Big Sur Coast Bike Tour

Meet us in San Jose, CA. Head out to bicycle one of the most famous roads in the region: iconic 17-Mile Drive. Stunning coastal vistas unspool as we ride past Pebble Beach’s fabled mansions and golf course, through pine forest and along the oceanfront, passing the reefs and tide pools of Bird Rock, the white sands of breathtaking Fanshell Beach and the famed Lone Cypress tree. Watch for deer, black cormorants, brown pelicans and California sea lions. Spend tonight at the Carmel Mission Inn or Tradewinds in Carmel-by-the-Sea, where Clint Eastwood once held office as mayor.

Pedal the weathered coastline from Carmel-by-the-Sea past Big Sur to the north end of the landslide closure. Follow dramatic knolls and tumbled rock headlands on one of the most spectacular, rugged, and remote sections of the central California coastline on a road carved into the seaside cliffs, with a new stunning seascape opening up around every corner. Ride (or tiptoe!) across dizzying Bixby Bridge, a historic open-spandrel arch bridge that brought the first automobile travel to Big Sur in 1932. You’ll have plenty to talk about as we shuttle back to the community of Big Sur after the ride! Spend the night beneath California’s southern-most redwood forests at Fernwood Resort.

Take the day off to enjoy more of the views from “on high” before we descend from Ragged Point tomorrow. Spend time relaxing, watching the water for whales or enjoying the area on a short, easy walk from the inn, or hike one of the more challenging trails like the Cliffside Trail to a waterfall, or explore the solitude of the Baldwin Ranch Trail which heads back up into the hills. In addition, we will offer a shuttle (or you can cycle, of course) back up the coast to the highway closure at Lime Kiln State Park to explore the trails, the beach and the historic lime kiln. Lunch is on your own either today, or on day seven.

Today’s ride is a veritable variety show. Sweeping curves of coastline are punctuated by surfers and beachgoers. Rolling fields and pastures are dotted with live oaks, racehorses, and honest-to-goodness cowboys. While the mileage is longer today, the hills are not as challenging as they were along Big Sur. Refuel your legs with a seaside picnic lunch in Morro Bay beneath landmark Morro Rock. Continue bicycling south to the white sands of Pismo Beach, halfway point between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Go for a swim in the ocean to cool off, or just soak up some rays by the surf. Relax and enjoy beachfront lodging and dining at SeaVenture Beach Hotel – the only hotel and restaurant (literally) on Pismo Beach!