Flora & fauna

flora

Big Sur's beautiful plants!

and

flora

fauna

flora

fauna

Big Sur's amazing animals.

a place of rebirth, hope, and resilience

Big Sur is known world wide as one of the most incredible meeting places for land and sea. Scorched by fire, shaken by landslides, and draped in fog much of the time, living here means being able to withstand the elements. Challenges are constantly changing for the plants and animals in Big Sur. Remember while you hike, explore, swim, dive or dine that this habitat is some of the most pristine on earth.

big sur's year round residents

Tread lightly in Big Sur, indigenous plants here are just starting to get a foothold again after ice plant removal projects. Stay on marked trails.

Big Sur is home to many endangered or protected species. Whales can be seen migrating, condors soar overhead, animals are Big Sur's original locals.

Where are the best places to spot wildlife in the Big Sur area? From Cambria to Monterey we'll share some of the best spots to view our animal friends.

give them space

big sur's flora & fauna are depending on us

Big Sur has between 4 - 7 million visitors each year, imagine if every person picked a flower, left a piece of trash or flew their drone with no permit. No doubt, the wildlife and plants in this area would suffer tremendously. While here, please think of them first, stay on marked paths, leave no trace, and give them space. This is their only home, we are their guests, so let's be respectful...

Not sure what 'Leave No Trace' means?

Learn more

Where to view wildlife

san simeon

point lobos

san simeon

Big Sur

point lobos

san simeon

point lobos

pacific grove

carmel

pacific grove

17 mile drive

pacific grove

17 mile drive

asilomar state beach

monterey

asilomar state beach

elkhorn slough

asilomar state beach

elkhorn slough

chief seattle

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.

it is advisable to look from the tide pools to the stars and then back to the tide pool again.

John Steinbeck

Happy Cow's Guide Big Sur

#BigSurVegan

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