Grimes Canyon Beach (Fuller’s Beach)

Fuller’s Beach is a little-known remote beach along the north Big Sur coast. It’s mostly used by dedicated surfers and shy nudists. Surfing websites and bloggers have been talking about this spot for years (and it’s visible on satellite images like Google Maps).

This rocky beach is just north of Grimes Point and it’s difficult to find and even harder to reach. About 0.9 mile south of the Big Sur Inn along Highway 1 there is a pull-out parking area on the east side (inland side) across from a telephone pole on the west side (ocean side). Next to the pole is an unmarked trailhead for a footpath that descends the steep hillside to Fuller’s Beach. See our map for the location of the parking area.

The trail is steep and switches back and forth through poison oak on the way down. Crazy surfers carry their boards down this trail, but it is reportedly a challenging surf spot. It’s best to avoid high tide when visiting this beach as the minor amount of sand will be wet.

Note that the access to Fuller’s Beach might be privately-owned (the beach below high tide line is public), but we haven’t seen any proof or signs prohibiting access. If you see any signs, heed them to avoid trespassing and getting a citation.

Address

CA-1
Big Sur, CA 93920

Owner

Unknown

Pet Details

Dogs not advised

Fees

Free parking

Activities

Beachcombing, Surfing, Beach Exploration

Amenities

No Facilities

Links

Tide Chart
Water Temps
Aerial View of Fuller's Beach