complain that visitors regularly defecate along Highway 1. Toilet paper, human waste, and trash litter the roadsides. Residents have taken it upon themselves to clean up after visitors. The California Department of Transportation, which cleans
7375-500: The campsites along its route were closed during the Soberanes Fire in July 2016. They were damaged by the fire itself and further damaged by the heavy rains during the following winter. As of August 2017 , the trail was blocked by four major washouts and more than 100 fallen trees across the path. Reopening the trail will require an environmental assessment, and perhaps re-routing the trail entirely. The Mt. Manuel Trail (USFS 2E06) begins within Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. It follows
7500-430: The city of Lompoc . It is briefly joined with SR 246 along Lompoc's east-west Ocean Avenue, before turning north as H Street to Harris Grade Road, where it then regains the Cabrillo Highway name. After reaching the main entrance to Vandenberg Space Force Base , SR 1 turns northeast, away from the immediate coastline of the base, to join SR 135 . Route 135 then splits from Route 1 south of Orcutt , and
7625-437: The city of Long Beach after crossing the San Gabriel River . SR 1 then continues northwest through the city to its junction with Lakewood Boulevard (State Route 19) and Los Coyotes Diagonal at the Los Alamitos Circle , more than 2 miles (3.2 km) from the coast. From the traffic circle, it continues inland west through Long Beach, including approximately one mile adjacent to the southern boundary of Signal Hill . PCH
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#17328553619577750-553: The city of Point Arena , in which it becomes Main Street, before following School Street to the northwest and then becoming Shoreline Highway once again. It bridges the Garcia River and then, near Elk , the Navarro River , where it meets SR 128 . At the town of Albion , the Albion River is spanned by the Albion River Bridge , the only remaining wooden trestle bridge on the highway. SR 1 then passes through Little River and Van Damme State Park , crosses Big River and passes through Mendocino Headlands State Park and
7875-423: The city's Golden Gate Park . Then after entering the Presidio of San Francisco , it goes through the MacArthur Tunnel before joining US 101 for a fourth time on the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge known as Doyle Drive. After crossing the bridge and entering Marin County , SR 1 then splits from US 101 again near Marin City , where it leaves the city and, as the Shoreline Highway, returns to
8000-440: The coast have caused portions of SR 1 to either be closed for long periods of time, or be re-routed entirely. Some of these include: In 2014, Caltrans relinquished the portion of SR 1 in Oxnard along Oxnard Boulevard. The plan is then for PCH between Pleasant Valley Road and US 101 to be re-routed from Oxnard Boulevard onto Rice Avenue. That segment of Rice Avenue includes a railroad grade crossing at 5th Avenue that
8125-421: The coast have caused several segments to be either closed for lengthy periods for repairs, or re-routed inland. SR 1 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System , and through the Los Angeles metro area, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco metro area is part of the National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by
8250-424: The coast were named El Rio Grande del Sur and El Rio Chiquito del Sur . The first recorded use of the name el Sud (meaning 'the South') was on a map of the Rancho El Sur land grant given by Governor José Figueroa to Juan Bautista Alvarado on July 30, 1834. The first American use of the name 'Sur' was by the United States Coast Survey in 1851, which renamed a point of land that looked like an island and
8375-402: The coast, separated from Downtown Santa Monica by the palisades north of Santa Monica Pier ; this portion is also known locally as Palisades Beach Road and formerly as Roosevelt Highway. Upon leaving Santa Monica, PCH continues to follow the coast, curving west through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles before becoming the main thoroughfare of the city of Malibu while traversing
8500-424: The coastal cities and communities along its path, the route provides access to beaches, parks, and other attractions along the coast, making it a popular route for tourists. The route annually helps bring several billion dollars to the state's tourism industry. Segments of SR 1 range from urban freeway to simple rural two-lane road. Under the California Coastal Act , those segments of the highway that run through
8625-530: The coastal highways in those areas, respectively. For the 1932 Summer Olympics , the segment of the SR 1 between Oxnard and Santa Monica (then known as the Theodore Roosevelt Highway) hosted part of the road cycling events . Portions of SR 1 have also hosted stages of the Tour of California . California's coastline is constantly changing and continually presents us with challenges. Through hard work and determination, we continue to keep this scenic highway open. Frequent landslides and erosion along
