Inaccessible beaches and coastal marine habitats are part of the Big Sur landscape. Large coastal marine conservation areas flank the central California coastline off Big Sur:
In the waters adjacent to Andrew Molera State Park there are two MPAs (Marine Protected Areas), Point Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA). The Big Creek Marine Conservation Area covers Big Sur’s southern coast.
Off this remote stretch of coastal highway, underwater canyons and submerged mountain ridges shape the ocean floor. These topographical wonders create conditions for marine life to thrive. Here ocean currents bring nutrient-rich waters closer to shore, and fish, sea birds and invertebrates flourish.
Many species of fish live in the rocky tide pools, kelp forests, sandy bottoms and deep canyons off Point Sur. Cabezon, vermillion rockfish and blue rockfish hide among the kelp, while mola mola (sunfish) may be found basking on the surface offshore.*
A kelp forest grows towards the ocean surface; its canopy seeks the sunlight like the ancient redwoods in Big Sur’s mountain canyons. Bull Kelp can grow as much as 2 feet in one day.
NOAA’s National Ocean Service
Bull Kelp is common in the Big Sur coastal marine preserves. Bulbous heads allow the kelp stalks to reach the surface.
Partington Cove & Pfeiffer State Beach
Partington Cove is a small indentation in the rocky shoreline, but it is one of the most dramatic bits of coastline accessible along the Big Sur coast south of Point Sur.*
Partington Cove: The clearness of the water is a consequence of the hardness of the granite rock; little sediment erodes from this rock to cloud the water.*
*The Natural History of Big Sur by Paul Henson and Donald J. Usner
Partington Cove
Pfeiffer State Beach Lagoon
Pfeiffer State Beach: Early morning fog rolls in.
Pfeiffer State Beach: Semi-secluded north end of the beach.
Pfeiffer State Beach: Franciscan rock.
Pfeiffer State Beach: Franciscan rock layers pushed into a vertical orientation.
Pfeiffer State Beach: The keyhole that framed a thousand sunsets.
The Big Sur coastline looking south from Nepenthe.