from the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, Monterey County, California
The Naciemiento-Fergusson Road ranks as one of the most dramatic routes in California, if not the world. Starting from the Big Sur Coast at Kirk Creek, it ascends steadily, winding in and out of gullies on the massive ridges flanking Cone Peak. The road eventually crosses the coast ridge at over 2500 feet elevation, and immediately plunges down into the canyon of the Nacimiento River. On a typical summer day it will be cool and foggy on one side, hot and dry on the other. It is literally a trip from one world to another; from cool and gentle coastal California to the harsh landscape and climate of the interior ranges.
Starting at sea level one is usually in dense coastal fog, especially in summer. The vegetation alternates between coastal sage scrub and lush redwood forest. As the road climbs, the sage gives way to grassland, but the redwoods continue to occupy the narrow side valleys, almost up to the summit. As the gap is approached, California live oak, characteristic of the coast, gives way to maul oak, the live oak of the mountains. At the very top, grassland is replaced by hard chaparral, dominated by manzanita, and there are scattered Coulter (bigcone) pines. On the inland side of the summit, live oak and bay forest alternates with chaparral dotted with gray pines, changing gradually to blue oak woodland. As the road flattens out in the Nacimiento Valley it enters a magnificent parkland of stately valley and blue oaks.