Between LA And San Francisco Lies A California State Park With Beautiful Coastal Views

Although California is known for world-class attractions and landmarks, one of its most stunning elements is its massive coastline. While beaches are certainly primary destinations throughout the California coast, you don't want to miss other forms of beauty available in these areas. For example, if you find yourself in Big Sur, you may want to check out Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

Located off of Highway 1, between Los Angeles and San Francisco, this state park was practically made for photography. Striking cliffs drop down to pristine, remote beaches that look like something out of a postcard. Although you can't visit the beaches at the time of this writing (due to path closures and unsafe conditions), they're still gorgeous when seen from afar.

Beyond the actual shoreline, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park contains old-growth redwoods, babbling creeks, and native wildlife. If you really want to experience the natural majesty of this park, you can even reserve a primitive campsite and spend a night or two underneath the stars.

One of the great things about exploring parks in the Golden State is that you can experience so many different types of scenery. For example, the colorful Red Rock Canyon State Park, beloved by locals and tourists alike, gives you canyons and deserts. By comparison, Julia Pfeiffer Burns offers coastal greenery and ocean views. The most scenic of these views is the 80-foot waterfall known as McWay Falls. Although you can't reach the falls directly (as of this writing), even viewing them from afar is worth the visit. While the trail to the waterfall overlook is closed, the best option is to pull over to the side of the road to take a look. That said, the weather can impact how well you see the falls. For example, during the summer, fog often rolls in during the morning but dissipates by midday. So, you may want to check the forecast and plan accordingly before heading to the park.

Hiking is another great way to enjoy the scenery at this park, and there are several trails to explore. The longest of these is the Ewoldsen Trail, which stretches for 5 miles and takes you through the towering redwoods. It splits into a loop that surrounds the canyon, but at the time of this writing, the eastern section of the loop is closed. Another long trail is the Tan Bark Trail, which is 3.2 miles one way, starting at Partington Cove and ending on the ridgeline at Tin House Fire Road. From there, you can hike along the dirt road for about 2 miles. If that's too long, you can also take the 1-mile trek along the Partington Cove Trail, which leads to a rocky beach.

Because of its relatively remote location on the California coastline, the nearest major travel hub to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is San Francisco. Fortunately, the San Francisco International Airport was ranked as the most beautiful in the world. Also, the nearly three-hour drive down is quite scenic, taking you next to the ocean and through cities like California's cool, overlooked coastal getaway, Carmel-by-the-Sea.

When looking for accommodations, there are a few hotels and vacation rentals along the highway. Alternatively, you can stay in a city like Monterey or Carmel-by-the-Sea. If you want to spend as much time as possible in the state park, reserve one of the two hike-in, tent-only campsites. Because there are only two available, they fill up quickly, so you likely will have to search six months in advance. There's a $30 camping fee per night.

While hiking is the easiest way to experience Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, you can also explore the waters just offshore. This site is open for scuba diving, but it's only for advanced divers who know what they're doing, since it's dangerous to get in and out of the water. Because of the risks, the park doesn't offer solo diving permits, so you'll need to bring a buddy, and both of you must show a diving certification first.