A seemingly cursed Big Sur hiking trail finally reopens. But for how long?

"Even in picturesque California, few landscapes are as stunning - or as fragile - as Big Sur. The constant storms and seismic activity that forged its dramatic cliffs and canyons also make its infrastructure a nightmare to maintain. The primary road through the region, world-famous Highway 1, which clings to cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean in postcard worthy fashion, is almost constantly closed by landslides, isolating communities and stranding weary travelers."

"So, as if they had just taken a deep breath and crossed their fingers, California State Parks officials announced this week that one of the region's most beloved hikes, the Pfeiffer Falls Trail, will finally reopen after a towering redwood collapsed in a 2023 storm taking out its signature pedestrian bridge. The trail, a .75 mile stroll that cuts through Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and ends with a stunning view of a 60-foot waterfall, is one of the prime draws for a park that attracts roughly 750,000 people each year."

"For such a short walk, the trail has a long history. In 2008, the 162,818-acre Basin Complex Fire devastated much of the route and surrounding forest. It took $2 million and nearly 13 years to complete a renovation project - removing aged and damaged concrete, rerouting the trail and constructing the bridge - to finally reopen the hike in June 2021. About 18-months later, that storm arrived and a towering redwood crashed the party."

Big Sur's landscapes are visually striking but geologically unstable, with storms and seismic activity creating cliffs and canyons that complicate upkeep. Highway 1 frequently closes because of landslides, and hiking trails face similar vulnerabilities. The Pfeiffer Falls Trail reopened after a towering redwood collapsed onto and damaged its pedestrian bridge during a 2023 storm. The .75-mile trail passes through Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and ends at a 60-foot waterfall, drawing many visitors. The route was severely affected by the 2008 Basin Complex Fire; a $2 million, nearly 13-year renovation rebuilt the trail and bridge, which reopened in June 2021.

Read at Los Angeles Times