Big Sur’s Highway 1 offers some of California’s most spectacular coastal scenery, but the famous viewpoints capture only a fraction of the dramatic landscapes hidden along this winding mountain road. Beyond the crowded tourist stops lie dozens of secret vantage points that offer equally stunning views without the tour buses and selfie sticks.
These hidden spots require local knowledge or careful exploration to discover, creating opportunities for solitude and photography that the main attractions simply can’t provide. Here’s a list of 16 secret viewpoints that showcase Big Sur’s coastal beauty from perspectives that most visitors never experience.
Salmon Creek Falls Overlook
This unmarked pullout 3 miles north of the falls provides a dramatic elevated view of the 120-foot waterfall and the rugged coastline beyond. The short scramble up the hillside rewards visitors with a perspective that shows the falls in context with the surrounding redwood forest and the Pacific Ocean.
The viewpoint remains relatively unknown because it requires leaving the car and hiking uphill for about 10 minutes.
Partington Cove Vista
Located 2 miles south of the popular Partington Cove trail, this hidden viewpoint offers a bird’s-eye view of the secluded beach and the dramatic rock formations that protect it from ocean swells. The spot requires parking in a small turnout and walking through coastal scrub to reach the cliff edge.
The elevated perspective reveals how the cove’s natural harbor created a perfect landing spot for 19th-century loggers.
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Lime Kiln Creek Bridge
The old concrete bridge that crosses this creek provides a unique vantage point for viewing the coastline from an elevated position above the highway. The bridge’s walkway offers safe viewing of both the creek canyon and the ocean views beyond, creating a perspective that combines intimate creek views with expansive coastal panoramas.
Most drivers pass underneath without realizing the bridge provides one of the area’s best viewpoints.
Willow Creek Headlands
This unmarked area north of Lucia offers expansive views of the coast from grassy headlands that extend toward the ocean. The viewpoint requires a short walk through coastal prairie to reach cliff edges that provide unobstructed views for miles in both directions.
The location’s remoteness means you’ll often have the entire headland to yourself, creating perfect conditions for watching migrating whales.
Anderson Canyon Overlook
Located on the inland side of Highway 1, this viewpoint offers a rare glimpse into the Santa Lucia Mountains’ deep canyon systems. The overlook provides perspectives of multiple ridgelines extending toward the coast, creating a view that shows Big Sur’s dramatic topography from a completely different angle.
The spot requires careful attention to find, as the small pullout blends into the surrounding forest.
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Deetjen’s Ridge
This elevated area above the famous Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn provides sweeping views of the coastline without the crowds that gather at nearby tourist stops. The ridge offers multiple vantage points accessible through short walks along old logging roads that wind through the forest.
The combination of coastal and forest views creates a comprehensive perspective on Big Sur’s diverse landscapes.
Pfeiffer Beach Bluffs
While Pfeiffer Beach itself attracts crowds, the bluffs above the beach provide dramatic elevated views of the purple sand beach and the famous Keyhole Rock formation. The viewpoint requires scrambling up steep trails that most beachgoers never attempt, creating unique photo opportunities from angles that capture both the beach and the surrounding coastline.
The elevated position reveals how the beach nestles between towering cliffs.
Garrapata Creek Vista
This hidden viewpoint south of Garrapata State Park offers dramatic views of the creek canyon and the coastline beyond from an elevated position that few visitors discover. The spot requires parking in a small turnout and following an unmarked trail through coastal scrub to reach the cliff edge.
The viewpoint provides excellent opportunities for photographing the interplay between the creek valley and the ocean.
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McWay Falls Upper Viewpoint
While everyone knows the main McWay Falls overlook, this secret viewpoint provides a completely different perspective from above and behind the famous waterfall. The spot requires a challenging scramble up steep trails that aren’t officially maintained, creating access that keeps crowds away.
The elevated position reveals how the falls emerge from the coastal forest before plunging to the beach below.
Nepenthe Ridge Trail
This unofficial trail behind the famous Nepenthe restaurant leads to viewpoints that provide expansive coastal views without the restaurant crowds. The trail follows the ridgeline through the coastal forest to reach multiple overlooks that offer different perspectives on the same dramatic coastline.
The location’s proximity to a popular restaurant makes it surprising that so few visitors discover these viewpoints.
Plaskett Creek Bluffs
Located near the Plaskett Creek campground, these bluffs offer dramatic views of the coastline from elevated positions that provide both intimate and expansive perspectives. The viewpoints require short walks through coastal scrub to reach cliff edges that offer unobstructed views for miles.
The area’s relative obscurity means you’ll often find yourself alone with the sounds of crashing waves and coastal winds.
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Jade Cove Overlook
This elevated viewpoint above the famous Jade Cove provides dramatic perspectives of the rocky coastline and the offshore rocks that give the area its character. The overlook requires a short hike from the highway to reach cliff edges that offer safe viewing of the dramatic coastline below.
The elevated position reveals how the cove’s geology creates the conditions that produce the area’s famous jade deposits.
Limekiln Creek Canyon
This viewpoint into the deep canyon that contains Limekiln State Park offers perspectives of the redwood forest and creek system from elevated positions above the park boundaries. The spot requires parking in small turnouts and following unmarked trails to reach overlooks that provide views into the canyon’s depths.
The perspective reveals how the redwood groves nestle in the protected canyon environment.
Ragged Point Bluffs
While Ragged Point itself attracts some visitors, the bluffs extending north from the main viewpoint offer equally dramatic perspectives without any crowds. The unmarked trails through coastal scrub led to cliff edges that provide unobstructed views of the rugged coastline extending toward Hearst Castle.
The elevated position creates perfect conditions for watching marine wildlife.
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Ventana Wilderness Overlook
This high-elevation viewpoint accessible through the Ventana Wilderness provides the only elevated perspective that shows both the coast and the inland mountain ranges from a single vantage point. The spot requires a challenging hike through chaparral and oak woodlands to reach ridgelines that offer 360-degree views.
The elevated position reveals how Big Sur’s dramatic topography creates the conditions for its unique ecosystem.
Bixby Creek Valley
This little-known viewpoint into the valley below the famous Bixby Creek Bridge offers perspectives of the creek canyon and coastal forest that most visitors never see. The spot requires parking in a small turnout and following an unmarked trail that descends into the valley before climbing to an overlook.
The viewpoint provides intimate views of the creek system that feeds the dramatic coastline.
Discovering Big Sur’s Hidden Perspectives
Big Sur’s secret viewpoints prove that the area’s most spectacular scenery isn’t always found at the marked tourist stops but often requires the curiosity to explore beyond the obvious destinations. These hidden vantage points offer opportunities to experience the coastline’s dramatic beauty in solitude, creating personal connections with the landscape that crowded overlooks simply can’t provide.
The best part about discovering Big Sur’s secret viewpoints isn’t just the stunning photography opportunities they offer but the way they reveal how this remarkable coastline continues to reward those willing to venture beyond the well-traveled paths.
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