Surf: Two powerful, thick boulder peaks, one to the south of the parking area and one right in front of it. Usually lefts. Very rocky with lots of kelp to contend with. Surfed frequently. Best with a glassy, peaky W swell, it can handle up to several feet overhead. Medium tides work best. The southernmost spot on the Big Sur coast. Environment: Look for the Willow Creek Picnic Ground. There is a small car park with restrooms adjacent to the beach under the highway bridge. Surf: General: Big Sur's handful of spots are brutally fickle and are almost impossible to figure out unless you reside in the Big Sur region. Often that dreamy, long-interval pulse arrives with a roaring NW gale attached to it. There are days, however, when it's possible to snatch a whiff of good waves at a few of the more consistent nooks, the first being Willow Creek, Big Sur's southernmost surf arena and a formal recreation unit of the Los Padres National Forest.

Upon first inspection, you might think that the waves that break in front of the kelp-covered, tortoise-sized boulders of Willow Creek are too close to shore for a safe go-out. The truth is, it's not as hazardous as it looks. The lefthander just north of the parking lot is usually best, although a wedging south peak can also turn on. With its majestic backdrop, frigid water and huge kelp bulbs dotting the lineup, Willow is a good place to tap into Big Sur's raw energy. Power is the name of the game here, which means that the frequent cleanup sets should be avoided whenever possible. Hollow sections exist, but you're more apt to be surfing thunderous, carvable lefthand walls. Willow can be the best break on the coast when the elements quit bickering and actually agree with each other, which means that it's the staple diet for a small cadre of Big Sur waveriders. If there's already a dense pack at the north peak, you can move into the overflow area to the south. Tides: Medium-high Size: Chest high-2X overhead Wind: E, NE Swell: NW, W, SW Bottom: Boulder Paddling: Moderate. Spot Rating: Fun. Access: North on Highway 1 out of San Simeon and watch for the signs on the road marking the Willow Creek Picnic Ground. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Locals resent outsiders. Probably OK if you're solo and courteous. Local Vibe: No red carpet here. Environment: Clean. Hazards: Big Sur is rumored to be rife with white sharks. Locals have frequently sighted those ominous black dorsal fins slicing through the surface, and a killer whale allegedly attacked a surfer at Point Sur back in 1972. Season: September-November