Pfeiffer Beach looks and feels magical and is one of our absolute favorite places to come every…read moreyear. It's where the forest meets the sea and the views are breathtaking Between the huge rock formations, purple sand, and the famous keyhole where you can see the ocean through the rock, it's such a beautiful place. There are also tide pools to explore and we've seen tons of starfish, sea urchins, and other little sea creatures. The everyone loves it :) The beach feels so different from your normal California beach it doesn't feel real.. it's so beautiful. It's definitely one of those places pictures don't do justice AT ALL !! If you're passing through Big Sur this is a MUST stop.. Trust me, you won't regret it Just be prepared for the drive down to the beach. The road is VERY narrow, almost one lane in some areas, and you'll have to move to the side to let other cars pass. There are some tight turns too, so just go slow and pay attention, especially with cars coming the opposite direction. It's a little adventure getting down there but completely worth it!

One of California's bigger and more popular state parks, rightfully so. Not as touristy as Yosemite…read morebut this is on a bigger scale than most other Cali State Parks. I ventured here once before in my early 20s back in my school boy days and felt it was time to see it again with decades worth of a wiser perspective. And I was rewarded in spades. This park is about 30 miles or so south of Carmel on Highway 1, which in my opinion is one of the most glorious stretch of road to drive. Even though it is only 30 miles or so, it still takes almost an hour to travel from Carmel. The road winds around through many curves and undulations so you simply cannot drive freeway speeds here, nor should you want to. Enjoy the views, roll down the window and take in that coastal air, play your favorite tunes and just soak in the moment. Once at the park there are campsites, as well as cabins and even a full service lodge for those that don't want to rough it at all. You are now in mountainous terrain so lots of trees, a big creek and lots of hiking trails. I did a 3 day camp stay and loved it. They keep the park clean, maintain the restrooms and patrol the grounds frequently. Even though they have almost 200 campsites available, they spread it out nice so not everyone is in the same area. I could sometimes hear my neighbors but they were never in my direct view. That is a big plus for me when rating camp sites. People can also just get a day pass and enjoy the trails and creek without having to stay. My camping pass also got me to see a couple other California State Parks nearby on the same trip, so well worth the price of admission. Very lively with animal life which are unfortunately very used to humans. Squirrels and blue jays will not be shy to investigate what they can scavenge so do not leave any food unattended. Upon setting up camp I had a ziplock bag of trail mix on the picnic bench along with the rest of my gear. While I was setting up the tent with me somewhat close by, a stellar jay swooped in and pecked at the bag. It didn't take it but ripped a good hole in the bag. So just a big fyi to keep your food on guard/lock. The big creek runs through many of the sites. Some parts are mellow whilst other parts the water rushes pretty good. I was about 50 yards from the creek so I couldn't see it but I could hear it rolling through the valley. It was very relaxing to hear the cool water rolling downstream, whether at night or waking up at sunrise. And a myriad of birds will contribute with their morning songs, which makes for the best alarm clock. TRUST A little too big for my preference but still beautiful enough that I can revisit every other year. And just outside the park are the California coastline with Highway 1 carving through it. Some of the most breathtaking views Cali has to offer. Pfeiffer thanks for the reacquaintance and the confirmation that you are still indeed one of California's top gems.

Beautiful site with all kinds of historic buildings. We saw it as we were driving down hwy 1 and…read moredecided to check it out. Unfortunately you can only really explore the area on a guided tour which we did not take. It's next to a gorgeous stretch of beach with some wonderful views!

The extremely large woman is absolutely rude. My family and I believe there's more to this place…read morethan they say (oh yes conspiracy theorists) it says "state park" but you're not to be "alone" away from your tour guide. The part of the tour everyone goes for is OFF LIMITS (nothing to see behind the 3rd locked gates with brand new underground electrical and new huge electrical box. That area is used for "weather current studies" yuh ok. A couple guides were more careful with their words than others. This tour would be great for people that question nothing and eat what's spoon fed to them. The lighthouse and land is attached, but they charge for both separately. Use your money to go to Pfiefer or even just grab food in Big Sur.

feels like ur in heaven.. spectacular view.. lucky to experienced the sea of clouds... God creation…read moreis so wonderful.. this is during fall season.

