Several trailheads offering access to the backcountry and the Ventana Wilderness are located off Highway One. Several beaches including Sand Dollar Beach, Mill Creek Beach and other smaller pocket beaches are scattered along the southern Big Sur Coast within the boundaries of the National Forest. Hiking trails are scattered throughout the Ventana Wilderness and the National Forest backcountry. Day use facilities are provided at Mill Creek, Sand Dollar Beach, Willow Creek and Pfeiffer Beach. At present there are eight motels, lodges or inns on the coast.
Rustic cabins are available at two of the campgrounds.
The Camaldoli Hermitage run by a Benedictine Order has 11 rooms, which are available with the Hermitage's permission for use as a retreat. Esalen, an internationally known institution, offers accommodations for 90 people enrolled in educational programs. Private campgrounds with about 350 units constitute over half of the vehicle access campsites in Big Sur. All of the private campgrounds except Limekiln Beach Redwood Campground are located in the Big Sur Valley. Twelve Restaurants seat about 1,100 people.