How to avoid danger and disappointment on your road trip up California’s Highway 1
The Pacific Coast Highway in California from Los Angeles to San Francisco is one of the premier drives in the world. With beautiful coastline and quaint towns, this road trip is a must do for everyone who loves natural beauty and adventure. However, there are some serious perils to avoid on this legendary highway. Be aware of these hazards and locations so you can best protect against them and avoid ruining your trip!
1. Ticks
These blood sucking arachnids are no joke and can be found up and down the California coastline. Ticks can carry diseases including Lyme disease which according to the CDC is caused by a bacteria that ticks can transmit to humans which can result in headaches, joint pain, nerve pain, and other unwanted symptoms.
Avoiding tick habitats and taking some small precautions can ensure your road trip doesn’t end disastrously. Ticks like to live in grassy, bushy, and wooded areas which is the majority of the California coast. So, when hiking, stay on the trail and stay in the middle of the trail to prevent ticks from brushing on to you. You can also treat your clothing and gear with permethrin which will kill any ticks that you happen to come in contact with. Also, when ticks come in contact with a host, they crawl upward looking for a place to feed. So, one good preventative measure is to tuck your pants into you socks and to tuck your shirt in. If you take these precautions, you can avoid those dastardly pests and have an enjoyable vacation!
2. Poison Oak
Poison Oak is prevalent in Northern California along the coastline and is a serious irritant to be respected. When the Urushiol oil from the Poison Oak plant comes in contact with your skin, it can cause a rash that will last for weeks. Coming in contact with this is a dangerous proposition that will certainly ruin any trip up California’s famed highway 1. This picture on the right is Poison Oak and was taken in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. It is recognized by its lobed oak leaf which is typically shiny and in groups of 3. Being familiar with what Poison Oak looks like is crucial so that you can avoid it. Wearing long pants is a great preventative measure but the oil can be transferred and cause a second-hand exposure so avoiding all contact is best. I have actually had second-hand exposure to Poison Oak and my arms were itchy for a week. I can’t imagine how miserable it must be to come into direct contact with the plant. If you’re going to travel the Pacific Coast Highway this is a serious peril you will want to avoid.
3. Buying anything in Big Sur
While the previous 2 things to avoid can injure your person, this one can put a big dent into your wallet. Big Sur is the definition of a tourist trap charging a premium on essentials like coffee and gas. Although it is certainly a beautiful place to visit and worth spending time to see the area, ensure that you are well prepared to avoid buying anything in this town. The prices are absurdly high such that the gas prices aren’t even posted and are $2/gal more than the state average. I am confident that Big Sur has one of the highest prices of gas in the USA. Avoid spending money here to keep your trip enjoyable and your budget intact!
4. Point Lobos
While having good health is necessary for a good trip and getting scammed a good way to ruin your mood, avoiding disappointing and over-rated areas is important to having a successful enjoyable trip. Point Lobos has got to be at the top of the most overrated places I’ve been. Usually crowds are attracted to neat, beautiful places but at Point Lobos, this is not the case. The only thing worth seeing here is China Cove, although it isn’t worth the $10 entrance fee or hike from the entrance to get there. With all of the crowds this Reserve is overrun with people and beaten down. The tidepools are deplete of any life and the views from every point are subpar and certainly not worth visiting. Also, eating is strictly prohibited anywhere in the Park except for at picnic tables which when I asked where one was, I was simply told that they were few and far between. If you do choose to pay the $10 entrance fee for vehicles, there is limited parking so you may have to wait in the parking lots for a spot to open up. If you simply want to go hiking on the trails, poison oak is pervasive here and I saw a lot of it lining the trails so beware! Point Lobos is certainly a peril to avoid losing time and enjoyment on your trip.
5. Cayucos State Beach
While there are many amazing beaches up and down the coast of California, Cayucos State Beach certainly isn’t one of them and a place to avoid. I have been to the beach at Cayucos many times and it’s disappointing every time. The sand is simply full of debris such as rocks and wood. You have to constantly watch your step to be sure you don’t land on a rock or stick. The coarse and messy sand is good enough to ruin your beach visit. There are many beaches in the area and this one is at the bottom of the list.
6. Salmon Creek Falls
Hikes are a great way to get out and enjoy nature but a bad hike can be exhausting and frustrating and really detract from your trip. After you pass through the relative flat areas of Cambria, Cayucos, and San Simeon, the terrain becomes steeper and the coastline very beautiful. Some parts, though, aren’t worth stopping at and Salmon Creek Falls is certainly one of those places. I hiked this trail with some friends as we were just looking for a place to hike and a waterfall seemed nice. However, we were sorely disappointed and I wish we would have never done this hike. Whatever waterfall there is iit isn’t even visible from any trail. The trail disintegrates into a rock scramble with no real route or direction. The numerous traffic that comes through here have formed many trails all going towards the creek but it’s nearly impossible to get a view of the falls. It’s very difficult to get there and there’s no falls to see when you do which makes it a frustrating disappointing hike. The only thing you may get out of this hike is a rolled ankle.
7. The Road
As with most places, the most dangerous thing you will do is driving. Although driving on roads is something we do every day, it can still be dangerous if you do not take care. Highway 1 is a very curvy road on the section from San Simeon all the way past Big Sur. If you are not familiar with mountain driving, be sure to put extra effort and attention to your driving. Add on the popularity of this road and the dangers become more pronounced. Particularly with this road and scenic views around every bend, many people pull off to the side of the road to take pictures which often includes crossing the road with no crosswalk. Keep alert for any pedestrian traffic especially around popular sights like McWay Falls and Bixby Creek Bridge. If you do choose to pull off the road yourself, make sure that your car is COMPLETELY off of the road. Do not stop or park on the road and when you pull off make sure both tires are outside the road lines. Always take care when crossing the road and remember that this is a highway which contains lots of traffic.
If you take these precautions and are aware of the perils on the Pacific Coast Highway, you can help prevent any serious mishap and have a successful enjoyable trip!