Iconic Views and a Must-See Stop on Highway 1! The ride…read morealong the coast to get here is absolutely amazing, and seeing Bixby Bridge in person is totally worth the drive. The bridge itself is gorgeous, and there's a convenient pull-off area right near it where you can safely park and snap some incredible photos. A few helpful tips before you head out: Cell Service: Be prepared to lose all cellular service out here! The good news is you really can't get lost--just keep going straight down CA-1.  Traffic & Timing: It was pretty congested when we visited on a Saturday. I definitely recommend going on a weekday if your schedule allows, as it's much easier to find a spot to pull over and enjoy the view. Road Conditions: Keep in mind that a section of Highway 1 shrinks down to a single lane controlled by a traffic light. Traffic backs up quite a bit, so just be prepared for a lot of stop-and-go driving until you clear that light.  Even with a little traffic delay, it's an absolute staple of the California coast and a stunning stop!

This was our first visit to the playground. I saw the size and diversity of structures here and…read moreknew we had to visit. Since we were going to be in the area, it was added to our agenda for the day. From the parking lot, you see a baseball field, life size train behind black gates and restrooms. The parking lot was adequate in size and held about 20-25 cars. We were fortunate to obtain the last open parking space while others circled and departed. At the entrance of Dennis the Menace, there are the restrooms, a case for free books to leave or take, a stand on the background of the playground, an oversized lion who's mouth serves as a water fountain (so cool!) and a Dennis the menace comic strip page. Directly behind the train, to your right as you enter, is an oversized figure of Dennis the Menace enclosed in the gate. There are 2-3 stands sharing the history and significance of the trains presence. There are large rocks to climb with two tunnels to walk through, a rock climbing wall, a cross bridge connecting two large rocks, swings, slides, a maze made from gates leading to a smaller play structure, a tube based slide, an oversized sunshine staircase, a boat, and so much more. This space is incredible to experience as an adult, our daughter ran around for hours allowing us to share in her fun running along side her. There were few spots offering refuge from the sun and seating was minimal. There are a few benches, but mostly the stone structure surrounding the play area was used. The gnats...they were everywhere in swarms making it difficult to navigate and fully enjoy. We were constantly swatting at the tiny buggers, our daughter was existing free as a bird making her way around the park - doubt she noticed. There were a few spots on the park we were able to find relief, very few. It would be great if the park implemented some bug deterrent to lessen the presence of the gnats. Other than that, it was an incredible experience we all enjoyed. We were there for a few hours and only departed because she needed to eat dinner. 4.5 due to the presence of the gnats. In their absence a solid 10.

Dennis the Menace Playground, Monterey…read more August 2026 I've been here a few times with my family. This is an awesome park and it's pretty big! This park is great for all ages even for adults too! I highly recommend going on the weekends, although there are a lot of people, I think they close during the weekday since there's a preschool nearby. Right next to this playground entrance, there's a baseball field and there's a small snack bar, it's called El Estero Snack Bar, they sell hamburgers, fries and drinks. We ordered the nacho cheese fries with jalapeno peppers on the side. It came out piping hot! Although it seems so basic, it was really good on a cold day! Highly recommend this playground and would come back if I'm in the area. This place is awesome!

Pfeiffer Beach looks and feels magical and is one of our absolute favorite places to come every…read moreyear. It's where the forest meets the sea and the views are breathtaking Between the huge rock formations, purple sand, and the famous keyhole where you can see the ocean through the rock, it's such a beautiful place. There are also tide pools to explore and we've seen tons of starfish, sea urchins, and other little sea creatures. The everyone loves it :) The beach feels so different from your normal California beach it doesn't feel real.. it's so beautiful. It's definitely one of those places pictures don't do justice AT ALL !! If you're passing through Big Sur this is a MUST stop.. Trust me, you won't regret it Just be prepared for the drive down to the beach. The road is VERY narrow, almost one lane in some areas, and you'll have to move to the side to let other cars pass. There are some tight turns too, so just go slow and pay attention, especially with cars coming the opposite direction. It's a little adventure getting down there but completely worth it! Note: restrooms are not the best .. take wipes/toilet paper, sanitizer