8750-400: The coastal mountains made this stretch of coastline too costly for highway builders to establish routes through the area. In 1984, SR 1 was then re-routed to replace State Highway 208, connecting Rockport and Leggett, while the segment between Ferndale and Fernbridge was renumbered as State Highway 211 . Most of the coastline in the area is now part of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park and
8875-487: The difficult terrain along the coast, they detoured inland through the San Antonio and Salinas Valleys before arriving at Monterey Bay , where they founded Monterey and named it the provincial capital. The Spanish referred to the vast and relatively unexplored coastal region to the south of Monterey as el país grande del sur , meaning 'the big country of the south'. This was often shortened to el sur grande 'the big south'. The two major rivers draining this portion of
9000-575: The early twentieth century, the modern tourist economy began when Highway 1 opened the region to automobiles in 1937, but only took off after World War II-era gasoline rationing and a ban on pleasure driving ended in August 1945. Big Sur has become a destination for travelers both within the United States and internationally. The number of visitors to Big Sur has risen from about 1.5 million in 1978, to about 3 million in 1980, to an estimated 4 to 5 million during 2014 and 2015, comparable to or greater than
9125-474: The east side of Highway 1 in these parks are closed due to the Soberanes Fire and damage sustained during heavy rains the following winter. Some trails west of Highway 1 are open. Among the places that draw visitors is the once counterculture, later upscale Esalen Institute . Esalen hosted many figures of the nascent " New Age " and, in the 1960s, played an important role in popularizing Eastern philosophies,
9250-667: The elephant seal colony at Piedras Blancas Light Station . SR 1 provides access to Hearst Castle in San Simeon in Northern San Luis Obispo County. SR 1 then enters the Big Sur region, crossing San Carpóforo Creek just south of the Monterey County line. For about 72 miles (116 km) from San Carpóforo Creek to Malpaso Creek , the road winds and hugs the cliffs of Big Sur, passing various coastal parks in
9375-622: The entire 21 miles (34 km) of that city. SR 1 crosses the county line and continues through the Ventura County portion of the Malibu coast through Leo Carrillo State Park and Point Mugu State Park . After passing through a notch in the promontory that marks Point Mugu , the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains , and the beginning of the Oxnard Plain . The road cut left
9500-620: The first festival. The festival was held yearly on the grounds of the Esalen Institute, except for 1970, when it was held at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Even when well-known acts like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or the Beach Boys performed, the event was purposefully kept small with no more than a few thousand in attendance. The state parks in Big Sur grew out of the original residents' desire to protect and preserve
9625-454: The freeway had bypassed it in about 1960. Then in 1988, the segment from Purisima Road in Lompoc to SR 135 was re-routed from Harris Grade Road to the former County Route S20 so it could directly serve Vandenberg Air Force Base . Construction to bridge the gap in the Lost Coast region between Rockport and Ferndale was eventually abandoned. The steepness and related geotechnical challenges of
9750-590: The freeway heads north along the coast of Monterey Bay through Sand City , Seaside , and Marina . At the interchange with SR 156 near Castroville , SR 1 continues north as a two-lane rural road to Moss Landing . SR 1 becomes a freeway once again just before entering into Santa Cruz County . This four-lane freeway continues up the Monterey Bay coast through Watsonville to its interchange with SR 17 in Santa Cruz . (This trumpet interchange
9875-448: The gaps in Route 56 north of San Francisco, these additions completed the coastal highway, with other sections formed by Routes 1, 2, and 71 . The section of SR 1 from Santa Monica to Oxnard, via Malibu, went out to contract in 1925 as "Coast Boulevard", but was designated "Theodore Roosevelt Highway" when it was dedicated in 1929. Before the completion of its present alignment in 1937,
10000-447: The highly restrictive development plans enforced in Big Sur; no billboards or advertisements are permitted along the highway and signage for businesses must be modestly scaled and of a rural nature conforming to the Big Sur region. The state of California designated the 72-mile (116 km) section of the highway from Cambria to Carmel Highlands as the first California Scenic Highway in 1965. In 1966, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson led
