Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur

Known for its redwood groves and nicknamed the "Mini Yosemite," Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park stretches for about 400 hectares (1,000 acres) along the Big Sur River. A popular hiking and camping destination, the park sits on the western slopes of the Santa Lucia Mountains, an area covered not only in old redwoods, but also oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods, maples, willows, and alders. The park shelters some of California's most diverse habitats, providing a home for varied wildlife that includes black-tail deer, raccoons, gray squirrels, water ouzels, and belter kingfishers. Explore this scenic area by tackling some of its trails, which snake their way along the Big Sur River and offer views of one of its rugged gorges. Make Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park a centerpiece of your Big Sur vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Big Sur trip builder.