The most famous beach with purple sand, Pfeiffer Beach is located in BIg Sur, requiring a 2 mile…read moredrive down a one-lane road to reach. It also costs $15 to park here. Our family thought it was worth it. Pfeiffer Beach was our eighth and longest stop during our southbound journey on the Cabrillo highway through Big Sur. Access is through Sycamore Canyon Road (one lane) which is extremely easy to miss from the highway. It is a one lane road but has many areas where one can turn off to let oncoming cars pass, though I can imagine when it gets busy how much more difficult it would become. We had left Carmel early in the morning, so it was about 07:48 when we reached the bottom. As we drove down, my wife noticed a lone, empty chair about halfway down. Later we realized that that is where a ranger would sit to tell cars to go back up, once the limited parking lot near the beach got full. The car entrance had yet to be manned, so we paid per vehicle fee via cash in an envelope deposited in a fee drop box. The tear off stub is then displayed on your dash. Later when we were leaving, there were employees manning the area, accepting payment, with credit cards being accepted. The parking is administered by a private company so our America the Beautiful National Park pass did not work here. We were the 2nd car in the lot. There are angled handicap spots, motorcycle parking, and bathrooms (outhouse style) in the parking area. There is definitely more beach space than there are parking spots, so if you are able to get to the beach, one can easily find a secluded spot. Though as the no refund sign warned, there is high winds and blowing sand on the beach so not the best place for a warm, sunny beach day. There are streaks of purple sand along the beach (learned that the purple is caused by garnet powder that washes down from surrounding areas). It made the white sand look like it had dirt spots. I did have time to walk to both ends of the beach, and discovered that at the north end, there are pockets of sand further away from the ocean where the garnet sand is a lot more prevalent. The beach is named after the pioneer, Michael Pfeiffer. Many other places in the area (Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park) are named after his descendants. The beach is for day use only, and is open from sunrise to sunset. What's interesting about this is how many reviews are on Yelp for this beach, even though there was no cell service when we went. It clearly shows a lot of Yelpers are coming to this beach, and taking the effort to write about it once they get back to an area that has internet. But there are no reviews for any of the vista points in the surrounding areas. Maybe they aren't being approved by Yelp to be searchable?

Mcway falls is beautiful something out of a story or a movie. So beautiful…read more Key things to note if you want to go - See if the trail is open. ( it wasn't but they instructed how to view the falls from the roadway) still beautiful. We did not have ANY RECEPTION after point lobos park traveling south on pch to Bixby bridge to the Julia phifer burns park which is where the mcway falls are. Roughly an hour drive depending on variables on the road. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS MORE ROUGHLY OVER 150 miles if you are going from Carmel. We had to get a couple gallons of gas in Big Sur and it was not cheap, almost double a regular gas price. All in all good trip!

Came here to use the bathrooms and go to Mcway Falls. First off bathrooms here are CLEAN. All the…read morestate parks in Big Sur seem to have very clean bathrooms. They didn't have an attendant on duty do we dropped a $10 bill for the park pass. Nice views, short walk.

From Bixby Bridge (a few miles north) to this point and then further down to Big Sur is, in my…read moreopinion, the most beautiful stretch of Hwy 1 on the California coast! The scenery is pristine. On a clear day the blue will take your breath away! We didn't spot any sea otters, however. It was a chilly day. Driving can be a bit challenging as the road curves and turns. Look out for the many vista areas along the way- each one is magnificent in its own way. From here on down to San Simeon is an unforgettable journey! Do make sure you have enough fuel in your car as gas stations are few and far in between on the coast. We had to stop somewhere and gas was $10 a gallon !

Beautiful Northern Big Sur Beach. What a warm windy summer's day in the fall :) Climb the…read moremountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn. John Muir

Amazing scenic hike with stunning coastal ocean views. The trail offers a beautiful walk along the…read moreocean, with an awesome panoramic view from the top of the mountain. The hike is enjoyable and manageable, even on the way to the summit. Whenever I'm passing through Carmel on Highway 1, I love stopping here for a hike.

Great kids park w toys and grassy areas great to bring food and eat on the tables while the kids…read moreplay, really wish they had public restrooms.

Beautiful park here with established trees, big expanse if lawn, and nice looking play structures…read morefor kids. If I had a little more time, I'd let the doggies walk or run here.

Scenery is absolutely breathtaking right now. The river is full, and everything in and around the…read moreriver is lush with greenery. The water is flowing alittle bit too fast for swimming. I saw a couple fishermen though.

Had our car/trailer fixed (Rossi Bros Auto was great) and spent the rest of the day and that night…read moreat the San Lorenzo park/campground. Very peaceful clean bathrooms full hookups and senior pricing! Right near the 101 but heard hardly any noise! Happy Trails!