The Big Sur Community

The Big Sur Marathon office is located in Carmel, appropriately only 26 miles from the start line of the Big Sur International Marathon.  We receive frequent calls from first time marathoners collecting information about Big Sur. They usually want to know the location of restaurants, hotels, shopping malls and movie theaters there. We do our best to explain that Big Sur isn't your usual "town", and you definitely won't find any shopping malls there. If are driving down Highway 1 and not paying attention,you may miss Big Sur entirely.  And, this is what makes the tiny community so unique...it's more of a spiritual haven than a town on the map.

The thinly populated region of Big Sur actually has no specific boundaries, but generally is considered to be the 90 mile coastal stretch between the Carmel River to the north, and San Carpoforo Creek to the south. From the coast, Big Sur extends inland for about 20 miles to the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Original occupants of the Big Sur wilderness were three Indian tribes, the Ohlone, Esselen and Salinan. When the explorations of Spanish mariners resulted in eventual colonization, the aboriginal population was wiped out, primarily as a result of disease, malnutrition and forced labor.

Isolation, a lack of roads, and a treacherous coastline kept Big Sur an inaccessible wilderness area until 1937 when coastal Highway 1 connected Big Sur with towns to the north and south. Family ranches and farms gave way to a tourist based economy, and many purchased acreage for second homes. Local residents fiercely fought over development and were successful in banning billboards and other visual distractions on Highway 1 and were able to prohibit construction within view of the highway.

Big Sur is probably best known for the writers and artists who settled there in the mid 20^th century. These fierce individualists and free spirits included Robinson Jeffers, Henry Miller, Edward Weston, Richard Brautigan, Hunter S. Thompson, Emile Norman and Jack Kerouac. Eventually, even Hollywood took note of this unique area. Many scenes from the 1944 film The Sandpiper, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, were shot there. In 1974, Zandy’s Bride, featuring Gene Hackman and Liv Ullman, was Big Sur based.

Today Big Sur is home to approximately 1000 inhabitants and includes descendants of the original settler families, artists and musicians, and wealthy investors. The tourism based economy offers visitors accommodations ranging from rustic campgrounds to the plush Ventana Inn and Spa. Several restaurants, gas stations and small stores are the extent of urban development and residents pride themselves on their environmental consciousness.

The founder of the Big Sur Marathon, Bill Burleigh, maintains a home in Big Sur. [see fire note below]

For more detailed information and to view a map showing the location of Big Sur hotels, inns, restaurants and points of interest, click HERE

A short hike is necessary to access Big Sur beaches, but it is worth the effort. Popular beaches include the beach at Andrew Molera State Park, Garrapata State Beach, Pfeiffer Beach, and Jade Cove.

All of Big Sur's galleries and gift shops feature handcrafted pieces by Big Sur artists and craftspeople. Notable galleries and shops include the Big Sur Garden Gallery, the Big Sur Spirit Garden, the Coast Galleries, the Gallery at Ventana, the Phoenix Shop at Nepenthe, the Henry Miller Library, and Post Ranch Mercantile

From April through August, Sunday afternoon music is offered on the deck of the River Inn overlooking the Big Sur River from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  At the Fernwood, a weekend music series is available in July and August from 9:00 pm, and the Big Sur Bluegrass Festival takes place in October.

Big Sur offers a variety of day hikes.  In Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, you can choose a hike from 1.4 to 4.8 miles. Hikes encompass redwood groves, waterfalls, open oak woodlands and range from easy to strenuous. Andrew Molera State Park offers hikes of 2 and 8 miles that present great coastal views as well as beach access.  Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has a short hike to McWay Falls with a view of the 80-foot waterfall as well as the Ewoldsen Trail through the redwood forest.