Scenic Spots on the Pacific Coast Highway

Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to the most scenic spots on the Pacific Coast Highway in California with Big Sur, Bixby Bridge and Pfeiffer Beach.

Big Sur

Choosing the most scenic spots on the Pacific Coast Highway is a difficult task, even if you limit it, as we've done here, to the California stretch of PCH. However, we've given it a try, and here's our personal and totally biased list in alphabetical order.

Scenic Spots on the Pacific Coast Highway

Big Sur

We start with a bit of a cheat because Big Sur isn't one scenic spot but a series of them, running for miles through the stretch of the Central California coast between Carmel and San Simeon. Little wonder this has been called one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in the world.

The dramatic nature of the coastline here, with mountains tumbling right down to the sea, also makes it vulnerable to landslides during winter storms. It often gets closed for repair, so if you really want to see the best of Big Sur, travel in summer or fall. See our separate page on Big Sur.

Bixby Bridge

Ten miles north of Big Sur and 30 minutes south of Carmel and Monterey, Bixby Bridge must be the most photographed bridge along the Pacific Coast Highway after the Golden Gate Bridge.

Pull in at the viewpoint on the ocean side of the highway, just north of the bridge, for great shots of both the bridge and the Big Sur coastline beyond. See also our full page on Bixby Bridge.

Greyhound Rock Beach

Greyhound Rock Beach is an unusual and less-well-known beach, about a 10-minute drive north of the tiny town of Davenport on the Pacific Coast Highway. Davenport is itself about 20 minutes north from Santa Cruz.

The beach is within the Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area, which is a marine life protection area. Look for a small path to the north of the parking lot to get to the beach. We've included it in our scenic spots list for the Pacific Coast Highway as it's a quieter beach and it gets its name from the unusual rock formation just offshore. We're not sure that it looks like a greyhound, more like a gray whale to us, but it's certainly different.

The Best PCH Guide
We've read lots of guides to the Pacific Coast, and easily the best one is the Moon Handbook. You can read our review here, or buy it through the Amazon link below.

It's a great beach if you're traveling with a family as it's a very safe place, secluded, and there are lots of tide pools to explore. You can also go beachcombing here, and there's a family picnic area. Fishing is also popular, and there are some nature trails too. We definitely recommend this, especially if you were spending a day or two in Santa Cruz.

McWay Falls

McWay Fals on the Pacific Coast Highway in California

McWay Falls

McWay Falls is an 80-foot-tall (24m) waterfall on the coast of Big Sur in central California that flows year-round from McWay Creek in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The park is about an hour's drive south of Carmel. Look for a turning on the east side of the highway marked McWay Canyon/Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which leads you round to the parking area..

During high tide, it becomes what's called a tidefall, which is a waterfall that empties directly into the ocean. You'll have to be content with a distant view of the falls, though, as it's illegal to hike down to McWay Falls.

Morro Bay

Morro Bay and Morro Rock

Morro Bay is one of our favorite scenic spots along the Pacific Coast Highway. We like to either spend a night there, or at least pull in, walk round, have a coffee or a bite to eat, and walk round to see what the sea otters are up to, swimming and playing in the bay itself. They're wonderful creatures.

A good scenic photo is anything that shows Morro Rock in it. See our main Morro Bay page for more information.

Pfeiffer Beach

With its purple-tinged sand, cliff faces, and offshore rock formations, this is one of the prettiest little beaches you'll find. Scenic? Certainly! Read more on our page on the Best Beaches in California.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

On the Point Lobos North Shore Trail

We were sent to Point Lobos by a colleague when we were staying in Monterey and asked him for recommendations for a good walk. We're so glad that he did. You can read our page about our visit here, and see our YouTube video here. Also check out the official website here.

Point Loma

This Old Postcard Shows the View of San Diego from Point Loma

The last of our favorite scenic spots along the Pacific Coast Highway (alphabetically, that is) is Point Loma. It's not one spot but a scenic peninsula west of San Diego and easily missed if you were headed north out of the city in search of that Pacific Coast drive. We like to point out places that are easily missed, though you can't miss out the must-sees like Big Sur.

To get to Point Loma, head north out of San Diego on North Harbor Drive as if you were going to the airport. Pass the airport and when North Harbor Drive ends, make a left onto Rosecrans Street and keep going. Then take a drive around the peninsula, as like out first entry for Big Sur this is also a cheat as it's not one scenic spot but many.

Among the things you can enjoy are the Point Loma tide pools, nature trails, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, and the Cabrillo National Monument.

Other California Coast pages

Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel and Monterey, with photos
A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.
Vagabond's House Inn
Historic and romantic Vagabond's House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Carmel is a great place to stay with free wine and cheese and generous breakfast.
Encinitas
Encinitas is a beach city in Southern California, famous for surfing, and regularly chosen as one of the best places to live in both California and the USA.
Point Reyes National Seashore
The Point Reyes National Seashore is an hour’s drive northwest of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway and is maintained by the National Park Service.
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica in California is famous for its pier, and beaches, and is one of the best west coast vacation spots, with hotels, restaurants, surfing, museums.
Stanford Inn by the Sea Mendocino
The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino on the California coast is an eco-resort with yoga classes and the award-winning Ravens Restaurant.
Coastal California Guidebook
Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.
Santa Barbara
Standing on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Santa Barbara is an attractive resort with a historic downtown, sandy beaches, a mission, and good museums.
California Coast Guide
One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.
Crescent City
Crescent City is on the Pacific Coast Highway in northern California and noted for its crescent-shaped beach, Ocean World sea park, and nearby redwoods and state parks.
Mendocino
Mendocino in Mendocino County is a small but pretty California coastal town, popular with artists and with travelers. It has featured in many songs and movies.
Newport Beach
Newport Beach is a small city on the Pacific coast of southern California, right on the Pacific Coast Highway and noted for its beaches and surfing.
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier is just off the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica near Los Angeles, with an amusement park, an aquarium and many other attractions.
Santa Cruz Downtown Wine Tastings
There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.
Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove is a small city on the California coast, next to Monterey and close to Carmel, with attractions including its historic Victorian houses.
San Simeon
San Simeon is a tiny town of a few hundred people close to Hearst Castle on the California coast midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Laguna Beach Inn and Spa
The Casa Laguna Hotel and Spa in Laguna Beach is right on the Pacific Coast Highway and has luxury rooms, a swimming pool, and real gourmet breakfasts.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo in California is half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, on the Pacific Coast Highway and with lots of things to do and see.
Bixby Bridge
Drive the Pacific Coast Highway and you have to cross Bixby Bridge in California, ten miles north of Big Sur and 30 minutes south of Monterey.
Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach is a small beach town on California's Central Coast, a resort famous for surfing and clams.
Whale Watching in California
Whale watching in California is one of the most popular things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway, in places like San Diego, San Francisco and many more.
Best Time to Visit Mendocino
PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Mendocino, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a delightful small town on the California coast roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles and noted for the huge Morro Rock.
Oceanside
Oceanside is a typical southern California beach town with a surf culture and with the Pacific Coast Highway running right through it.
Dana Point
Dana Point in California is the official start or end of the Pacific Coast Highway, and its attractions include whale watching, and Doheny State Beach.