Want cliffside privacy without leaving the Peninsula?
A secluded cliffside enclave just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, where the Monterey Peninsula gives way to the Big Sur coastline.
Carmel Highlands has drawn artists, writers, and nature lovers since the early 20th century, attracted by its rugged cliffs, dramatic ocean views, and isolation from the busier parts of the Peninsula. Poet Robinson Jeffers built his home, Tor House, nearby, and that same draw toward privacy and dramatic landscape still defines who buys here today.
The neighborhood sits at the transition point between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur, meaning residents get a quiet, low-density setting while remaining a short drive from the village's restaurants, galleries, and amenities.
Minutes away, with trails for hiking, whale-watching, and views of sea otters and harbor seals.
One of the most photographed landmarks on the Pacific Coast Highway, a short drive south.
Wildflower fields, redwood groves, and cliffside trails leading down to secluded beaches.
The stone home poet Robinson Jeffers built by hand starting in 1919, now a National Historic Landmark open for tours.
Life in Carmel Highlands is quiet and view-oriented. The Carmel Highlands Scenic Drive winds along the coastal cliffs and is a favorite for a sunset outing, while Monastery Beach draws residents for beachcombing, picnicking, and, for experienced divers, one of the area's more challenging dive sites. Whale watching is a year-round activity here, since the waters off Carmel Highlands sit within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, with gray whales migrating in winter and spring and humpback and blue whales more common in summer and fall.
Because the neighborhood is small and residential, day-to-day amenities, spas, boutique shopping, and most dining, are a short drive north into Carmel-by-the-Sea rather than on-site.
Rocky Point Restaurant, open since 1947 just south of the neighborhood, offers cliffside dining with panoramic Pacific views and a casual seafood and steak menu. Pacific's Edge, inside the Hyatt Carmel Highlands, is the neighborhood's fine-dining anchor, known for California coastal cuisine and an AAA Four Diamond wine list. Further south toward Big Sur, Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn and The Sur House at Ventana Big Sur extend the same cliffside dining experience with a seasonal, farm-to-table focus.
Beyond the immediate coastline, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Garrapata State Park are both within a few minutes' drive for hiking and wildlife viewing. Tor House and Hawk Tower offer guided tours of Robinson Jeffers' hand-built stone home. Carmel Highlands is also the gateway to the broader Big Sur coastline, where scenic drives, artist galleries, and redwood groves extend the same landscape further south.
Carmel Highlands is part of Carmel Unified School District, including Carmel River Elementary School and Carmel High School, which carries a 10 out of 10 GreatSchools rating. Monterey Regional Airport is about 30 minutes away. School assignment is based on residential address; buyers should confirm current attendance boundaries directly with Carmel Unified School District before making a purchase decision based on schools.
Homes in Carmel Highlands range from roughly 2,000-square-foot cliffside retreats to multi-acre estates, with architectural styles spanning contemporary cliffside homes with floor-to-ceiling glass, Craftsman and custom-built estates, and a handful of original mid-century modern properties. Prices generally start in the low $2 million range and reach $20 million or more for the most prominent ocean-view estates. Many properties include infinity pools, private trails, and guesthouses built to take advantage of the setting. For comparable coastal luxury inventory closer to the village, see Carmel Luxury Homes. Stacey Scherling can walk you through current Carmel Highlands comparables and access considerations for cliffside parcels.
No. Carmel Highlands is a separate, unincorporated residential area just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, sharing the same school district but with its own more secluded, cliffside character.
Carmel Highlands sits at the northern edge of the Big Sur coastline, making it a short drive to landmarks like Bixby Creek Bridge and Garrapata State Park.
Carmel Highlands homes generally start in the low $2 million range and can exceed $20 million for the most prominent cliffside estates with unobstructed ocean views.
Yes, Tor House and Hawk Tower, the hand-built stone home of poet Robinson Jeffers, offers guided tours and is a designated National Historic Landmark.
About the Agent: Stacey Scherling, Scherling Properties, CA DRE# 02157842. Stacey works with buyers seeking privacy and view-oriented properties across Carmel Highlands and the broader Monterey Peninsula. Meet Stacey.
Search Homes across the Peninsula, or explore nearby areas: Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel, and Pebble Beach. Ready to talk specifics? Contact Stacey.
Sources: 1. Wikipedia, Tor House and Hawk Tower, National Historic Landmark designation. 2. Rocky Point Restaurant, history and location. 3. Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Pacific's Edge dining profile. 4. GreatSchools.org, Carmel High School profile.
1,019 people live in Carmel Highlands, where the median age is 64 and the average individual income is $133,358. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Carmel Highlands has 408 households, with an average household size of 2. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Carmel Highlands do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 1,019 people call Carmel Highlands home. The population density is 372 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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