Rocky Creek Bridge Beach

Located at the mouth of Rocky Creek, Rocky Creek Bridge Beach is a beautiful yet isolated beach with light brown sand, a large amount of driftwood, and some pebbly parts in the Big Sur region.   The beach is located below steep bluffs and there is also a bridge above the beach named Rocky Creek Bridge.  Getting to the Rocky Creek Bridge Beach is easy - the blufftop overlook above the beach is located north of Rocky Creek Bridge near 38525 Cabrillo Highway/ Pacific Coast Highway, where there is also a free parking lot.  However, getting down to the beach from this blufftop overlook is not possible because the access trail to Rocky Creek Bridge Beach is privately owned as is marked with signs that forbid trespassing.  In addition, the bluffside around the beach is steep, rocky, and partially eroded.  This makes any attempt to scale down along the bluffside to the beach below highly unsafe.  Nevertheless, the overlook above Rocky Creek Bridge Beach offers incredible Instagram-worthy views of the beach and the Pacific Ocean.  The water near the beach is home to many rare animals including the southern sea otter and a rare type of aquatic worm known as E.I Nereis.  In addition, a ridge above the beach is home to a rare species of orchid named yadon’s piperia.

There are many attractions near Rocky Creek Bridge Beach within a 20-minute drive.  Andrew Molera State Park has 20 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails that highlight a variety of landscapes within the state park including forests of redwood and sycamore trees, open meadows, the banks of the Big Sur River, and a 40-feet high waterfall known as the Highbridge Falls - in addition, the state park also houses the Molera Ranch House Museum that has interesting exhibits and artifacts offering an interesting insight into the rich history of the Big Sur region.  Andrew Molera State Park also has the Ventana Wildlife Society Big Sur Discovery Center that has informative exhibits about the vibrant biodiversity of the Big Sur region - the discovery center also has a souvenir shop and organizes exciting nature tours.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is located at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains and has a variety of hiking trails – these trailsoffer an amazing way to explore the vibrant landscape and biodiversity of the Big Sur region and you can see many kinds of animals in this state park including deer, racoons, skunks, kingfishers, and bobcats.  In addition to hiking, the state park also offers many other fun activities including biking, camping, and picnicking and it also has a nature center named Ewoldsen Nature Center – this center offers informative exhibits about Big Sur region’s plants and animals.  Point Sur State Historic Park is a state park that has a 19th century lighthouse named Point Sur Lighthouse – this lighthouse is a part of United States’ National Register of Historic Places.  As an interesting fact, the state park was also the former site of a Cold War-era naval facility – you can get an interesting insight into the state park’s history through the guided tours that are organized here by the state park authorities. The state park also offers a couple of other fun activities including wildlfe watching and hiking – you can see many kinds of animals while visiting this state park including many migratory and resident bird species and migrating whales and sea otters.  If you are looking for another attraction near Rocky Creek Bridge Beach, Pfeiffer Falls is located in the Los Padres National Forest – this 60-feet tall waterfall offers some great Instagram-worthy photos.

There are many attractions near Rocky Creek Bridge Beach within a 20-minute drive.  Andrew Molera State Park has 20 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails that highlight a variety of landscapes within the state park including forests of redwood and sycamore trees, open meadows, the banks of the Big Sur River, and a 40-feet high waterfall known as the Highbridge Falls - in addition, the state park also houses the Molera Ranch House Museum that has interesting exhibits and artifacts offering an interesting insight into the rich history of the Big Sur region.  Andrew Molera State Park also has the Ventana Wildlife Society Big Sur Discovery Center that has informative exhibits about the vibrant biodiversity of the Big Sur region - the discovery center also has a souvenir shop and organizes exciting nature tours.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is located at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains and has a variety of hiking trails – these trailsoffer an amazing way to explore the vibrant landscape and biodiversity of the Big Sur region and you can see many kinds of animals in this state park including deer, racoons, skunks, kingfishers, and bobcats.  In addition to hiking, the state park also offers many other fun activities including biking, camping, and picnicking and it also has a nature center named Ewoldsen Nature Center – this center offers informative exhibits about Big Sur region’s plants and animals.  Point Sur State Historic Park is a state park that has a 19th century lighthouse named Point Sur Lighthouse – this lighthouse is a part of United States’ National Register of Historic Places.  As an interesting fact, the state park was also the former site of a Cold War-era naval facility – you can get an interesting insight into the state park’s history through the guided tours that are organized here by the state park authorities. The state park also offers a couple of other fun activities including wildlfe watching and hiking – you can see many kinds of animals while visiting this state park including many migratory and resident bird species and migrating whales and sea otters.  If you are looking for another attraction near Rocky Creek Bridge Beach, Pfeiffer Falls is located in the Los Padres National Forest – this 60-feet tall waterfall offers some great Instagram-worthy photos.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near Rocky Creek Bridge Beach.  Pacific’s Edge is an upscale restaurant that offers delicious Californian cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and it offers incredible views of the Big Sur coastline – the restaurant’s dishes are prepared using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.  SUR (also called SUR At The Barnyard and SUR Carmel) is famous for serving delicious  fried chicken and waffles and it also serves amazing seafood, soups, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, Asian rice bowls, and steaks.  Tommy’s Wok is an Asian restaurant that is 20 minutes away and offers delicious Hunan, Szechuan, and Mandarin cuisine.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Rocky Creek Bridge Beach, Sarita’s The Original is a Mexican restaurant that serves delicious dishes for breakfast, luch, and dinner including enchiladas, burritos, tacos, Mexican-style seafood, and chimichangas.

If you are looking for a hotel near Rocky Creek Bridge Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 25-minute drive.  The 5-Star Alila Ventana Big Sur offers many amenities including a restaurant, a clothing optional pool, a sauna, a fitness center, a spa, complimentary breakfast, wine-and cheese receptions, yoga and tai-chi classes, and arrangements for guided tours in the Big Sur region.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Tickle Pink Inn that has European-inspired architecture and it also offers many amenities including complimentary movie rental facilities, complimentary champagne, a hot tub, a gazebo, a terrace lounge, a deck, and complimentary breakfast and wine tasting sessions.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Big Sur River Inn that offers many amenities including a restaurant, a riverside deck with chairs, a general store, and a stone fireplace in the lobby – this hotel was built in the 1930s and it has also beeen featured in many online and print publications including SFGate and the Los Angeles Times.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Rocky Creek Bridge Beach, the modestly priced Riverside Campgrounds & Cabins offers accommodation in cabins and also has tent and it also has RV campsites that offer many amenities including showers, picnic tables, fire pits, electricity and water hookups for RVs, a camp store, and laundry facilities.