Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground

The dog-friendly Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground features amenities like a riverside beach area, picnic tables and grills, and 7 trails offering mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean, 80-foot waterfalls pouring from granite cliffs, and hot springs. While doggos are welcome throughout the campground on leash, only 2 of the trails are open to them: The River's Path/Warden's Path Trail and the Pine Ridge Trail. 

The River's Path/Warden's Path Trail is a short loop with an even terrain rising a modest 15 feet that features picnic areas and a peaceful walk through an impressive, shaded redwood forest. The height of the trees and their full canopies lets very little sunlight through, so the undergrowth is sparse around their shallow roots. The thick layer of twigs and cones they shed protects their shallow roots and encourages growth. The result is a stroll that feels open, but protected. One of the must-see attractions along this trail is the Proboscis redwood, a centuries-old tree with a growth on its trunk that resembles a nose. A boardwalk circles the base of the tree so visitors can get a 360-degree view of its towering majesty and humanoid feature. 

The Pine Ridge Trail is a 23-mile out-and-back that leads to a popular hot spring site. Beginning at its trailhead at the Big Sur Station, it meanders through the forest before it emerges on a narrow dirt trail dug out of the side of a hill, affording vistas of the ocean and surrounding hills. The downhill side of the path is a steep drop in some areas, which allows views into the canyon below. Deer and many birds can be spotted on this trail, and in the spring, the open areas sport colorful wildflowers. 

The Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground is a pawrfect place to use as a home base for short day hikes from your campsite, or drives to some of the other Big Sur attractions and trails. Just grab your pup and go!