Why Big Sur Chose Visual Access

One of the most common misunderstandings about the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan is the belief that it limits public access.

It does not.

Big Sur offers countless opportunities for physical access through public beaches, state parks, national forest lands, hiking trails, campgrounds, scenic pullouts, and recreation areas.

The question facing the authors of the Land Use Plan was never whether the public should have access to Big Sur.

The question was:

What type of access best protects this extraordinary coastline for future generations?

Big Sur Is Different

Unlike many other parts of California’s coast, Big Sur is defined by steep mountains, fragile ecosystems, narrow canyons, limited infrastructure, and one of the most spectacular scenic landscapes in the world.

The planners recognized that attempting to maximize physical access everywhere would eventually require:

* more parking lots,

* more restrooms,

* more trails,

* more signs,

* more roadside facilities,

* more development.

Ironically, providing more physical access would gradually diminish the very landscape people came to experience.

A Different Philosophy

Instead of emphasizing physical access throughout the coast, the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan adopted a different principle.

It recognized that the landscape itself is the public resource.

That is why the LUP states:

“Visual access should be emphasized throughout Big Sur as an appropriate response to the needs of visitors.”

This was a deliberate planning decision.

The public would continue to experience Big Sur primarily by traveling Highway 1 through an extraordinary, largely undeveloped landscape.

Protecting that experience became the foundation of the Land Use Plan.

Visual Access Is Public Access

Some people mistakenly assume that emphasizing visual access means denying public access.

The opposite is true.

Every person who travels Highway 1 experiences Big Sur’s visual access.

Millions of people each year enjoy one of the world’s great scenic drives because previous generations chose to protect the landscape rather than fill it with additional development.

At the same time, Big Sur continues to provide abundant opportunities for physical access through its parks, beaches, trails, campgrounds, and public lands.

The Land Use Plan simply recognized that physical access should not come at the expense of the landscape itself.

Why This Matters Today

As new generations of planners and decision-makers become involved in Big Sur, it is important to understand that the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan did not accidentally emphasize visual access.

It did so because the people who created the plan understood that Big Sur could never accommodate unlimited physical access without losing the qualities that make it unique.

The question has never been:

“How can we create more access?”

The question is:

“How do we preserve the experience of Big Sur while providing appropriate public access?”

For more than forty years, the answer has been clear:

Protect the landscape first.

Everything else follows from that principle.

Public Access — Keep Big Sur Wild

I’m not going to be publishing the entire list each week, but here are the current notes for next week. Note, only one new note added at Big Creek, the last one on the list

Road and Lane Closures Scheduled for August 2 – August 8, 2026  

NEWEST INFORMATION IS IN THE BOLD BLACK TEXT  

MONTEREY COUNTY – Here are the major scheduled road and lane closures for Monterey County from Sunday, August 2, through Saturday, August 8 – newest information is in bold text. Please keep in mind that construction work is weather-dependent.

Highway 1: 1 Mile North of Point Sur Lighthouse – Point Sur Lighthouse: Long Term

One-way traffic controls will be in place along northbound and southbound Highway 1, beginning one mile north of the Point Sur Lighthouse and ending at the Point Sur Lighthouse for temporary signal slide work. Travelers may encounter a 15-minute delay.

Highway 1: Fremont Blvd/California Avenue: Long Term

There will be full lane and on-ramp closures along southbound Highway 1 at Fremont Boulevard and California Avenue for roadway excavation work from 12 am to 12 pm.

Highway 1: Rocky Creek Bridge – Rocky Creek Viaduct: Long Term

One-way traffic controls will be in place along northbound and southbound Highway 1 between Rocky Creek Bridge and Rocky Creek Viaduct for bridge work from 6 am to 6 am.

Highway 1: Ventana Entrance – Nepenthe (North Entrance): Long Term

Alternating one-way traffic controls will be in place along northbound and southbound Highway 1 between Ventana Entrance and Nepenthe (North Entrance) for bridge work from 7 am to 5 pm.

Highway 1: Big Creek Bridge – Big Creek Vista Point: August 4

One-way traffic controls will be in place along northbound and southbound Highway 1 between Big Creek Bridge and Big Creek Vista Point for core drilling work from 8 am to 4 pm. Travelers may encounter a 10-minute delay.

