Sunbeams, Big Sur

Hiking the Canyon Trail on a foggy morning, it's not uncommon for the sun to break through for a moment. A redwood forest is a dusty place, and branches in the canopy can create gaps in the beams of light pouring down from the heavens. It's a great natural effect, and a great location.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has essentially two sections; one climbs under the road ( Scenic Highway 1 ) to an overlook with a view of the Pacific Ocean splashing against a small beach, the other a network of trails up the side of the mountain. The Santa Lucia range are home to a broad range of micro-climates, at least half of the area seems to be occupied by redwood forests, however.