10125-469: The highway was signed as several other routes prior to 1964. When the road was first envisioned in the World War I era, California highways were referred to by either a highway name or a route number. The route numbers were used by state highway planners and the Legislature from 1915 until 1964, but were never posted on highways, referred to by the auto clubs or public, nor used on maps. The SR 1 designation
10250-616: The interchange with SR 156 and the short, 2-lane Castroville Bypass opened in 1976. Originally SR 1 followed the SR ;156 alignment to the SR ;183 intersection in Castroville, then turned northwest, following the present-day SR 183 through Castroville before rejoining its existing alignment at the northern terminus of the Castroville Bypass. Plans to upgrade SR 1 to
10375-524: The land they admired. "The early settlers considered land stewardship their obligation to the community." The first was Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. John Pfeiffer, son of pioneers Michael Pfeiffer and Barbara Laquet, was offered $ 210,000 for his land near Sycamore Canyon by a Los Angeles developer, who wanted to build a subdivision on the land. Instead, Pfeiffer sold 700 acres (2.8 km2) to the state of California in 1933. As of January 2018 , portions of most of these parks are closed due to after effects of
10500-477: The laws. Residents began discussing the potential necessity of shuttle buses, tollgates along Highway 1, and limits on the number of private autos allowed on the highway in 1978. One of the reasons for Big Sur's popularity is that it is only a one-day drive for about 7 million people. With the advent of social media , hashtags like "#sykeshotsprings" and "#pineridgetrail", two popular destinations within Big Sur, encourage more visitors. Visitors must pay $ 15 for
10625-504: The most inaccessible areas of California and the entire United States until, after 18 years of construction, the Carmel–San Simeon Highway (now signed as part of State Route 1) was completed in 1937. Along with the ocean views, this winding, narrow road, often cut into the face of towering seaside cliffs, dominates the visitor's experience of Big Sur. The highway has been closed more than 55 times by landslides , and in May 2017,
10750-416: The most restrictive local-use programs in the state, and is widely regarded as one of the most restrictive documents of its kind anywhere. The program protects viewsheds from the highway and many vantage points, and severely restricts the density of development. About 60% of the coastal region is owned by governmental or private agencies which do not allow any development. The majority of the interior region
10875-553: The name Sepulveda Boulevard as it descends and passes under two runways of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) via the Sepulveda Boulevard Tunnel . After leaving LAX, SR 1 splits from Sepulveda and turns northwest, becoming Lincoln Boulevard and passing through the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Westchester , Playa Vista , and Venice , as well as the unincorporated community of Marina Del Rey . This portion of SR 1 suffers heavy congestion at most times due to
11000-604: The name of their post office from Arbolado to Big Sur, and the rubber stamp using that name was returned on March 6, 1915, cementing the use of Big Sur as the place name. The section of Highway 1 running through Big Sur is widely considered one of the most scenic driving routes in the United States, if not the world. The views are one reason that Big Sur was ranked second among all United States destinations in TripAdvisor 's 2008 Travelers' Choice Destination Awards. The unblemished natural scenery owes much of its preservation to
11125-481: The north, Route 56 was continued along the coast from Carmel through Santa Cruz to San Francisco . Several discontinuous pieces were added north of San Francisco, one from Route 1 (US 101) north of the Golden Gate to the county line near Valley Ford , another from the Russian River near Jenner (where the new Route 104 ended) to Westport , and a third from Ferndale to Route 1 near Fernbridge . Except for
11250-431: The northern border of Sand City and Seaside opened in 1968, and bypasses the original highway alignment of Munras Avenue and Fremont Street in Monterey, and Fremont Boulevard through Seaside. North of Seaside, the freeway was built over the original SR 1 alignment through Fort Ord in 1973. North of Fort Ord, SR 1 now veers to the left of the original alignment and bypasses Marina to the west. This segment including
11375-580: The northern coast were finally filled in by the Legislature in 1951, though the State Department of Public Works was not required to maintain the newly added portions immediately. A connection from near Rockport to Legislative Route 1 (signed US 101) at Leggett was also added to the Legislative Route 56 definition, as the existing county road north from Rockport to Ferndale had not yet been paved . The state Legislature in 1963 tossed out
11500-440: The number of visitors to Yosemite National Park . Unlike Yosemite, which is managed by a single federal entity, about one-quarter of the land in Big Sur is privately owned and the remainder is managed by a conglomeration of federal, state, local, and private agencies. Yosemite offers 5,400 parking spots and a free, daily, park-wide bus service. In Big Sur during the summer, there is a single public bus that runs three times daily and
