Highway 1, Open Again: A Coastal Detour on the Way to King of the Hammers
A few years ago, Matthew and our daughter set out to bikepack their way from San Francisco to Los Angeles. They knew about the Highway 1 washout, but believed they had found a bike-accessible fire road that would let them skirt the closure. Unfortunately, the rangers had other ideas and turned them around. So back they pedaled—north up the coast and all the way home.
Photos from Matthew and Ellie's bike packing adventure in 2023
This week, the state announced that Highway 1 is once again open to through traffic, making that iconic coastal journey possible again. We’re heading down to King of the Hammers in early February, and instead of blasting straight down I-5, we’re planning to take the scenic route—camping near Big Sur, then at Pismo Beach, before turning inland toward the off-road spectacle at Johnson Valley.
We’ll be participating in the Optima Unplugged event for EVs, where Rivian Clubs of America trail guides will lead both newcomers and experienced drivers through the trails and obstacles of the Johnson Valley OHV area.
Because the timing of the road opening wasn’t widely advertised in advance, there may still be campsites available that would normally be booked months out. But now that the cat’s out of the bag, they’re sure to fill quickly—so if you’ve been dreaming of a coastal winter trip, don’t wait.
