6 Best Beaches in Big Sur For Your Elopement

Best Beaches in Big Sur

Here it is. The one resource you’ll ever need to plan your perfect elopement in Big Sur

Garrapata Beach

Garrapata Beach is the most epic beach in Big Sur. Pfeiffer Beach is pretty close but Garrapata wins the number one spot for me for a few reasons.

Where is Garrapata Beach in Big Sur?

Garrapata Beach is located inside Garrapata State park about 15-20 minutes south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are two entrances to Garrapata. The most north entrance is locatyed at what is called Calla Lily Valley. A gem of Big Sur. The walk down to the beach is about 10 minutes down a sandy trail. The Lilies are in bloom in Big Sur from December to April. This entrance will get you to the same beach.

The second entrance to Garrapata is located just past the Calla Lily Valley and the closer to the ✨Porta Potty✨the faster to the trail down. The walk down is about 5-10 minutes and the beach is jaw dropping. Plan on going shoeless here.

Garrapata makes the number one Big Sur Beach spot because the epicness of the beach. Huge coastline and great rock formations. A Second reason this beach make the number 1 spot is because the number of people. There is always tons of room on this beach to use and while there are tourists in the Calla Lily Valley we still get tons of beach. This beach is also easy to access and in Big Sur where real beach is pretty hard to find, this is very accessible.

Things To Know Here

Free to acces
Needs a permit for elopements
Plan on going shoeless and bring some sandals as the trial is rough down
Bring a jacket - it can get cold here, even in the Summer
Bring hand warmers if you get cold easy
The waves are insane and will weep you away. DO not swim here.
Sneaker wave is a real thing and you can easily find yourself knee deep in water quickly

Where to Elope on this Big Sur Beach?

You will find two paths here. One to the right will take you to an overlook of the beach below and great coastline.

On the beach is also a perfect spot to elope in Big Sur.I would stay away from Calla Lily Valley for a vow exchange as the tourists can be wildn here and even though you have a Big Sur Elopement permit you cant block tourists from using the trials.

Permit Situation

2. Pfeiffer Beach

Second Spot for me is Pfeiffer Beach. This beach would be number one if it wasn't for the parking situation.

Pfeiffer Beach is located about 1 hour from Carmel-by-the-Sea. This beach is so pretty. Off HWY 1 you make this gnarly 180 onto Sycamore Canyon Road and drive down into the heart of Big Sur. About 15 minutes down a bumpy, sometimes one lane, road you will find the parking area. At the time of writing this Big Sur Elopement blog on best beaches, the cost of parking is $15. More on this in a minute.

As you walk into the park, if you are about an hour or so before sunset the light coming through the trees is show stoping and makes a great scene. Once on the beach you will see a massive sandy beach with areas that has purple sand. Super cool thing and unique to this Big Sur Beach. I would hold you actual elopement possibly in the shade of a rock or down the beach where it is less busy.

The cool thing about this beach is that the crowds can be controlled. I have been here at max business and it is never terrible.

The famous Big Sur Key can be crowded with tourists during the right time of year when the sun comes through but that would be most epic of a shot and we can sneak in front of everyone! Also, there are some great views of this place from a hike to the right when you enter the beach.

Tips and Tricks for this Big Sur Beach

Possible for parking to run out and the closest beach for elopements is 30 minutes north and nearest ocean view elopement location is a pull off on the road about 10 minutes south
This beach can get windy and windy to the point of sand in your eyes
It will get chilly here so bring a jacket
This is a great beach for photos after a redwood vow exchange

Elopement Permit Information

Does not require a permit for less than 10 guests

3. Mal Paso Creek Bridge

This is a beach located technically in Carmel Highlands which still feels very Big Sur and is like 2 minutes from the “border of Big Sur”. You park in a neighborhood near by and walk down a trail to the beach under this giant Big Sur Bridge. (text me for the pin drop of where to park).

Why Elope Here
This beach is great for your Big Sur Elopement for a few reasons.

There is really cool bridge as your backdrop and you're standing like right under it! No bridge has access like this in Big Sur! Another reason this is a great location is it really super quiet. You might have one or 2 locals around hanging out but it really is a pretty special quiet location.

This would make a great backdrop for exchange or even a scene for portraits after bu the focal point here is the bridge and the water less so.

Tips:

Text me for a pin drop of where to park
Watch our for lots of poison oak
The beach is very rocky with big river stones
There is not a ton of sandy beach but it is special!
Plan for tide to be low so as to maximize the sandy beach

Permit Required

No Permit is required here!

4. andrew Molera

Andrew Molera is an amazing Big Sur beach that is pretty slept on. Located about 45 minutes south of Carmel-by-the-Sea you enter through the state park entrance and the I have never had an issue parking before but can be a problem. Andrew Moldera is a pretty large state park and would be a great location for your elopement if this was maybe the only location you decided on or had this as your last hour and half or so. Mainly because the walk to the beach is a real hike and is for the adventurous. The beach is gorgeous filed with washed up logs and such that people made little wooden tents out of. There are also some meadows with great views of the ocean as well. I would probably consider finding a cool space on the beach for your voe exchange or an overlook of the ocean like here.

I am not going to lie, most people decide to avoid thi9s beach for elopements but simply because the end of the hike (the beach) is comparably to garrapata in terms of beauty in my opinion.

Permit Requirements

5. Sand Dollar Beach

This beach is one of the most southern Big Sur Beaches and is located right on High Way in Big Sur. You park at the day use site and walk about 10 minutes down to the beach. The beach path down to the beach is covered by pampas grass on both side which make a fun entrance. The beach is gorgeous with great rock formations and beautiful sand to find a place to exchange vows and hold your elopement.

At the time of writing this, this beach is accessible from the south as about 10 miles north the road has been closed for the last year due to land slides.

Tips:

Parking is $10
The cliffs here are breathtaking and would be high on the list if it weren't for accessibility. I have lived in the Carmel and Big Sur area for 11 years and the road has been closed like half the time
Pretty straight forward accessible beach

6. Carmel Meadows

Where is it?

Carmel Meadows is located in Carmel so it is technically in Big Sur but being here you would not think you were not. Plus you have Point Lobos in the back drop so like thats Big Sur Right?

Either way it is the perfect little beach for your Elopement in the area. Tons of great rocks and beach access. To get here you make this death defying 180* turn of the highway and park by the Red School house. If there is no parking you can park at Monastery Beach. You will walk down the little path to the first cove entrance and there you will find this cute little cove and be able to use this or the grassy little overlook as your elopement location!

You can also find a piece cliff overlooking the ocean to pop your question right by this cove.

The Beach here is epic and needs to be on this elopements in Big Sur list incase youre looking for something next to Big Sur and still close enough to the restaurants and amenities of Carmel-by-the-Sea.