11625-400: The ocean. The waterfall is located near the foundation of a grand stone cliffside house built in 1940 by Lathrop and Hélène Hooper Brown which was the region's first electrified home. However, parking is very limited and usually unavailable on summer weekends and holidays. Another notable landmark is Point Sur Lightstation , the only complete nineteenth century lighthouse complex open to
11750-483: The official scenic road designation ceremony at Bixby Creek Bridge . In 1996, the road became one of the first designated by the federal government as an "All-American Road" under the National Scenic Byways Program. CNN Traveler named McWay Falls as the most beautiful place in California. The drive along Highway 1 has been described as "one of the best drives on Earth", and is considered one of
11875-443: The old conflicting Legislative Route Numbers ( 1964 renumbering ), got rid of some famous old U.S. routes, and renumbered many state highways. It abolished US 101A in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties and renumbered it as SR 1. The Rockport to Leggett connection then became State Route 208. The cover of "California Highways" magazine in fall 1964 shows state engineers posting the new shield at Point Mugu. The same year,
12000-503: The public in California. The Ventana Wildlife Center near Andrew Molera State Park features a free Discovery Center that enables visitors to learn about the California Condor recovery program and other wildlife. The Henry Miller Memorial Library is a nonprofit bookstore and arts center that opened in 1981 as a tribute to the writer. Miller lived in Big Sur from 1944 to February 1963 and wrote about Big Sur in his book Big Sur and
12125-408: The public include Point Sur Beach, a long sandy beach located below and to the north of Point Sur Lighthouse. There is a small beach at Rocky Point that is surrounded by private property, making it inaccessible. The beach at the foot of McWay falls is physically inaccessible from the shore. To the south near the county line, Wreck Beach south of Pfeiffer Beach is not accessible. Gamboa Point Beach near
12250-438: The ranch maintains a secure fence and has prominently posted "Private Property" and "No Trespassing" signs on the fence along Highway 1 as suggested by legal precedent. While the beach below the mean high tide line is open to the public, the law does not permit individuals to trespass on private property to reach the public beach. Individuals who trespass to reach the beach have been cited. Other beaches that are inaccessible to
12375-464: The redwoods was canceled in 2016 due to the Soberanes Fire and in 2017 due to winter storms. The Big Sur Folk Festival was held from 1964 to 1971. It began unintentionally when Nancy Carlen, a friend of singer Joan Baez , organized a weekend seminar at the Esalen Institute in June 1964 titled "The New Folk Music". On Sunday afternoon, they invited all the neighbors for a free, open performance. This became
12500-529: The region have gradually expanded north and south over time. Esther Pfeiffer Ewoldson, who was born in 1904 and was a granddaughter of Big Sur pioneers Michael and Barbara Pfeiffer, wrote that the region extended from the Little Sur River 23 miles (37 km) south to Slates Hot Springs . Members of the Harlan Family, who homesteaded the Lucia region 9 miles (14 km) south of Slates Hot Springs, said that Big Sur
12625-677: The road and built wooden causeways where the route flooded from the ocean waves. Local funding ran out, but the newly formed State Highway Commission took over and completed the road in 1913. One of the most difficult routes to build was along the Big Sur coast. The state first approved building Route 56, or the Carmel-San Simeon Highway, to connect Big Sur to the rest of California in 1919. Federal funds were appropriated and in 1921 voters approved additional state funds. San Quentin State Prison set up three temporary prison camps to provide unskilled convict labor to help with road construction. One
12750-816: The roadside areas about once a week, finds human waste during every cleanup. Butch Kronlund, executive director of the Coast Property Owners Association, criticized the lack of restrooms. He says, "It's a 'scenic highway' with piles of shit up and down the highway." The 1976 California Coastal Act makes installing public bathrooms, trash bins, or even new road signs along Highway 1 extremely difficult. Several federal, state, and local agencies have jurisdiction in Big Sur, all of which must weigh in on decisions affecting residents and visitors. The land use restrictions that preserve Big Sur's natural beauty also mean that visitor accommodations are limited, often expensive, and places to stay fill up quickly during
