![]() It turns out the fall is even taller than originally thought! The falls measures 180 ft making it one of the tallest falls in the Ventana and is at the upper range of the original estimate from the visit when the falls was only observed from the base. On the second visit the author confirmed the height estimate with altimeter by climbing an adjacent rock buttress. The cliff cirque around the falls is massive and gazing up at the tall falls from below is an amazing experience. Inspiration Falls* (180 ft): Inspiration Falls is a tremendous waterfall located in a remote region of the Ventana Wilderness at the head wall of a twisty, rugged canyon.If I haven’t described the location of a falls, it’s for a reason – please respect private lands and the desire the keep the mystery of wild places.įKS = First Known Sighting * = origin of name by author It should also be noted that the lands of the northern Santa Lucia Mountains are a patchwork of private and public lands. It should be noted that many falls require substantial rainfall for optimal viewing which may not happen until winter rains. This post will be updated as additional waterfalls are visited and/or discovered. While this is a fairly comprehensive catalog of the major waterfalls in the Big Sur region, including the Silver Peak and Ventana Wilderness, there is a growing list of falls yet to visit. I’ve also included video footage where available as I’ve come to discover that video is a particular great medium to capture the movement of water. This list includes photos of each falls I have visited along with a short description. Other intricacies include varying degrees and type of mineral calcification and the depth and size of plunge pools. The setting of the falls is equally varied including coastal falls off bluffs onto the sand, lush redwood-filled canyons, rocky slopes with Santa Lucia Firs and ephemeral falls in the drier chaparral zones. The list of falls range from delicate 15 ft falls to towering 200 ft falls. In fact, almost every major stream and drainage contains a waterfall. The Big Sur region has incredible topographical relief from the summits of the Santa Lucia Mountains down to the rocky shores of the Pacific Ocean so it should come as no surprise that the rugged canyons draining the peaks hold many amazing waterfalls. The waterfalls range from cataracts deep in the most remote and wild corners of the wilderness to the easily accessible falls near the highway. I don’t have a single favorite fall or even a handful of favorites each fall has its own unique qualities and my “favorites” list is about three dozen falls and growing! There’s no particular order although some of my favorite falls are located towards the top of the list on this page. ![]() Part I catalogs the first 50 waterfalls, Part IIon a separate page catalogs the next 50 waterfalls and Part III contains the next set, and f or the final set see Part IV. ![]() This page includes a description and photos from nearly one hundred waterfalls I’ve already visited with much more yet to explore in some of the most remote and rugged corners of the northern Santa Lucia Mountains. By my estimates there are well over one hundred falls so it’s going to take awhile and this is only taking into account falls that I’ve subjectively determined to be worthy (there are dozens, if not hundreds, of truly ephemeral falls that only appear immediately after heavy rain which I generally exclude). My fascination with Big Sur waterfalls has evolved into a project to discover, document and catalog as many waterfalls in Big Sur, the Ventana Wilderness and Silver Peak Wilderness as I can. I recently rediscovered this joy in the rugged canyons of Big Sur. This perennial stream (Ebright Creek) with a small salmon run was the source of my first adventures in creeks and I loved it! I’ve always enjoyed the flow of water, particularly in the form of waterfalls, but I took a hiatus from exploring creeks for over a decade. When I was in first grade my family moved to a new house next to a greenbelt with a lush canyon and “The Creek” at the bottom. See New Waterfalls for the latest additions. ![]()
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