Pfeiffer Bridge at Big Sur work around

[superpletch]

I have Pacific Coast tour planned in May.  Due to winter storms Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Hwy 1 was damaged and is being demolished.  I am new to touring and this will be my first Pacific Coast ride.  What are options to get around the road closure?  Obviously an inland route will be required if they don't open a walking trail around canyon bridge.  I'd hate to miss this section of the tour and it's views, furthermore if there is a walk around it would greatly reduce vehicle traffic.  Any specifics would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

[aggie]

There is a link in the "Temporary ACA Road Closures" forum.  At this time this is the work around.  The footpath looks like it will be for locals only and will not accommodate bicycles.  The pictures posted on the Big Sur facebook page show a narrow trail with lots of climbing (steps).  Unless something changes it looks like the route through Big Sur will be closed at least until December.  They just started the demolition of the bridge and the estimated completion of the new bridge is 9 months.

[BrianW]

If you have a bike that's ok on dirt roads, look up the "old coast road" to Big Sur. I believe that's still open, although that area was impacted by the fires last year. It's a really cool road that winds back through the hills and old growth redwood stands. Starts at the Bixby Bridge south of Carmel and ends near Molera State Park. It's about 10 miles.

[Krampus Snail]

Andrew Molera State Park is north of the Pfeiffer Bridge. The Old Coast Road is not going to help get around Pfeiffer Canyon.

[Bclayden]

There is a good paved route that bypasses the road closure. I have done it several times. It includes one of the most scenic and spectacular descents I've ever seen. 

Disclaimer: I have not done the route since the wet winter of 2017 has caused so many road closures so best to check conditions.

Also this route will add about 50 miles (and perhaps a day) and, although mostly remote and very scenic, has substantial climbing in parts but it's paved the entire way with little traffic. It will get you around Pfeiffer on paved roads and is only way to do this as far as I know.

From Monterey/Carmel take Carmel Valley Rd/Aroyo Seco Rd to Greenfield. Metz-King City Rd to King City.  Jolon Rd to Fort Hunter Ligget (Army base that allows thru traffic) to join Naciamento-Fergussen Rd which takes you back to Highway 1 and the coast about 25 miles south of Pfeiffer.

There will still be plenty of Highway 1 Big Sur type scenery to enjoy heading South.

You will never forget the long, steep and spectacular descent from the high ridge to the coast on Nac/Ferg Rd. Simply amazing.

[Krampus Snail]

ACA might not have recommended Nacimiento Fergusson Road because it's been closed. But it opened up yesterday. However, Highway 1 is still closed in three places south of Nacimiento Fergusson Road. Check road closures before you go.

[cgarch]

You can always check this http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov for the latest CA road conditions and pan to the coast area. It doesn't show local road closures.

As for the route proposed by Bclayden, it's a wonderful route. N-F through Hunter-Liggett is pretty sweet. I'd check with Monterey County though as to road conditions. It also drops you right into Kirk Creek Campground.

Craig
Santa Rosa, CA

[Krampus Snail]

Thanks for the link to the map, Craig. There are two closures south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, one just south of Gorda and the other at Ragged Point. Last I heard, it'll be weeks before those slides are repaired.  The third slide I was thinking of is at Lucia, north of N-F Road.

[CMajernik]

Here is a link to a blog from someone who recently rode the detour ACA recommends.

http://www.spokenfly.com/blog/bigsurdetour

[Suuuuuuuuuuper]

I've been looking at CalTrans site regarding the closures:
http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

As Krampus Snail already mentioned, Gorda and Ragged point had slides too, but according to the CalTrans quickmap site above, they won't be cleared for a year (2018!) rather than weeks.  Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge is expected to open at the of September this year though.

There is also a new articles a few days old echoing this too.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/26/massive-big-sur-slide-may-keep-highway-1-closed-for-a-year/

Another news article:
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article152222417.html

Even an NPR article:
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/25/530025850/-mother-of-all-landslides-closes-section-of-california-s-highway-1

After looking at the video, it doesn't look bad enough that you couldn't roll your bike across (right!? haha). 

CMajernik links to a blog post, and this is the helpful map of the detour to visualize it better:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19189649

[tomenator]

I wanted to do a ride down Big Sur this spring too but decided to postpone until 2018 when- hopefully- the bridge AND slide will be fixed. 

This is by no means as spectacular but one can ride inland.

And even take a gravel "short cut" which is absolutely stunning, running from Arroyo Seco via Indians Road.  it is 20 plus miles of nice gravel with several landslides that require a few minutes of hiking.  The road drops out in the area north of Fort Hunter Liggett with BLM campgrounds and creek water.  It is best a spring ride - likely fairly hot later in the summer.

[Krampus Snail]

It's been such a cool spring in California that for most days, the Indians Road "short cut" would have been glorious. Who knows what will happen later in the summer, but for the riders who are planning to go through King City anyway because the coast is closed, might as well take Indians Road. Probably won't be any hotter than King City.

[jeff.zo.russell]

I am traveling South on the Pacific Coast route. I have chartered a helicopter to take me from Monterey to the Rugged Point Inn which is just south of the southern most closure. I fly out Wednesday August 9th, 2017. I have room for one, maybe two, other cyclists. If interested call Heidi at 2zero89820011. She will give you my cell and we can coordinate. I'll pay the bulk but a few hundred for one or $600 for two would be appreciated. Let me know!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CMajernik]

For more information along the Big Sur part of the Pacific Coast see this:
https://forums.adventurecycling.org/index.php?topic=14377.0

and read replies #26 - #28.