Keep Big Sur Wild

08/26/2026

The Timber Fire continues to grow. It is making runs in the backcountry and has grown to over 16,000 acres. The first video is a time lapse from the Chews Ridge lookout of the moon setting into fire. We are in for a long incident and hoping for early rains and no big offshore wind events. Unfortunately, this is not over.

08/21/2026

At the request of the individual who recorded it, we have removed the video of the start of the Timber Fire.

The post generated hundreds of reactions and comments showing the opinions and frustrations of those who care for Big Sur and those that were personally impacted.

Big Sur’s beauty has been showcased on social media, attracting millions of visitors per year, exposing once pristine uncrowded locations and pushing them well over their intended carrying capacity. Especially in these high fire prone areas. And while many come to admire and enjoy nature, sometimes the unintended consequence is destroying these unique special places that go viral on Instagram and TikTok. This area where fire started averaged a dozen campers on weekends for decades and this summer exploded in popularity with hundreds of people camping all over the ridge top with unpermitted camp stoves and illegal fires. And with the lack of Federal resources to monitor bad behavior this is the result.

Frustration has been growing among the people who call Big Sur home, for so much has been lost by careless actions. The Timber Fire brought that frustration into focus.

Big Sur is fragile and its beauty is breathtaking for those who pass through and those who reside. But the rate at which Big Sur has grown in popularity, as have the number of visitors is not sustainable. The result is the destruction of the wilderness and wildlife that we are all trying so hard to protect.

Photo: Ray Sanborn

08/20/2026

Even as Big Sur is in the midst of yet another disaster she always shows her beauty. Thank you to the amazing helicopter pilots and flight crew working hard everyday!

08/13/2026

Our small community is so awesome and full of so many capable, hardcore mountain survivors. We are so grateful for Big Sur Fire and all the outside fire crews for coming here to support us. Much respect!
If you would like to donate, please do so at:
www.bigsurfire.org/donate

08/01/2026

Big Sur is getting trashed.

Many of us have been picking up litter along Highway 1 for decades. This summer is the worst we’ve ever seen.

Trash left in roadside turnouts—including cigarette butts—doesn’t just disappear. Winter rains wash it into creeks, the ocean, and ultimately the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

If you visit Big Sur, you can help. Pack out everything you bring in, pick up a few pieces of litter if you see them, and leave this special place better than you found it.

Every small act makes a difference. Leave No Trace.

07/26/2026

Point Lobos is out of control and just gets worse week after week! Reminder to local leaders and agencies that this is an active HIGHWAY being impacted and not some country road. There have been numerous vehicle accidents in this area over the past couple years and it’s just a matter of time before pedestrians are involved. Solutions are needed now!

07/23/2026

SFGATE consulted Keep Big Sur Wild for their piece on the impacts of overtourism and lack of resources to manage the increase in visitation we are seeing this summer in Big Sur. It’s great to see these issues get brought to the public’s attention.

"It's to the point where people don't want to leave their house on the weekends."

07/11/2026

Protect the Plan that Protects the Coast!
One of the key policies in the Big Sur Land Use Plan is the critical viewshed. That includes everything within sight of Highway 1, major public viewing areas and turnouts. Therefore, any new man made developments of any kind are not permitted if they can be seen while driving through Big Sur, the 71 mile section of Highway 1 that was built primarily for scenic travel and for the public to enjoy a breathtaking and relatively undeveloped coastline.
Photo credit:

06/25/2026

Stop marketing Big Sur and start managing it! See Monterey, Visit California and social media influencers are killing the goose that laid the golden egg!

We recognize that tourism is vital to our local economy but we need to find a better balance and carrying capacity that our roadways and infrastructure were designed to accommodate, not just in Big Sur but the Monterey Peninsula as well.

What’s currently being funded:
• See Monterey (our local visitors bureau) has over an $11M annual budget; approximately $7M of that comes from local hotel taxes
• Most of that money is used to promote MORE tourism to the area

Meanwhile…
• We only have ONE 2 lane highway from Carmel to Cambria that has more visitation than Yosemite
• We have fewer rangers and enforcement than 50 years ago
• Influencers are already advertising Big Sur for FREE we don’t need any tax revenue spent on more promotional advertising here

What’s happening with this overtourism:
• Traffic chaos along Highway 1
• People parking IN the highway for photos
• Unsafe conditions that also hampers emergency responses
• Increased fire risk and environmental damage
• Increased commute times for hospitality workers
•Negatively impacting the well being of our small communities
• Loss of enjoyable scenic drive for everyone and overall diminished visitor experience

How the funding could be reallocated:
• Shift funding from marketing to management to keep the highway flowing
• Hire trained traffic control officers at problem areas (Soberanes, Bixby, McWay Falls, etc.)
• Increase enforcement for unsafe driving and bad behavior
• Keep the backcountry and south coast ridge roads safe from illegal fires and help prevent the environmental damage from overuse
•Money for Volunteer Fire Department that provides emergency care and trail rescues to visitors
The constant push to always increase visitation and tourism dollars year after year is pushing the limits of the area, its infrastructure and environment. It is time to act before we lose what makes this part of the Central Coast one of the most special and breathtaking places to live and visit in the world.

06/12/2026

Sometimes we all need a good laugh.
Big Sur Artist: Jill Woyt