Hikes to hidden beaches, beautiful coastline vistas and towering redwood and cypress trees, a weekend camping adventure in Big Sur makes for the perfect forest & beach getaway.
Day One
We met up with everyone at our side by side campsites in the Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground at 2pm on Friday, set up our tents and had some group introductions to get to know each other. The Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground is full of trees providing each site with shade and seclusion, and creeks throughout, and it’s not uncommon to see a deer or two walking around the grounds! Before heading out on our first hike of the weekend, Valley View Overlook Trail which conveniently begins right by the entrance of the campground.
We got to the top just before sunset, to see the sun peaking just over the ridge providing us with a golden sunny view off the hillside.
It was dark by the time we got back to the campsite, and we all worked together to make a dinner & learned from the trip leader Heather how to properly build a campfire so we could enjoy some s’mores before heading off to our tents for the night!
Day Two
We started our second day with multiple kettles full of french press coffee and pancakes, and set out on the drive up to the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Point Lobos SNR is full of rocky beaches, cypress groves, and plenty of beautiful blue ocean views (and the occasional seal sighting) with a network of trails throughout so you have options! We went on a 4-mile loop so we could experience a little bit of everything, with a little break about halfway through at some tide pools.
We made our way back to camp for a picnic lunch and then headed back out again for a hike to Partington Cove and then finished the day with sunset at McWay Falls, taking time on both trails to sit and enjoy the stunning views each had to offer.
After watching the sunset over the falls, we headed back to camp once more for a hearty dinner of brats cooked over the fire and skillet potatoes & veggies, followed by more s’mores of course!
Day Three
We arose on Sunday morning to more much needed and appreciated coffee and broke down camp before heading out on one final hike through Andrew Molera State Park out to the beach, for a picnic lunch and our last hello & goodbye to the Pacific Ocean before heading back home. Cheers to a great weekend in the forest by the ocean, I’m already looking forward to the next time I can come back!
