Big Sur Coast Bike Tour
Amazing scenery mixed with challenging riding, followed by good lodging and food. Excellent guide support and ride options made this a not to be missed tour
Epic trip, great food & the weather cooperated!
Great guides, great food, and routes that cater to real cyclists.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
- A 6-day guided, van-supported, cycling tour along the spectacular Big Sur, California coastline.
- Cycle Pebble Beach and 17-mile Drive into Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Cross the Bixby Bridge and pedal Highway One south all the way to San Luis Obispo.
- Hike and ride through the southern-most forests of giant Redwoods.
- Tour the world-famous Hearst Castle at San Simeon.
- Explore small coastal towns and visit iconic landmarks such as Ragged Point, Cambria, Pismo Beach and Morro Rock.
“Big Sur is the California that men dreamed of years ago.” -Henry Miller
Ride the entire Big Sur coastline from Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Luis Obispo on this intermediate level tour. From Pebble Beach to Hearst Castle, view tranquil beaches, crashing surf, dramatic coastline, and the southern-most redwood forests. South of Cambria, pedal through famous coastal communities like Morro Bay and Pismo Beach. Inland, ride through some of “golden” California’s finest terrain: wide valleys of vineyards flanked by rolling hillsides covered in scattered groves of live (evergreen) oak. Explore Edna Valley, producer of premium wines, and host to a diverse array of charming wineries.
PEDAL HAPPY: While this is indeed a spectacular route, much of the cycling on this tour is along Highway One. Riders should be comfortable cycling on a highway with some traffic.
COMBINING TOURS: We schedule our coastal California tour dates to make longer adventures possible. You can combine our Big Sur Tour with our Redwoods and Coast Multisport tour for the ultimate Cali cycling experience!
Itinerary
Day 01
Meet in San Jose. Cruise 17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach on your way to Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Carmel Mission Inn or Tradewinds
Distance
30 miles (or more)
Elevation
+1,453 ft / -1,196 ft
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.
Day 02
Ride down the coast across the iconic Bixby Bridge to California's southern-most redwood forests in Big Sur.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Fernwood Resort, Big Sur
Distance / Elevation
25.3 miles · +2,075 ft / -1,885 ft (or more)
Pedal the weathered coastline from Carmel-by-the-Sea to the community of Big Sur. Follow the dramatic knolls and tumbled rock headlands of the Cabrillo Highway (aka Highway One): enormous live oaks, green-and-gold hillsides, pale sand dunes and the blue Pacific Ocean. Ride across Bixby Bridge, a historic open-spandrel arch bridge that brought automobile travel to Big Sur. Finish cycling early in the afternoon. Relax at the hotel or take advantage of one the amazing hikes at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Stay tonight at Fernwood Resort.
Day 03
Cycle the most spectacular, rugged, and remote section of the central California coastline!
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Ragged Point Inn
Distance / Elevation
51.7 miles · +4,761 ft / -4,612 ft (or less)
Ride south today from Big Sur to Ragged Point on the most spectacular, rugged, and remote section of the central California coastline. The road is carved into the seaside cliffs and a new stunning seascape opens up around every corner. It’s a long day so you may want a boost over the first (or last) climb. This is not a problem at all – just let your guides know. Whatever transportation you choose the vistas are unforgettable! Contemplate the end of a great day with cliff-top cuisine and a great view from Ragged Point Inn tonight and tomorrow.
Day 04
Visit Hearst Castle and rest up, or go for a hike on your own from Ragged Point.
Meals
– Breakfast
– (Lunch is on your own today, or on the last day.)
– Dinner
Lodging
Ragged Point Inn
We stay put at Ragged Point today, so no need to pack up your luggage! In the morning, shuttle to one of the most iconic locations on the west coast – Hearst Castle – for a guided tour of journalism baron William Randolph Hearst’s opulent home in San Simeon. In the afternoon, 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. Lunch is on your own either today or on the last day.
Day 05
Watch the scenery change dramatically as we descend from Ragged Point and keep pedaling south to delightful Cambria.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Lodging
Rigdon House
Distance / Elevation
Short route: 24.4 miles · +1,093 ft / -1,382 ft
Long route 50.7 miles · +3,673 ft / -3,965 ft
South of Ragged Point, a swath of rolling hills guards the coastline from the steep mountains, and the road runs closer to the water. The rock outcroppings dotting the waters just offshore are a hazard to ships but provide prime marine life habitat. After lunch in Cambria (also our final destination for the day) you can opt to spend the rest of the afternoon exploring this charming town, or carry on cycling up and back into the hills above town on a lovely, tranquil road. Lodging is at Cambria’s Rigdon House, a historic boutique hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 06
Cycle though Morro Bay on your way to Pismo Beach and dig your toes into the sand!
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
SeaVenture Beach Hotel
Distance / Elevation
51.4 miles · +1,928 ft / -1,962 ft (or more)
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 on Pismo Beach.
Day 07
"WINE" down with a ride through Edna Valley's vineyards before returning to San Jose.
Meals
– Breakfast
– (Lunch is on your own today, or on day 4.)
Distance / Elevation
21.7 miles · +1,582 ft / -1,368 ft
Wind (“wine?”) down with a peaceful inland ride on country roads past the vineyards of Edna Valley outside San Luis Obispo, known predominantly for its Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Have lunch on your own (if we haven’t already) while we load bikes for the drive back to San Jose (about 3.5 hours, traffic depending).
Bikes (See our Guest Info Packet for specific bike make and model.)
Evergreen Escapes
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