On our way back to Monterey after an epic drive down the Big Sur Coast, we decided to stop at the 17-Mile Drive. Located on Pebble Beach Resort land, this scenic view requires a vehicle entry fee and is open from sunrise to sunset. Since we drove in from the south, we entered through the Highway 1 Gate giving us access to the stops in order. There are 5 gates you can enter, each giving a different starting point.
As this was the end of our day we felt picky with which viewpoints we decided to stop at. You’ll see as you read on that we chose views that felt unique and skipped any that felt too similar to something we’ve seen already. Keep reading to see which stops we felt were worth the visit!
1 Shepherd’s Knoll
This is the official first stop along the 17-Mile Drive and honestly one of the least memorable, I didn’t even bother taking photographs. A typo on an early map that included drawings of illustrated sheep is what changed this stop’s name from Shepard’s Knoll to Shepherd’s Knoll.
2 Huckleberry Hill
4011 Los Altos Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Rumor has it that these hills full of Huckleberry and preserved forests were frequented by writers Robert Louis Stevenson and John Steinbeck. You will also get sweeping panoramic views at Huckleberry Hill, with Santa Cruz in the distance and a forest full of trees in the foreground.
Huckleberry Hill Photo Ops
1: Use a wide-angle lens to capture a full landscape. I used a Canon 17-40mm F/4 above.
2: A carved-on tree nearby makes an interesting detail shot.
3: Include the sign in one of your shots. It will help you remember the location later on.
3 Spanish Bay
17-Mile Drive and Spanish Bay Road Pebble Beach, CA 93953
The third stop on the 17-Mile Drive in Monterey gives you your first taste of the shoreline at Moss Beach in the cove south of Spanish Bay. This area was named after Spanish explorers who camped here in 1769 while searching for Monterey Bay. It took the explorers a year to find it. This cobblestone-covered beach has ample parking with a small boardwalk behind it. North of Moss Beach is Spanish Bay Viewpoint which has a turn-in drive with limited parking.
Note: Visitors have been stacking the polished-cobblestone rocks in cairns so take caution when exploring this area. Avoid adding stacks and allow the beach to keep its natural appearance.
Nearby: Asilomar State Beach | Links at Spanish Bay | Stave Wine Cellar | Inn At Spanish Bay
Spanish Bay Beach Photo Ops
1: Use a wide-angle lens to capture a full landscape. I used a Canon 17-40mm F/4 above.
2: The piles of rock cairns make for a good photo, but please do not add to them.
If you think these views are nice, check out my post on A Quick Trip To Big Sur to see what we saw before we did the 17-Mile Drive!
4 The Restless Sea
17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
The Restless Sea is one of the windiest and wildest parts of California’s central coast. The submerged rocks just off the shore interact with the waves creating the wild wave action you’ll see. This stop will give you access to both The Restless Sea and Point Joe, but there are two other turnouts nearby if this one is too busy.
The Restless Sea Photo Ops
1: The ocean is quite feisty here. If you want to capture it, try a faster shutter speed. If you use a slower speed, it may smooth out the water and not give the rough wave look you’re experiencing.
5 Point Joe
17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Early explorers mistook Point Joe for Monterey Bay causing many shipwrecks. The story goes that a man named Joe lived here selling trinkets to tourists and it’s not sure whether or not the point was named after him, or he was named after the point. We felt this point looked quite similar to the Restless Sea so we didn’t take photos and just quickly looked before moving on.
6 China Rock
China Rock, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
China Rock is a beautiful stop that was once the site of a small Chinese fishing village in the late 1800s. You can still see cooking smoke staining some rocks that go back just as far. This was a great spot to stop and take in the views and photo ops. If this stop is busy, there is another pullover shortly down the road you can try with similar views.
Nearby: Monterey Peninsula Country Club | Granite Beach
China Rock Photo Ops
1: There is a wide expanse of rocky coast here from large piles to small pebbles. Use a wide-angle lens to take it all in.
2: There is a tree to the south that stands alone on the rocky coast and makes for a great photo.
7 Bird Rock
Bird Rock Rd, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
While Bird Rock was a beautiful stop, we felt it looked similar to China Rock and just looked as we drove by. This area is known for being a wildlife hub with seals, sea lions, and birds and was actually covered in several feet of bird guano until cleaned off in the 1930s to be harvested as fertilizer. Gross. There are restrooms at this stop.
8 Seal Rock
We opted to drive by this stop, but if you have time Seal Rock is where you can see the Gingerbread House, explore tidepools, and walk around. A large, sandy beach and overlook can be found here and minimal parking.
Nearby: Connel House
Check out my San Francisco to Big Sur 5-Day Itinerary to see more epic experiences like the 17-Mile Drive!
9 Fanshell Beach Overlook
Fan Shell Beach Overlook had beautiful views but we decided to continue driving. We were at the end of a long day driving and hiking the Big Sur coast and still had 8 more stops on this route to check out.
