The Bixby Creek Bridge — Photos and History of the Big Sur Bridge

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Author note: ​As of April 2, 2025, a significant portion of Highway 1 in the Big Sur region remains closed due to ongoing repairs at Regent’s Slide. This 6.8-mile segment is closed from approximately one mile south of the Esalen Institute to two miles north of Lucia. The closure is a result of a major landslide that occurred in February 2024, and the reopening has been delayed due to continued land movement and slope instability.

I’ve run the Big Sur Marathon, though even before, I’d lost count of how many times I’d wound down Highway 1 toward Big Sur, chasing something I couldn’t quite name.

The Bixby Creek Bridge—gaunt, cinematic, impossible—was always waiting. When I crossed it during the race, years ago now, there was a classical pianist stationed in the center of the span, his music unraveling into the coastal wind, marking the halfway point not just of the marathon, but of something else entirely.

Big Sur is the ragged, gorgeous edge of the Western World. The Bixby Bridge rises out of the cliffs like a promise half-kept, a concrete ribbon strung between solitude and spectacle, the kind of thing Californians build when they believe in beauty as infrastructure. It is both improbable and inevitable, the way all things in California seem to be—dreams engineered into permanence, arched over the edge of the continent where the land runs out and the longing begins.

The grandeur of Bixby Creek Bridge defies exaggeration. It arches with quiet drama between cliff and chasm, a feat of engineering that somehow still feels small—dwarfed by the sheer wall of mountain behind it, and on the other side, the vast, indifferent sprawl of the Pacific. You stand before it and feel both hushed and exposed as if the land itself were reminding you who’s really in charge.

Bixby Bridge was completed in 1932, during the height of the Great Depression. Despite the economic hardships, it was finished on time and under budget, showcasing the resilience and engineering capabilities of the era.

The bridge is named after Charles Henry Bixby, a New York native who settled in the area in the late 1800s. He harvested lumber and built a sawmill nearby, helping to establish the local economy.

At 280 feet (85 meters) high and spanning 714 feet (218 meters), it’s one of the tallest single-span concrete arch bridges in the world. Its elegant design makes it both a feat of engineering and a popular photography subject.

Before the bridge was built, travelers had to take a rough inland route that added 11 miles (18 km) to their trip. The bridge drastically improved accessibility along the rugged Big Sur coast.

To maintain the natural beauty of the area, no steel reinforcements were visible. Instead, builders used 6,600 cubic yards of concrete, which was an impressive logistical challenge given the remote location at the time.

Bixby Bridge has appeared in numerous films, car commercials, and shows — most famously in the opening credits of HBO’s “Big Little Lies”, which helped boost its popularity with tourists.

At its construction, Bixby Bridge was the longest concrete arch bridge on a California state highway, holding the record for several years.

Despite its strength, the bridge is susceptible to natural elements. Caltrans regularly monitors and maintains it due to concerns about coastal erosion and seismic activity in the region.

As of April 4, 2025, no reports are indicating that Bixby Creek Bridge has sustained damage from recent rains in California. 

However, heavy rainfall has caused significant issues nearby. 

In March 2024, a portion of Highway 1 collapsed just north of Bixby Bridge, leading to road closures and impacting travel in the Big Sur area.  

Additionally, in January 2024, boulders fell onto Highway 1 near Bixby Bridge due to an atmospheric river storm.  These incidents highlight the region’s vulnerability to weather-related disruptions, but Bixby Bridge itself remains unaffected.

The Bixby Bridge Big Sur

I hope you have the chance to drive across and photograph the iconic Bixby Bridge—it’s truly unforgettable. Don’t miss our in-depth guide to visiting Big Sur, complete with all the must-see stops along the way. This stretch of California coast is one of the most breathtaking in the country, drawing travelers from around the globe.

→ The Ultimate Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary

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