County of Monterey ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

Sonia M. De La Rosa

COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

168 West Alisal St. 3rd Floor

Salinas, CA 93901

831 755 5115

cao-admin@countyofmonterey.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2026

County of Monterey Takes Lead Regional Role to Challenge Santa Clara

County ICE Facility

Board of Supervisors Backs Multi-Jurisdiction Amicus Brief to Protect Immigrant Communities and Local

Autonomy

SALINAS, CA — Demonstrating its steadfast commitment to immigrant communities, the County of

Monterey has taken a chief regional leadership role in rallying a massive multi-jurisdiction coalition

against the federal government’s planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in

neighboring Santa Clara County.

Working in close coordination with Public Rights Project, which authored the amicus brief, Monterey

County spearheaded efforts to organize and secure a powerful coalition of 26 signatory cities and

counties from across the Bay Area and Central Coast. The dynamic regional show of solidarity

underscores the deep, shared concerns over federal overreach.

The brief argues that the establishment of the ICE facility disrupts critical local operations, erodes

community trust in public health and law enforcement, and undermines local zoning and governance.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors offered overwhelming, unified support to authorize this active

legal intervention, cementing the county’s position as a fierce defender of regional civil rights.

“Monterey County will not stand by silently when federal actions threaten the safety, stability, and trust

of our families,” said the Monterey County Board of Supervisors Chair, Wendy Root Askew. “Our Board

voted with overwhelming conviction to lead this effort because protecting our immigrant neighbors is not

just a Santa Clara County issue; it is a regional priority. By uniting 26 cities and counties, we are sending

an undeniable message that local autonomy and community trust cannot be sidelined by federal

enforcement mandates.”

The amicus brief unites a diverse cross-section of Northern California, showcasing immense regional

alignment. Local signatories joining Monterey County’s coalition include:

● County of Santa Cruz

● County of San Benito

CountyofMonterey.Gov● City of Salinas

● City of Watsonville

● City of Santa Cruz

● City of Hollister

● City of Gonzales

● City of King City

● City of Soledad

● City of Monterey

● City of Marina

By organizing this coalition alongside Public Rights Project, the County of Monterey ensures that the legal

arguments presented to the court reflect the collective voice of millions of Northern California residents.

Media Contact

County of Monterey Communications Bureau

Nick Pasculli, Bureau Chief

Email: PR@CountyofMonterey.Gov

Phone: (831) 796-3094

About Public Rights Project

Public Rights Project helps local governments protect civil rights. We represent cities and counties

in court, train government lawyers, and activate a national network of local leaders to respond to

emerging threats. Since 2017, we’ve worked alongside local government officials in all 50 states to

support communities and people’s rights.

In Sociology 101, the “Broken Windows Philosophy” is taught to illustrate that people will treat property with the same respect as others. Just imagine the disgust a family would have pulling up at Whale Point to see this, as I did this afternoon at 1:15 pm.

CalTrans is responsible for maintaining this location, but they only pick up twice a week and totally missed last Friday. This is the result.

There needs to be accountability. This is completely shameful. And it is the THIRD TIME this summer I have personally witnessed a mess like this at Whale Point.

In the midst of all our crabbing about traffic and tourons looking in the mirror as I write), we need to take a look at the way we treat our own community. In this case, folks wanted to do the right thing with their trash, and this is what we offered them.

Michael Minasian

Big Sur, California 93920

Editor’s Comment: Keep Big Sur Wild, sometimes in conjunction with Community Association of Big Sur, hold Highway One clean up days. They have picked up a huge amount of trash off the shoulders and pull outs of Highway One! Please contact one or the other to volunteer. https://www.keepbigsurwild.org/ And https://www.cabigsur.org/

Stop the War with Iran!Emergency Action: Tuesday, July 28th, 4-6pmWindow on the BaySponsored by Veterans for Peace Monterey Chapter

Date:	Friday, July 24, 2026
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Ashton Harris
Phone:	(805) 549-3318

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*UPDATE*

FULL OVERNIGHT CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 NEAR 

POINT SUR EXTENDED FOR ONE MORE NIGHT 

MONTEREY COUNTY — Travelers on Highway 1 near Point Sur will encounter a full overnight closure Monday, July 27.

This full closure from 11 pm to 5 am is an extension of a closure that take place from Tuesday, July 21 through overnight Thursday, July 23 from Post Mile 54.2 to 55.6 just north of the Point Sur Lighthouse.

Crews will need one more night to finish the installation of temporary sheet piles as part of the Point Sur embankment failure emergency repair that began in February after the failure of the embankment supporting the southbound lane.

Following the overnight closure, this area will return to one-way signalized traffic control.

Message signs will alert travelers in advance of the area under traffic control. Please allow for extra time for your travels through the area. Community members in the area can expect noise overnight associated with this closure.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: X/Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5. 

Our crews deserve to get home safely too.

Drive slowly and carefully in work zones.