12875-661: The route as the Shoreline Highway in 1957 between the Manzanita Junction near Marin City and Leggett . Smaller segments of the highway have been assigned several other names by the state and municipal governments. For the most part, SR 1 runs parallel to the coastline, or close to it, but does turn several miles inland at various locations to avoid several federally controlled or protected areas such as Vandenberg Space Force Base , Diablo Canyon Power Plant and Point Reyes National Seashore . In addition to connecting
13000-505: The rural areas of the protected California Coastal Zone may not be widened beyond a scenic two-lane road. At its southernmost end in Orange County , SR 1 terminates at I-5 in Capistrano Beach in Dana Point . It then travels west into the city center. After leaving Dana Point, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) becomes simply "Coast Highway" while at the same time continuing northwest along the coast through Laguna Beach (where it meets
13125-409: The same name [REDACTED] This article includes a list of roads, streets, highways, or other routes that are associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coast_Highway&oldid=1119230931 " Category : Lists of roads sharing
13250-468: The same title Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Short description matches Wikidata All set index articles California State Route 1 State Route 1 ( SR 1 ) is a major north–south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of the U.S. state of California . At 656 miles (1,056 km), it
13375-594: The shortage of alternate north-south arterial roads west of Interstate 405 . It then enters the city of Santa Monica , where SR 1 turns southwest, merging onto the westernmost segment of the Santa Monica Freeway . Passing through the McClure Tunnel (which also serves as the national western terminus of Interstate 10 ), SR 1 emerges along the beachfront in Santa Monica as PCH again and continues along
13500-672: The south to Carmel Highlands in the north. Three of them are in the north near Big Sur Valley. The gas station at the Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant offers a steep discount to local residents. The filling station in Gorda has one of the highest prices in the United States, as it is far from the electrical grid and part of the cost of auto fuel is used to support the operation of a diesel generator. All of them only operate during regular business hours and none of them supply diesel fuel. There are three Tesla recharging stations near Posts. It's
13625-475: The southern terminus of SR 133 ) and Crystal Cove State Park . SR 1 then enters Newport Beach and passes through several affluent neighborhoods, including Newport Coast and Corona Del Mar , spans the entrance to the Upper Newport Bay , which marks the boundary between East Coast Highway and West Coast Highway, and crosses California State Route 55 near its southern terminus. Upon crossing
13750-574: The southern terminus of SR 1 at Interstate 5 in Orange County). Route 56 was extended further south from Cambria to connect to present-day US 101 in San Luis Obispo in 1931. The route from San Simeon to Carmel (connecting with existing county highways at each end) was one of two sections designated as SR 1. It and Route 60 were intended as links in a continuous coastal roadway from Oregon to Mexico , A large expansion of
13875-476: The state highway system in 1933 resulted in Route 56 being extended in both directions. To the south, a second section was added, beginning at Pismo Beach on US 101 (Route 2) and heading south through Guadalupe and Lompoc to rejoin US 101 at a junction called Los Cruces (sic), just north of Gaviota Pass. (A short piece near Orcutt and Los Alamos had been part of Route 2, which originally followed present SR 135 from Los Alamos to Santa Maria.) To
14000-468: The summer, a shuttle operates from the US Forest Service headquarters to the beach. The wide sandy expanse offers views of a scenic arch rock offshore. It is sometimes confused with the beach at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to the south. In the south, Sand Dollar Beach is the longest stretch of beach in Big Sur. It is popular with hikers and photographers for its views of nearby bluffs. The beach
14125-586: The surface street, Rice Avenue, towards the interchange with US 101. The historic route along Oxnard Boulevard was relinquished in 2014. Truck traffic to and from the Port of Hueneme also uses this designated route at the Rice Avenue/Hueneme Road connector to connect with Route 101 at the Rice Avenue Interchange. After traveling through Ventura , SR 1 separates from US 101 to travel
14250-527: The top 10 motorcycle rides in the United States. Highway 1 was named the most popular drive in California in 2014 by the American Automobile Association . The region receives as many as and sometimes more visitors than Yosemite National Park . Unlike the national park managed by a single entity, the Big Sur region is ruled over by multiple government and private land owners, offers only occasional bus service, limited parking, few restrooms, and
