Can't miss spots along Big Sur's coast

Lucy Copp is a producer for AirTalk, hosted by Larry Mantle, delivering conversations that offer an array of voices and topics.

Published Jan 23, 2026 5:00 AM

A view of a rocky coast with a connecting bridge in the distance

Highway 1 has always been in impressive feat of engineering. But since its construction in the 1930s, the stretch of road that hugs the Big Sur coast has been particularly vulnerable to the sliding, shifting and quaking forces of the ground around and beneath it.

Starting three years ago, those forces collapsed the road in a series of landslides, locking out locals and eager tourists from a 90-mile section of the highway.

A person wearing a safety vest and carrying a shovel stands near a gaping hole in Highway 1 where the road collapsed into the ocean.

But last week some good news for the coastal cruise emerged — California’s Highway 1 along the famous Big Sur coast finally, and fully, reopened.

The restoration involved new degrees of engineering complexity.

"Every slide is different," Scott Eades of the California Department of Transportation told Larry Mantle last week on LAist 89.3’s talk news program AirTalk. "This one was unique and especially challenging due to the steepness of the terrain."

Eades explained a "top down operation," tackling the landslide from above to ensure the safety of workers and equipment. “You never want to be working on the bottom side of a slide," Eades said.

Ragged Point

Ragged Point was a listener favorite. The point includes a restaurant and inn. Brandy in Fountain Valley venture's up there every year on her and her husband's wedding anniversary. They stay at the Ragged Point Inn and Resort.

A couple motorcyclists raved about Ragged Point as well. Kevin from Long Beach loves grabbing lunch at Ragged Point restaurant after riding his motorcycle all day. "It's sublime," he said.

Ken from Dana Point did a solo tour up Highway 1 and drove through the reconstruction area just north of Ragged Point. The workers weren't pleased at his intrusion, he said. But he did share a tip for fellow cyclists: ride north to south. "The headwinds going north are BRUTAL."

Deetjen's Big Sur Inn

According to one listener, Deetjen's Big Sur Inn is the best place to stay along Highway One. "We went there on our 25th wedding anniversary and again on our 40th," Kay in North Hollywood said. "It’s a special place."

Buzzards Roost Trail

Victor in Los Alamitos goes to Big Sur every Thanksgiving with his family. "We’ve probably hiked over 100 miles worth of trails," he told Mantle.

But there's one in particular he recommends.

"There’s a hike called Buzzards Roost," he said. It's about a 3-mile loop with beautiful views. But if you don't make it to that one specifically, that's OK. "You can’t go wrong if you’re headed up there."

Henry Miller Memorial Library

Back in the late 1990s, LAist's own Adolfo Guzman-Lopez took part in a poetry reading at the Henry Miller Library. Surrounded by tall trees and sculptures, the place left an impression on the young performance poet.

The Condors

The final recommendation from AirTalk listeners wasn't a place or ragged point. Laureen, Barbara and Frank all called in to share about the chance to catch a glimpse of California Condors along Highway 1.

Barbara in Eagle Rock was shocked by the amount of condors when she drove up the coast recently. This is likely due to the reintroduction of condors driven by wildlife preservation efforts.

So next time you're driving up the coast, soaking up the epic coastline, don't forget to look up.

A hole is visible where a section of a highway broke off and fell in the ocean.