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Carbon Footprint

Energy Efficiency

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“We are running a small, but high-end eco-luxury experience that treads lightly on the land.”

The Azure Road Take

Big Sur is a majestic, rugged stretch of California’s Central Coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. Coastal fog winds among the rocks and trees, transforming the already incredible landscape into something even dreamier, and on clear nights, you can see the Milky Way. It’s no wonder it’s a bucket list destination for many, and one of the best places to immerse yourself in all that natural beauty is Treebones Resort.

At the southern end of Big Sur, Treebones is a glamping resort set on the hills above the highway. You’re surrounded by pine and cypress trees slung with lace lichen, along with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and chaparral-covered hills to the east. It has everything you’d want in a high-end getaway with amazing food, a heated pool and hot tub, and massage services.

Who’s It For

Treebones offers a quiet, adults-only escape. The property doesn’t allow kids under 13, and most accommodations hold just two guests, aside from a couple of larger yurts that sleep four. With no cell service and satellite Wi-Fi only in the main lodge, guests actually have to be present.

Sustainability Chops

John and Corinne Handy built the resort from the ground up, opening the doors in 2004. It’s still a family operation; Megan Handy, their daughter, is the assistant general manager.

“We are running a small, but high-end eco-luxury experience,” Megan told me, “that treads lightly on the land in a part of the coast where it’s not always easy.”

The place is powered predominantly by solar, with an extra boost from propane turbines. The heat exhaust from the turbines, among other uses, also warms up the pool. The resort recycles and uses compostable and recyclable products whenever possible. Handrails and other art features around the property are made from scrap steel from the oil drilling industry.

As a part of the Kind Traveler Every Stay Gives Back initiative, the resort helps support the Big Sur Health Center. They also provide employee housing, which helps reduce traffic and provides stability to their staff and community.

Megan explained what she’d like people to get from their stay at Treebones: “Just how special it is to experience Big Sur in all her wild glory. Embrace the fog, embrace the wind, embrace the wild-ness of this place!”

Location

Treebones Resort sits just off Highway 1, a roughly five-hour drive from either Los Angeles to the south or San Francisco to the north. Carmel-by-the-Sea is closer at three hours by car. The resort offers access to outdoor destinations like Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, which has scenic beaches, hikes, and other outdoor activities.

Fortunately, the Regent’s Slide section of Highway One north of Treebones has just reopened. You can also approach from southern Big Sur if you want to enjoy the coastal drive. Locals remain hopeful the northern section will reopen in spring 2026.

Rooms

Yurts provide the main accommodation, with 16 different options, some of which feature ocean views. They come furnished with comfy beds and seating areas, as well as sinks with hot and cold water. However, you’ll have to leave your cozy digs at night for the bathrooms, as toilets and showers are communal, though a short walk away.

If you’ve got your own tent and gear, there are a few campsites with picnic tables. But the most unique campsites are the Human Nest and the Twig Hut. Built by Big Sur artist Jayson Fann, these sculptural wooden art pieces function as tent platforms; all you need to is your bedding and a sense of adventure.

For a bit more luxury, the two Autonomous Tents are like mini off-grid apartments. Each has its own bathroom with a shower and a private patio where you can watch the sunset over the ocean next to a firepit. The newest room at the resort is The Cove, a 3D-printed tiny house made from recycled material with a full bathroom and an outdoor soaking tub on a private deck.

All of the accommodation options require a minimum two-night stay, but if you’re anything like me, once you arrive, you’ll want to stay longer.

Food and Drink

Wake up to a complimentary breakfast buffet which features housemade treats like granola and peach compote. Guests can wander the large organic garden to see where their nutrients come from. The resort has a flock of chickens that feed on restaurant compost. Eggs and garden produce show up on the menu at The Lodge Restaurant, open for lunch or a four-course prix fixe dinner (reservations required).

But it’s dinner at the resort’s Wild Coast Sushi Bar that’s sure to be the culinary standout. Chef Yancy Knapp and his team put together a sensational, 15-course omakase featuring fresh seafood paired with locally grown and harvested seasonings and herbs. Wild Coast hosts two seatings a night, five days a week, for just eight people. Reservations are a must for this memorable dining experience. You can also reserve takeaway bento boxes for lunch.

Staff and Service

Some of the staff are literally family, but the entire team seems close. From the servers in the restaurant to the team member who drove us to our yurt, everyone seemed happy to be working in such a special place. Staff proved eager to offer tips on nearby hikes and beaches, and even some surf spots — Sand Dollar Beach has fun waves and a pretty strip of sand.

Amenities

Five days a week, you can join a morning yoga session, held outdoors when weather cooperates. Plus, they offer three-day yoga retreats in the fall and spring.

Being in Big Sur means slowing down and living in the moment. What better way to do that than to treat yourself to a massage. There are two therapists and one studio, so book in advance.

I’ve been to a lot of hotels and spas, but I’ve never seen a couples massage workshop. Participants get tips and techniques on massaging their partner (or friend) that help with day-to-day aches and pains while bonding.