Valley View Overlook

Valley View Overlook is a hillside viewpoint at the end of the left branch of the shared Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View hike. From the open slope, the Big Sur River Valley stretches toward Point Sur and Andrew Molera. The park lists the walk at 2 miles round trip: climb about 200 feet to the fork, then another 300 feet on the left branch. It is a short hike by distance, but a real uphill effort. Some hikers love the redwooded climb and broad view; others find the payoff modest for the climb.

The shared trail climbs through redwood and oak woodland before the junction. Turn left for Valley View Overlook; the right branch leads to Pfeiffer Falls, so you can make both stops on the same hike. The route description includes steps, a footbridge and switchbacks, then a narrower spur across oak-covered hillside. The posted 2 miles is the park's route figure; check the distance from your actual parking spot, since some visitors walk farther to reach the trail start. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.

The overlook looks out over the forested Big Sur River Valley, with Point Sur and Andrew Molera in the distance. The darker wooded ridge and the lighter open slope give the view its shape. For a photo, keep the valley opening low in the frame and include the ridges on both sides; look toward Point Sur and Andrew Molera when visibility is clear.

The route was rerouted after fires closed the original gorge section in 2008, and the rebuilt trail opened in 2021. A fallen tree damaged its footbridge in 2023; after repairs, the bridge reopened in September 2025. The approach moves from redwood creek and gorge scenery toward a more open oak hillside before the overlook.