On day 123 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Carmel by the Sea to Ragged Point. It is a ride of only 125 kilometers, but there is so much to do and see along the way that it is a full day trip. We drive the 2 mile Scenic Road in Carmel along the famous and beautiful Carmel Beach, where we stop briefly to take a photo.

The next stop to take a photo is at the end of the beach, at Carmel Point, is the beautiful Mrs. Clinton Walker House, also known as Cabin on the Rocks. The house has the appearance of a ship with a bow cutting through the waves. The house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1948 and completed in 1952 for Mrs. Clinton "Della" Walker of Pebble Beach. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 17, 1977.

As we leave Carmel we pass The San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission, a Roman Catholic mission church and historic monument in Carmel-by-the-Sea, in the Central Coast region of the US state of California. The mission was named after Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan. It was the second Spanish mission of the Franciscans in Alta California. The mission was founded in Monterey on June 3, 1770, and moved to nearby Carmel in December 1771. The Carmel Mission was the favorite mission of missionary Junípero Serra. It was the headquarters of the mission network from 1770. Even after Serra's death in 1784, Carmel remained the headquarters: Serra's successor Padre Fermín Lasuén and his successor Pedro Estévan Tápis also stayed there. Church enthusiasts may consider quitting.

The Big Sur National Scenic Byway begins south of Carmel. Enjoy this amazing ride on this scenic 72-mile route that skirts the California coast and provides access to beautiful parks with cypresses, redwoods, mist-shrouded cliffs, and the surf of the Pacific Ocean. There are many points to enjoy the views of rugged canyons, beautiful arched bridges, towering redwoods, surf, waterfalls, sea lions and other marine life. There are several options for stopping indicated from a Waypoint and POI, but divide your trip according to your own preference. In the links in this review you can find information about the beautiful Scenic Byway

There are several parks that we drive through and where you can stop to walk and enjoy the beautiful nature, such as:

• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is often called “The Crown Jewel of the California State Park System.” Landscape painter Francis McComas called Point Lobos “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world.” Point Lobos, originally known to the indigenous people as 'Isxhenta', was considered a sacred place to be cherished and nourished. Point Lobos is excellent for sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, SCUBA diving and jogging. The offshore area, part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, forms one of the richest underwater habitats in the world, popular with divers. On land there are rare plant communities, unique geological formations and incredibly rich flora and fauna.

• Garrapata State Park has two miles of beach, with coastal trails and a 50-foot climb to a viewpoint with stunning views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The park offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails that run from ocean beaches to dense redwood forests. The park also features beautiful coastal headlands at Soberanes Point. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters frequent the coastal waters, and California gray whales pass close by during their annual migration.

•Andrew Molera State Park; Still relatively undeveloped, this park offers visitors great hiking and beachcombing, as well as panoramic views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a federally protected marine area. Miles of trails wind through meadows, cliffs, beaches and hilltops. In the park stands the Cooper Cabin, a 'pioneer cabin', it has long been an object of historical interest and romantic reflection. This three-room structure is built of hand-hewn redwood logs with overlapping and hooked corners and a roof with hand-split redwood shingles.

• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. A major feature of the park is McWay Falls, which falls over an 80-foot cliff into the Pacific Ocean. The park is also home to 300-foot-tall redwoods that are more than 2,500 years old. The park is named after Julia Pfeiffer Burns, a respected resident and rancher in the Big Sur region in the early 20th century who lived in the area for much of her life until her death in 1928. It was established in 1962.

• McWay Falls is a must-stop for anyone taking the scenic drive along Highway One along the Big Sur coast. The waterfall is breathtaking and falls some 25 meters onto a pristine beach in an enchanting bay. It is a short 1-mile round-trip hike to a McWay Falls overlook, which can be reached directly from Highway One or from parking areas at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. McWay Falls Overlook Trail can be reached in two different ways. Option one is to simply park for free along Highway One and follow the trail. You can also drive into Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and pay an entrance fee to walk a little further. This is a good option if you plan to spend more time in the park, such as hiking the Canyon Trail, which runs inland along McWay Creek past a picnic area to the smaller Canyon Falls.


The route includes many bridges over canyons, rivers and streams. Special are the seven similar concrete arch bridges known as the “Big Sur Arches”. Known for their thick and heavily curved piers, thin arch rings, and spandrel columns, these beautiful bridges have been hailed as "the most beautiful public works projects in the United States." At some of the bridges it is possible to stop nearby to take beautiful photos;

• Granite Canyon Bridge, a fixed parabolic reinforced concrete arch bridge with open parapet and a single arch span with two 30 meters long ribs.

• Garrapata Creek Bridge, a fixed parabolic reinforced concrete arch bridge with open parapet and a single arch span with two ribs, 45 meters long.

• Rockey Creek Bridge a fixed parabolic reinforced concrete arch bridge with open parapet and a single arch span with two ribs of 151 meters long

• Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the most photographed bridges in California for its aesthetic design, “graceful architecture and beautiful setting.”


There are many places along the route where you can safely stop and park to take photos and walk. Be sure to stop at Hurricane Point, one of the highest points on Highway 1 in the Big Sur region. At an elevation of 550 feet, it is also the toughest climb at the Big Sur International Marathon. You will be treated to spectacular views. Look north, over the Brazil Ranch to Bixby Bridge. Other scenic viewpoints include Big Creek Cove Viewpoint, Gamboa Point, San Martin Rock Scenic Point and Big Sur Lookout

There are several active lighthouses along the coast that you can view, the Point Sur lighthouse is easily accessible. From the parking lot it is a short walk to the Point Sur Lighthouse. It was founded in 1889 and is part of the Point Sur State Historic Park. The lighthouse is 12 meters high and 82 meters above sea level. As of 2016 and for the foreseeable future, the light is still in use as an essential aid to navigation.

The end point of this day is Ragged Point, a small town on the coast on a cliff. Here is the Ragged Point Inn & Resort with beautiful rooms, most of which have beautiful views over the cliff and ocean. There is a good restaurant, shop and gas station.