14375-705: The west coast of the San Francisco Peninsula , passing by the marine mammal colonies at Año Nuevo State Park , and the historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse , before reaching Half Moon Bay . Between Half Moon Bay and Pacifica , the highway bypasses a treacherous stretch known as Devil's Slide via the Tom Lantos Tunnels . SR 1 then becomes a freeway once again at Sharp Park in Pacifica before turning inland to join Interstate 280 in Daly City . Just short of reaching
14500-481: The winter, the road is frequently closed due to washouts and slides. Despite its popularity, the region is heavily protected to preserve the rural and natural character of the land. The entire Big Sur coast is located within the protected coastal zone established by the 1976 California Coastal Act . This includes land use within a defined "coastal zone" extending inland from 3,000 ft (910 m) up to 5 mi (8.0 km). The California Coastal Commission has
14625-541: Was "miles and miles to the north of us." Prior to the construction of Highway 1, residents on the south coast had little contact with residents to the north of them. Most descriptions of the area refer to Malpaso Creek 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of the Carmel River as the northern border. The southern border is generally accepted to be San Carpóforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County . The vast majority of visitors only see Big Sur's dramatic coastline and consider
14750-417: Was built piecemeal in various stages, with the first section opening in the Big Sur region in the 1930s. However, portions of the route had several names and numbers over the years as more segments opened. It was not until the 1964 state highway renumbering that the entire route was officially designated as SR 1. Although SR 1 is a popular route for its scenery, frequent landslides and erosion along
14875-541: Was extended from Oxnard to El Rio (midway to Ventura, now the site of the Oxnard Boulevard interchange with US 101 ), in 1925. At Point Mugu , a path for the highway was cut through the mountains using surplus World War I explosives, thus creating Mugu Rock. The 1921 legislation, in theory, made Route 60 a continuous coastal loop, with both ends at what became US 101 in Oxnard and at Capistrano Beach (since 1964
15000-503: Was first assigned in 1939. Various portions of SR 1 have been posted and referred to by various names and numbers over the years. State construction of what became SR 1 started after the state's third highway bond issue passed before 1910. Eager for a direct coastal route between Ventura and Santa Barbara , civic boosters used locally raised funds to begin building the Rincon Sea Level Road in 1911. The route between
15125-727: Was incorporated into the state highway system and re-designated as SR 1 in 1939. The section of road along the Big Sur Coast was declared the first State Scenic Highway in 1965, and in 1966 the first lady, Lady Bird Johnson , led the official designation ceremony at Bixby Bridge . The route was designated as an All American Road by the US Government. SR 1 signs first went up after California decided to number its highways, in 1934. The section for Humboldt , Mendocino , Sonoma , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo , Santa Cruz , Monterey , San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties
15250-500: Was posted as SR 1, that section of the road known Route 56 (Las Cruces to Fernbridge). For Ventura , Los Angeles and Orange counties, Route 60 (San Juan Capistrano to the Oxnard area) became SR 3, and a few SR 3 signs were actually posted. The SR 3 signs were replaced by US 101 Alt. shields by 1936, as the road was built out; this change also allowed the extension of US 66 to end at another U.S. Route, in Santa Monica. The gaps of non-state highway along
15375-494: Was set up by Little Sur River , one at Kirk Creek and a third was later established in the south at Anderson Creek . Inmates were paid 35 cents per day and had their prison sentences reduced in return. The route necessitated construction of 33 bridges, the largest of which was the Bixby Bridge . Six more concrete arch bridges were built between Point Sur and Carmel. After 18 years of construction, aided by New Deal funds during
15500-674: Was shaped like a trumpet, known to the Spanish as Morro de la Trompa and Punta Que Parece Isla , to Point Sur . Big Sur's first post office was named "Posts" after William Brainard Post , in whose home it was located. He had obtained a patent to land at the top of the grade south of the Big Sur River, where he built a home in 1867. The English-speaking homesteaders petitioned the United States Post Office in Washington D.C. to change
15625-605: Was the site of the February 2015 Oxnard train derailment , which eventually led to one death and 29 injuries. This was the twelfth accident at the crossing in ten years. An overpass has been planned at that site for almost two decades, but funding has not been available in Ventura County for the estimated $ 35 million grade separation project. On July 12, 2023, the Ventura County Transportation Commission and
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