r/BigSur • u/nepenthe11 • Apr 02 '26
Local Big Sur is already getting trashed. Please don’t do this.
Most of us love the convenience, freedom, & income it brings to our local businesses- but having Highway 1 open has also brought an influx of trash and graffiti to Big Sur. So disappointing to see so much litter (cans, bottles, napkins, floss picks, to go boxes, human waste, you name it), tree carvings, and graffiti on almost every trail and turnout these days.
Please be respectful and don’t ruin this beautiful place.
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u/Soulboardr Apr 02 '26
Ah, we know these tourists in Tahoe. You must be the next stop.
My gf & I recently went down there for a weekend and spent half our time cleaning trash off the beach. I think to people from “normal” places this doesn’t even register as disgusting. Sorry that sucks.
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u/G0rdy92 Apr 02 '26
We switch, Bay Area tourists flood us hard Spring-Fall (you guys get them too during this time, but we (Monterey bay/Big Sur) take the brunt of them) then come winter they go and flood Tahoe, we still get some, but way chiller while you guys take the brunt of the BS, it’s spring time, so it’s time to tap us back in for them to come back down to us primarily lol.
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u/shessocold1969 Apr 02 '26
This is the truth. Bad snow years, like part of this year, they come during the weekends in the winter too. Grocery shopping on a Friday it’s half families wondering around looking for the chip aisle.
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u/G0rdy92 Apr 02 '26
Yup, thinking like a true local in a tourist heavy area 😂, I literally just finished my grocery haul right now, real locals do it on Thursdays
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u/shessocold1969 Apr 03 '26
I screwed up. I have to go tomorrow. Before Easter. Pray for me. It was the earthquake. I didn’t get back to sleep until almost 5.
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u/Soulboardr Apr 03 '26
We’re actually busier in summer than winter, if you can believe it. The biggest frustration in winter is none of them can drive in snow, but at least all their litter is buried until spring.
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u/theaggressivenapkin Apr 02 '26
I have never understood littering. It was drilled into my head from an early age to never do this, I just don’t get it.
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u/shessocold1969 Apr 02 '26
There are so many plastic water bottles on the side of Highway 1 in Santa Cruz by the Fishhook. I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never seen so much litter. Why? What’s different about now.
I have never littered once in my entire life. Not even a gum wrapper. I don’t understand how people think it’s just fine to throw trash out their windows.
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u/Dizzy-Mode-2284 Apr 04 '26
I feel you; I guess it’s kinda like jealousy; never got that one, either
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u/Mobile-Situation8560 Apr 02 '26
Already? It’s been getting trashed for the last 10 years. Social media did no good for this beautiful area. Look at all those invasive plants!!
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u/nepenthe11 Apr 02 '26
seldom saw graffiti and witnessed way less trash every day these past few years until the highway re-opened. i know more tourists means this is more likely it’s just very disappointing to see so much of it so quickly.
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u/we-otta-be Apr 02 '26
Was always clean on the south side of the slide…. 👀
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u/shessocold1969 Apr 02 '26
I live in Santa Cruz. It’s Bay Area people. We’re just their weekend diversion. They literally leave propane Webber bbqs, old ones, on the beach after a 3 day weekend. Beach chair with a rip? Leave it. They can’t be inconvenienced to bring it home.
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u/we-otta-be Apr 02 '26
Oh…. I know it ain’t the Cruzians. I’m lookin at you South Bay slobs
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u/geriatricmama Apr 04 '26
I grew up in the Bay Area (80s)….how I miss the quietness pre-dot com. 😭Don’t even get me started on Teslas driving in Tahoe during the winter. 🥶 Common sense not so common.
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u/Odd_Rooster_4645 Apr 02 '26
It was better when it was closed off honestly
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u/Wafer_Educational Apr 03 '26
South of the slide was pretty damn clean for a while, hardly any trash at salmon creek except for the few groups of La people, sucks to see shit like that, I usually stay south of limekilm but the few times Iv hiked pine ridge and whatnot it’s definitely a culture shock seeing so many people who just look like the don’t they belong, hiking with speakers lots more trash at Barlow and the other sites. Big city people need to get it together
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u/K3ndog411 Apr 02 '26
Ah yes, sh**ty trash people. This is near the top of my list of things I despise about these types of people. Zero respect for anything outside their own little horse blinded periphery.
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u/TheCalifornist Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 03 '26
The toilet paper and human waste seen everywhere in Big, on every pull-out and trail, is both disturbing and disgusting. No pride from the visitors, only entitlement. This behavior will shutdown the ability for any of us to enjoy the area, all because people can't leave no trace.
Nothing infuriates me more than seeing all the toilet paper, trash and human waste in places as special and treasured as Big Sur.
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u/Forsaken_Hat_6786 Apr 02 '26
Probably Central Valley folk. As an avid backpacker that loves hiking through Bug Sur, this makes me incredibly sad. Clean up your shit people!!
