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Monterey County

Big Sur River – Pfeiffer Falls Trail loop from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United States

California

Monterey County

Big Sur River – Pfeiffer Falls Trail loop from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Moderate

2.6

(12)

hikers

Big Sur River – Pfeiffer Falls Trail loop from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

02:57

9.45km

350m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 13, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

498 m

Big Sur River

Highlight • River

Redwood, oak, conifers, sycamore cottonwood, maple and willow trees surround this lower portion of the Big Sur River, making for a beautiful place to take a few photos, especially on a hot day. Two bridges cross over from this location, depending on your path. One is a steel bridge that will take you to Buzzards Roost Loop Trail, and a seasonal bridge that loops around to continue the short Nature Trail loop.

Tip by

864 m

Entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park & Lodge

Highlight • Rest Area

Hard to miss riding South on the PCH through Big Sur (going north it's in the middle of a descent)

Tip by

1.12 km

Big Sur Lodge 🏡, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Highlight • Rest Area

Iconic state park with a picturesque canyon, redwood tree groves, a historic grand lodge

Tip by

3.89 km

Buzzard's Roost Summit View

Highlight • Summit

This exposed summit view at Pfeiffer Ridge is fantastic amid the classic Big Sur scrub, where you will enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Lucia Mountains and Sycamore Canyon. Looking inland, you will see Manuel Peak looming large with trail switchbacks along the mountainside. There is a nice flat rock here, making it an ideal place to enjoy a picnic, rest, and enjoy the scenery.

Tip by

5.43 km

View of the Santa Lucia Mountains

Highlight • Viewpoint

6.89 km

Pfeiffer Falls Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The stairs are a great hike through the redwoods.

Tip by

7.65 km

Pfeiffer Falls

Highlight • Waterfall

Certainly a not-so-impressive waterfall, but such a nice path to get there.

Tip by

7.94 km

Valley View and Pfeiffer Falls Trail Junction

Highlight • Trail

Take the fork to the left from here to continue another 300 feet to the Valley View Overlook. Taking a right will lead you to the 60-foot Pfeiffer Falls; however, parts of the trail are currently closed. You can get a nice view of the falls from this location.

Tip by

9.45 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.04 km

942 m

676 m

573 m

199 m

Surfaces

3.91 km

3.13 km

676 m

573 m

571 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (280 m)

Lowest point (70 m)

Weather

Today

Tuesday 23 June

23°C

11°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

November 16, 2024,Buzzard Roost Trail

Slept wonderfully in our big sur lodge. Early on the road again, what trees so beautiful ... overwhelmingly high and soooo wide. Not normally so beautiful. When climbing up, you could see the burnt part from 2 years ago. Then there was a big one here, the trees are so thick that they survived fortunately. Super beautiful hike, very tough, …

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Big Sur River – Pfeiffer Falls Trail loop from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Big Sur River

Entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park & Lodge

Big Sur Lodge 🏡, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Buzzard's Roost Summit View

View of the Santa Lucia Mountains

Pfeiffer Falls Trail

Pfeiffer Falls

Valley View and Pfeiffer Falls Trail Junction

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