BIG SUR, Calif. — With endless ocean views and stunning examples of nature around every bend, Highway 1 is a major draw for tourists worldwide.

What You Need To Know

  • Geogology experts say it's hard to remember a time of late when the entirety of Highway 1 has been open for more than a year

  • The earth along many parts of Highway 1 are notorious for falling away or being covered by landslides

  • Climate change is exacerbating repair efforts

  • During the recent closure of Highway 1 North and South of Big Sur, officials say the area lost more than a million dollars a day

Sitting along arguably its most popular stretch is Big Sur River Inn.

The Inn's manager, Colin Twohig, said it's a beautiful place to visit, but it has been challenging lately.

In April, storm damage closed Highway 1 in Big Sur, north and south of the area, creating an island of sorts.

"Breakfast has been so slow it doesn't quite justify having our whole kitchen staff in the mornings yet," said Twohig, speaking about the public's slow trickle back into the area.

During repairs, Caltrans eventually allowed two short windows during the day for essential personnel to travel along the slip out to the North over one lane, which Twohig said did help.

"We had our staff driving up to the convoy early in the morning," Twhohig said. "Being in the first line, meeting up with a produce or meat vendor, taking stuff off their delivery vehicle and putting it onto the employee vehicle. Then delivering it down here."

The Big Sur Chamber of Commerce said the area lost more than a million dollars a day due to limited road access.

To the south of Big Sur, multiple sections of Highway 1 are closed due to storm damage; one closed section occurred over a year ago.

Twohig said business from Southern California is essential.

"When we have a closure to our south we see on average close to a 30% drop in business," Twohig said.

Ocean geologist and professor of Earth Sciences Gary Griggs has studied the area extensively for decades.

He said keeping Highway 1 open along with other roads meeting the sea in Northern California, is a major headache for officials, especially Highway 1 because of the enormous cliffs.

"There's a rumor that it's never been opened for more than a year at a time," Griggs said.

Griggs said that historically, weather has always closed parts of Highway 1, but climate change is now exacerbating the challenges.

"We're getting more concentrated winter rainfall, hotter, drier summers, which probably mean more fires, which destabilizes the soils," Griggs said. "And we're getting sea level slowly rising. But also, it looks like we're getting larger, more energetic waves."

Knowing access from the south will take time and future closers will happen, Twohig said he hopes officials continue and look to do more to keep Highway 1 open as much as possible.

"It is such a draw to tourists around the world that it's an economic driver for the state of California," he said.

Twohig hopes this will drive more investment in Highway 1 so people near and far can continue to experience one of the world's most idyllic drives.