big sur - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports

From Yosemite to Big Sur, Millions of Acres Eligible for Sale Under Senate's Proposed ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

The Senate is expected to vote by July 4 on the “Big Beautiful” bill, which could allow the sale of up to 3 million acres of public land across 11 western states. In California, 16 million acres are eligible, including land near Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.

Man Gets Five-Year Prison Sentence for Huge Marijuana Grow In Los Padres National Forest Found After Dolan Fire

A 56-year-old man will be doing five years in prison for running a giant illegal cannabis grow that was discovered in a Monterey-area national forest after the Dolan Fire, which itself was started by another rogue marijuana grower.

Highway 1 Reopens Ahead of Schedule, Making Way for Big Sur Travel Ahead of Summer

Highway 1 has reopened to regular traffic, thanks to a new signal system that will allow traffic to flow in one direction at a time past the area where a rockslide made part of the roadway disappear in late March.

No Ins and Outs at Big Sur as More Rain Threatens to Cause More Road Damage

Residents of Big Sur are being told that their last chance to evacuate the area for the next several days is at 4 pm Wednesday, after which there will be no more convoys of vehicles allowed to pass across a partially collapsed section of Highway 1.

Road Collapse On Highway 1 Strands Around 1,600 People In Big Sur Over Holiday Weekend

Anyone who took a daytrip to Big Sur on Saturday, or those who were perhaps spending a weekend there, were surprised to learn they were stranded Saturday evening.

Man Rescued After Driving Car Off Big Sur Cliff and Getting Stranded For Two Days

A Pacific Grove man was rescued Tuesday after being stranded on a cliffside for two days in Big Sur, following a harrowing car crash.

Tuesday Morning Topline: Highway 1 In Big Sur Closed Once Again By Rockslide

An SF Public Works truck struck a fire hydrant and caused some flooding in UN Plaza; a couple of rockslides have shut down a section of Highway 1 in Big Sur; and beware of online dating app scams around Valentine's Day.

Monterey Chef Indicted For $4 Million In COVID Relief Fraud Scheme

A chef and caterer based in Monterey is in hot water with the feds over an alleged $4 million that he bilked from the government during the pandemic, which prosecutors say he used to buy real estate in Belize and fund a new business venture.

Big Sur Likely to Be Inaccessible From Highway 1 From the South Through the Summer as Cleanup Work Continues

The southern route into Big Sur on Highway 1 is going to be closed for the next several months, Caltrans says, in an update on the progress of work to clear debris from a major landslide that occurred this past winter.

Large Boulder and Rockslide Crash Onto Highway 1 Near Devil's Slide

A great big rock and a bunch of other rocks are currently blocking the southbound lane of Highway 1 just north of the Tom Lantos Tunnels/Devil's Slide Bridge, and Caltrans says that motorists should "expect delays" in the area as they attempt to remove the rocks.

Another Major Rockslide Closes Highway 1 South of Big Sur For Several Weeks, Maybe Longer

You will not be able to drive Highway 1 between Big Sur and San Simeon for quite some time, and with good reason, because this rockslide has rendered that road pretty much unnavigable.

Illegal Marijuana Farmer Found Guilty for Starting the 2020 Dolan Fire

The Dolan Fire that killed a firefighter and 12 California condors was started intentionally, and the 31-year-old illegal marijuana grower who started it was found guilty of arson on Thursday.

Colorado Fire Is Now 85% Contained, All Road Closures and Evacuation Orders Lifted

Since starting over a week ago, the rare January wildfire near Big Sur is currently at least 85% contained — up from 75% yesterday — as of Saturday morning; many recruited fire engines and crews have now also returned to their respective home stations.

Fire Near Big Sur Now 55% Contained; Was Sparked By Ember From Burn Pile

The Colorado Fire, still burning since Friday in Monterey County, was sparked by an ember from a burn pile on a nearby residential property, according to Cal Fire.

Humpday Headlines: Highway 1 Closed Due to Big Sur Rockslides

The SF School Board passed a balanced budget on Tuesday avoiding a state takeover, alleged retail thieves were busted in Vallejo, and a section of Highway 1 in Big Sur remains closed to traffic after multiple rockslides.

Willow Fire In Monterey County Grows to 2,900 Acres, 0% Containment

The Willow Fire, which was sparked five nights ago in a remote area of Monterey County east of Big Sur, between the burn scars of two recent large wildfires, continues to grow, but weather conditions slowed its growth on Monday.

Willow Fire Near Big Sur Prompts Evacuation for Tassajara Zen Center

A wildfire broke out Thursday night in the Los Padres National Forest, just north of the burn scar from last year's Dolan Fire, and right beside the area that burned in 2016's Soberanes Fire.

Arts & Entertainment

Pfeiffer Falls Trail at Big Sur Reopens Friday After 13-Year Closure

After a 2008 wildfire destroyed much of the infrastructure of the most popular hiking trail in Big Sur, it's taken all these years to complete a $2 million project to replace it all. But now the public will finally get to hike down to Pfeiffer Falls once again, starting Friday.

Highway 1 Washout Repaired, Road Reopens Months Early

The roadwork is complete in record time and Gov. Gavin Newsom was on hand for the reopening of Highway 1 today in Big Sur.

This Drone Footage Shows Just How Bad the Washout South of Big Sur Really Is

The massive atmospheric river downpour that drenched California — especially here in NorCal — caused a stretch of Highway 1 in Big Sur to dive right into the ocean; this Caltrans’ drone footage shows just how much actually dove off the cliffside.

Big Sur Tribe Gets Little Sur Land Back, 250 Years After It Was Colonized

Yes, there is a Little Sur, and 1,200 acres of it are going back to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County in the first-ever granting back of their lands.

Two Dead After Rental Car Plunges Off Big Sur Cliff and Catches Fire

Two people are dead after their car went off a cliff and crashed 300 feet below the roadway along Highway 1 south of Big Sur early Thursday.

Man Killed By Park Rangers In Big Sur Was Prime Suspect In Milpitas Freeway Murder

A man who was fatally shot Saturday by park rangers in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park was wanted in connection with a shooting earlier this month on highway 680 in Milpitas.

Big Sur Resident Launches, Removes Instagram Account To Shame Disrespectful Tourists

Now that tourists have come swarming back wanting to take selfies from Big Sur's scenic vistas, one local resident launched an Instagram account solely devoted to shaming tourists who misbehave or otherwise disrespect the landscape.

Big Sur To Reopen To Traffic Next Week As Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge Gets Replaced

The wait is over and long-suffering Big Sur area businesses will once again be accessible from Highway 1 starting next Friday, the 13th of October. Caltrans crews have been working around the clock