Anderson Canyon

Anderson Canyon (Anderson Creek)
Pino Pelado Creek
Creek
Anderson Canyon (present day view from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park)
Country	United States
State	California
City	Big Sur
Source
- location	Coast Range, Anderson Peak (Sierra Nevada), California
- elevation	3,000 ft (914 m)
Mouth	Pacific Ocean
- location	Anderson Canyon mouth, California
- elevation	0 ft (0 m)

The Anderson Canyon region of Big Sur, California, also known as Anderson Creek, is a historically notable part of the Big Sur coast. It is located directly south of the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and was home to a Highway One work camp as well as the Anderson Creek Gang which consisted of bohemians including Henry Miller and Jean Varda.

The region is located within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Sea Otter Refuge, and California condor reintroduction area. The region is privately owned and completely surrounded by Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. It is the next creek south from McWay Creek's famed waterfall cove and contains numerous falls on private property.

Anderson Peak, at the top of Anderson Canyon, rises to 4099 feet. The ocean-facing bluff at the mouth of Anderson Canyon sits 120 feet above sea level.

The Anderson Canyon area has played an important part of the history of the Big Sur region. In the late 19th century there was a trail connecting the coast ridge at Marble Peak with the coast at Burns Creek, just south of the Anderson Landing site, known as the Anderson Canyon trail. Anderson Creek was first called Pino Pelado Creek, and Anderson Peak known as Pino Pelado Peak. The name Anderson Canyon and Anderson Creek emerged after the early settlers James and Peter Andersen who settled the area as early as 1874.

Prior to the construction of Highway One, this area was the center of economic activity for the region with families harvesting redwood, tanbark, limestone, and gold. These resources were shipped out of dog-hole ports located in the region including Anderson Landing.

The port located at the mouth of Anderson Creek was known as Saddle Rock Landing. It was named for its proximity (.4 miles) to Saddle Rock which is a prominent feature at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

The Anderson Canyon region was homestead by Aaron Harlan, located about a mile up the canyon from the mouth of the creek. "Pop" Ernest Doelter, a Monterey, CA restaurateur who created the abalone steak, owned the Saddle Rock Landing for abalone harvesting. Pop's restaurant was a favorite of George Sterling, Jack London, and Andrew Molera.