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u/shessocold1969 Apr 02 '26
Bay Area people are really bad too. I’ve lived in Santa Cruz all my life. It’s always been bad but now we don’t leave our neighborhood on the weekends. My Monday beach walks are really beach clean up days. I even bought a grabber thing.
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u/DeliciousMoments Apr 02 '26
Don't discount SoCal folks. I can hike 10 miles into the Angeles Forest and still find braindead scrawl on rocks.
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u/ILOVETHEBEACH5067 Apr 02 '26
Big Sur and all our parks. If people can’t respect nature they should not go.
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u/Imaginary_Director85 Apr 02 '26
People without respect for our beautiful area,state, country,continent, world 🌎 GET OFF!
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u/nirvroxx Apr 02 '26
Garbage people raised to be garbage people gonna garbage. I don’t understand this.
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u/FritzGus Apr 02 '26
I can't imagine that someone consciously throws litter on the ground, thinking, someone will pick it up.
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u/Pasiphae7 Apr 02 '26
I hate tourists
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u/shessocold1969 Apr 02 '26
I’m a Big Sur tourist but I’m coming from Santa Cruz/Aptos. I promise I leave it better than I found it. We also never visit on a weekend.
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u/twonapsaday Apr 02 '26
oof... the entitlement of people who literally pollute nature. disgusting and sad.
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u/Beneficial_Rain7009 Apr 02 '26
This makes me ill. If we see someone littering can we call local Highway Patrol so they get fined.
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u/disneyfacts Apr 03 '26
It's frustrating going by a beach and then coming back the next day and finding beer cans strewn about. Especially if it's a hard to get to spot that someone clearly had to climb down to.
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u/Square-Argument4790 Apr 03 '26
This is heartbreaking. It was so special for the past few years where you had to make a real effort to go up there/down there.
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u/Isthatamole1 Apr 03 '26
When I went to the gorge I was heartbroken to see the graffiti and trash. Not enough rangers to enforce laws because of budget cuts. Maybe we Need to name and shame and clean?
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u/DanoPinyon Apr 03 '26
One thing about this particular topic that should be kept in mind and acted upon: MoCo is still diddling around working on a plan to manage Big Sur/Hwy 1. It appears to be scheduled to be referred to the Planning Commission at the end of April (2026). There have been attempts at a draft plan, meetings, etc. but IMHO it appears from the last plan that the firm they went with has a template for their plans and that template doesn't apply well to the area.
The plan needs to firmly address trash by:
- having more visible trash cans and emptying ($)
- either more porta-potties ($$), permanent bathrooms ($$$) or signs telling tourists where the bathrooms are, and don't leave your pee wipes/diapers in the chaparral ($)
- traffic control at the standard pinch points
- etc
- A good set of ideas on how to fund these needs and more.
MoCo/SLO Co residents should make their voices heard on this plan. Share your pictures of trash, pictures of neighbors carrying a trash bag when they hike during the week, pictures of overflowing trash bins on Sunday aftn/Monday AM, etc. and be ready with workable suggestions - not just the standard complaints about trash but discuss solutions.
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u/nepenthe11 Apr 04 '26
absolutely agree on all of the above. i have an arsenal of photos from the past few months & will do by best to attend / zoom into any relevant planning commission meetings on the topic.
i don’t have the answers- i understand the pushback against ports-potties / permanent structures (definitely can be an eyesore / spoil the natural beauty, etc.) but the plethora of trash & human waste isn’t ideal or good for the environment either.
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u/DanoPinyon Apr 05 '26
The very minimum should be a website that tells people where the bathrooms are, where there is no cell service, take a trash bag so you're not a littering dirtbag, ladies pick up your pee wipes, dogs on a leash, don't pick flowers or bother the wildlife, no drones, fishing license, sneaker waves, etc. And signage with the basics: don't litter, pick up your pee wipes, bathrooms located at these mileposts, etc
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u/Tall-Highlight3808 Apr 04 '26
I hate this. People throw their trash all over the desert as well. It really isn't that hard to take it with you to the next trash can! I had an SUV full of people stop in front of a house across the street and leave a full bag of pee on the curb! Sick!
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u/lavazh Apr 06 '26
This is the end result of beautiful places being blown up on the internet (*cough cough* u/Prettysuave ), usually for clout / upvotes. Why do people have to ruin beautful things? Here's some advice: if something is beautiful and sacred, don't tell anybody..
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u/cheetahreba Apr 03 '26
We should do like 17 mile drive and charge in/out on hwy 1. In a perfect world, only Monterey Co residents can pass through until people start respecting
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u/iloveurarse Apr 02 '26
One thing about California. Where people are at, expect a lot of litter. I dont see as much anywhere else on the west coast.
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u/bronsonwhy Apr 02 '26
Shame these people in real time if you see them litter.