Ragged Point: Gateway to Big Sur

Known for its breathtaking views from its perch 400 feet above the wild Pacific coastline, Ragged Point Inn is often called the gateway to Big Sur. Ragged Point consists of not only an Inn, but also a cafe, restaurant, gift shop, mini mart, ice cream parlor, and gas station.  It is basically a self-sufficient little community in the remote wilderness that is Big Sur.  

Ragged Point features beautiful flower gardens, fountains, and pathways filled with gently drifting Monarch butterflies and swiftly darting hummingbirds. Fabulous ocean vistas include myriad sightings of seals, dolphins, and migrating whales.  Live music is an attraction on weekends and holidays, lasting throughout the summer into October.  There are also photo ops at the “Portal to Big Sur”, a wooden sculpture that looks like a big donut (or toilet seat, you decide).  There is also a fairly steep and somewhat challenging hiking trail leading down to the beach.

• Hike to Salmon Creek Falls. This natural waterfall is located 3.6 miles north of Ragged point Inn close to Hwy 1. An interesting feature of the waterfall is that it actually starts out as two waterfalls that merge into one as they cascade down 120 feet. It is a relatively easy and popular hike with a round trip distance of only .25 miles. The pullout for the trailhead is 45 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The falls are visible from Hwy 1. Salmon Creek Falls is also next to the Silver Peak Wilderness area.  For more information, see Salmon Creek Falls
• Visit Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.  Located almost 11 miles south of Ragged Point Inn, the colony includes more than 17,000 elephant seals, which gather seasonally to safely avoid predators and frolic playfully with their pups.  Elephant seals are the largest seals in the northern hemisphere.  For more information, see Elephant Seals
• Visit Hearst Castle.  Located 15 miles south of Ragged Point Inn, Hearst Castle was designed by famed architect Julia Morgan for business magnate William Randolph Hearst.  It is nestled on 127 acres of meticulously groomed gardens and terraces.  For more information, see Hearst Castle
• Visit San Simeon Pier, 15.5 miles south of Ragged Point Inn.  This area is protected by the Marine Life Protection Act and is home to seals, otters, humpback whales, elephant seals, pelicans, ospreys, and much more.  For more information, see San Simeon Pier
• Take a tour of Piedras Blancas Light Station, located approximately 9 miles south of Ragged Point.  For more information, see Lighthouse
• Visit the romantic village of Cambria, 22 miles south of Ragged Point, for fabulous shopping and delicious sunsets at Moonstone Beach.  For more information, see Cambria
• If you are into hiking hidden trails and experiencing isolated beaches, visit the very private Ragged Point Beach. This is 1.8 miles south of Ragged Point Inn. The trailhead starts at a small pull-out parking area on a bend between a blue call box and a “no campfires” sign. The trail is called Ragged Point Cliffside Trail.  It is a .6 mile steep and fairly strenuous hike with a 400-foot change in elevation.  The black sand beach is extremely private and is flanked by rocky bluffs.  There is also a seasonal waterfall here called Black Swift Falls.  
• Visit the Big Sur Jade Festival in the Lost Padres National Forest, directly across from Sand Dollar Beach on Hwy 1.  This beloved annual festival, which draws people from all over the world, is usually held for three days in October.  Multiple vendors sell and showcase their work, ranging from tiny, delicate pieces of jewelry to huge slabs of stone harvested from the sea.  For more information, see Big Sur Jade Festival

I hope that you enjoy Ragged Point and the wonderful sights around it!  Thank you for visiting my blog.  Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!