10 Cypress Point Lookout
We chose to drive by Cypress Point Lookout, too. While it looked beautiful, we felt it was OK to pass to make sure we had time to view the rest of the stops. You may be wondering if this trip is worth it at this point and it is! I promise!
Some of My favorite camera gear
These are some of the items you can find in my camera bag! As an FYI, these four items are affiliate links. If you click an image and make a purchase, I may receive a small part of that purchase at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
Fuji X100V
This mirrorless camera is the perfect compact camera that still allows you tons of flexibility to be creative. Perfect when you don’t want to carry your big camera around.
Fuji Instax Mini 90
I love this mini instant camera. From its vintage camera style to its small size, it fits perfectly in my camera bag. Plus, the Instax film is much more affordable than Polaroid-style films.
Canon 17-40mm F4
This has been in my camera bag for years and is perfect for capturing sweeping landscapes and cityscapes when you want to get a wide view.
Fjallraven Kanken
Camera Bag Insert
Make any bag a camera bag with this handy little camera insert. If you’re like me and don’t like to use a camera-specific bag this is perfect.
11 Crocker Grove
Named after Charles Crocker, the railroad baron responsible for the original 17-Mile Drive and Hotel Del Monte, Crocker Grove is home to the largest and oldest Monterey Cypress trees in existence. Pebble Beach has one of only two native Monterey Cypress forests in the world. This was a drive-through area that was pretty, but we didn’t stop to take photos there.
Nearby: Cypress Point Club | Del Monte Forest
12 The Lone Cypress
The 12th stop on the 17-Mile Drive in Monterey is The Lone Cypress. Believed to have been standing for 250 years, the famous Lone Cypress has withstood the elements and has been in the logo for Pebble Beach Resorts since its founding. This spot is definitely worth pulling over for.
The Lone Cypress Photo Ops
1: There is a cypress tree on its own on a rocky cliff that juts into the ocean. I didn’t bring a telephoto lens but it would have been helpful to get some great shots as the tree was further away
2: Capture what’s nearby the tree, look to the left and right and behind you.
13 Ghost Trees At Pescadero Point
Ghost Trees is a unique spot with several sunbleached and weather-worn Monterey Cypress trees that give off an eerie, ghost-like appearance. You’ll turn off at Cypress Point Lookout which has limited parking. You can’t tell from the calm in my photos, but this area is also known as one of the legendary Big Wave Surf Spots. This area has been known to have wave faces upward of 80 feet with 20-foot-wide boils at the face of the wave. The water is colder, pulling in energy from the North Pacific, and filled with great white sharks among others. Only the best surfers should tackle waves like these.
Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point Photo Ops
1: If you photograph the trees with the sun backlighting them, you may be able to get burst of sunrays and orbs to make your photos feel extra eerie.
14 Pebble Beach Visitor Center
3297 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
We passed up Pebble Beach Visitor Center because we were just on the drive for the views but if you’re looking for the history of the area this is your stop. There are also restaurants in this area if you’re looking to grab a bite. Double-check their websites as several restaurants are high-end and may have a dress code.
Nearby: Pebble Beach Market | The Bench | Pebble Beach Coastal Overlook | Stillwater Bar & Grill | The Tap Room | The Lodge at Pebble Beach | The Gift Shop at The Lodge | Marchesa Jewelry | Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach | Hay’s Place
15 Pebble Beach Golf Links
1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
I had no idea this was a popular golf destination until we visited. There are several golf courses concentrated in this area as well as across the 17-Mile drive in Monterey. Explore the golf options Pebble Beach has to offer here.
16 Pebble Beach Equestrian Center
3300 Portola Road, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
You can view the 17-Mile Drive by horseback by choosing the variety of guided trail rides. Learn more about the Equestrian Center and horse riding in Pebble Beach here.
Wanting to see more photos of the beautiful California coastline? Take a look at my post on a Day at Point Dume State Beach in Malibu, California.
17 Ford Meadow
3788 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
The final stop that you’ll drive by on your way back out of Highway 1 Entrance is Ford Meadow which honors Robert F. Ford who generously donated to the Del Monte Conservancy.
About The 17-Mile Drive in Monterey, California
Address: The 17-Mile Drive, Pacific Grove, CA 03050
Admission: $11.25 per vehicle (as of 2022), admission is complimentary to overnight guests. The Gate fee is reimbursed if you spend $35 or more at all Pebble Beach Resort restaurants excluding Pebble Beach Market.
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
More Details: Pebble Beach Website
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This is my favorite drive but I’ve learned some gems from you!! Saving this for the next time. Thanks!
The restless sea looks indeed restless. Thank you for the photography tip.
Such a gorgeous drive! We’d love it to add it to our bucketlist.
This is one of the drives I want to do when we get to USA next year, thank you I will be bookmarking this…for planning
These stops look incredible!