The Big Sur Coast is most easily understood by dividing the area into three parts. In our judgement, each portion is rather distinct and has varying shades of characteristics as concerns terrain, vegetation, climate and even people. This division of the coast into three parts is as follows:

NORTH SUR COAST, which starts at Malpaso Creek, below Carmel Highlands, and extends southwards to Bixby Canyon, a distance of about twelve (12) miles.

CENTRAL SUR COAST, (essentially Big Sur) extends from Bixby Canyon southwards some thirty (30) miles to a small canyon named Rat Creek Canyon, which, in spite of its name, is a beautiful canyon.

SOUTH SUR COAST, begins at Rat Creek Canyon and continues to the Monterey / San Luis Obispo County line, a distance of just under thirty (30) miles. Much of the South Sur Coast lies within the Los Padres National Forest.