Discover 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic roads in California

Discover 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic roads in California. The beauty of the stunning, rugged California coastline and sandy beaches are captivating.

This private roadway is located south of San Francisco and north of Carmel. The road offers sweeping views of the wild west coast, the world famous Pebble Beach Golf Course and other iconic courses. The winding road works its way down through the upper forest to the beaches below.

Keep a pair of binoculars handy to get a closer look at many of the varieties of wildlife you might discover. Whales, dolphins, seal lions and seals play in the waters off the rocky shores. Birds love to perch on the rocks. Look for various sea birds, pelicans and cormorants.

Highway 101 from San Francisco to Carmel by the Sea – Top Things to do in California Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr

Top scenic view points on 17-Mile Drive

• Shepherd’s Knoll is one of the first viewpoints as you work your way down through the upper forest.
• Huckleberry Hill is the highest elevation along the drive. It offers a forest of Monterey Pines and an ocean view.

• Spanish Bay’s boardwalk offers views of sand dunes and the beach. You may spot a surfer or two riding the waves. Spanish Bay is named after the Spanish who found and camped at the bay in 1769.
• China Rock offers a chance to climb and explore the rocky shores. In the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Chinese fishermen built their homes here.

Discover 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic roads in California. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• Bird Rock is a popular place for seeing nesting cormorants, pelicans, other sea gulls and hearing the loud barking sounds of sea lions.

Bird Rock stop on 17-Mile Drive on the scenic California coast. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• Seal Rock Picnic Area has plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the fresh ocean air. Make it a picnic stop and then investigate some of the many tidal pools for crabs, anemones and other sea life. we bought our picnic lunch in Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Love these photos? Buy wall art.

Seal Rock Picnic area is a wonderful spot to enjoy the ocean breeze along scenic 17-Mile Drive. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• Fanshell Overlook offers stunning views of the rocky beach. Fanshell Beach is closed April to the beginning of June due to harbour seals pupping here.

Discover 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic roads in California. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• Cypress Point Overlook is a popular evening spot for romantic sunsets.

Discover 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic roads in California. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• Crocker Grove is filled with Monterey Cypress and pine trees.
• The Lone Cypress viewpoint offers breathtaking views. The Lone Cypress is one of the most photographed spots along the drive. The tree is about 250 years old.

The scenery is spectacular along scenic route 17-Mile Drive. The road hugs the rugged California coastline offering fantastic views. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• The Ghost Tree is a Cypress tree bleached white from winds.
• Pescadero Point offers incredible views of Sillwater Cove and Carmel Bay.
• Mansions perched on the hills overlook the stunning California coastline along 17-Mile Drive.

Discover 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic roads in California. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Getting there:

• Gate admission is $10.25 cash per vehicle. Hotel guests enter for free. Gate admission fee is reimbursed if you spend $35 or more at Pebble Beach Resorts restaurants.
• No motorcycles are allowed on the drive.
• The gates are open from sunrise to sunset.
• Download a map.

Discover 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic highways along the California coast. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Fast Facts:

• Samuel F. B. Morse founded Pebble Beach.
• Pebble Beach celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2019.
• Pebble Beach Equestrian Stables opened in 1924.
• Pebble Beach is the top public golf course in the US.
• The U.S. Open Championship hosted here five times before returns in 2019.

Stay at the Pebble Beach Resorts

If you stay here, you will be able to fully enjoy the experience of this beautiful area.

• Take a guided trail ride from the Pebble Beach Equestrain Centre. Ride through the forest to the beaches and dunes. There are 27 miles of trails to explore.
• Stay at one of the Pebble Beach Resorts; The Lodge at Pebble Beach, Inn at Spanish Bay and Casa Palmero.
• Golf at one of the four iconic courses;  Pebble Beach Golf Links, Del Monte Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay and Spyglass Hill Golf Centre.
• Ride a bike on the many miles of trails.

17-Mile Drive nearby points of interest

• Monterey’s Cannery Row.
• The Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Pacific Grove is where thousands of butterflies migrate to spend winter from October to February.
• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is home to 36 species of marine mammals. You can spot three types of whales; orca, humpback or gray. Porpoises and dolphins are also visible, depending on the season.
• Monterey Wine Country offers a variety of tasting rooms. Download a tasting room map.

Explore the top things to do in San Francisco.

Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea

• Travel to Bryce Canyon to discover the world’s largest hoodoo collection
• Trip planning tools for Bryce Canyon.
• Explore scenic Mossy Cave hiking trail in Bryce Canyon.
• Discover more hiking trails at Bryce Canyon.
• Learn interesting facts about Bryce Canyon.
• Discover the world’s largest gypsum dunes.

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