This beach is absolutely beautiful. I love the purple sand and how uncrowded this beach is. The keyhole rocks make for a great photo shoot or a simple photo. BUT what would have made this trip better if the workers weren't so rude. They are given a slight bit of power (by allowing people to come in to park) and abuse it. There was room for my family and I to park at the beach but they wouldn't let us in. They tried to make us give them more money than what the parking cost. But, an hour later, they let us come in. Then right before leaving the beach, one of the male workers tried to say mean slurs to my family. He spoke and looked at us as if he was wanting to start a fight. It made for a very uncomfortable setting. Will I return here again? I'm just not sure. read more

This place is REALLY hard to find, perhaps intentionally hidden with no signage from the highway. But good things come to those who hunt. So, take note... As you're driving along Hwy 1 from the north, you'll pass Big Sur Bakery on your right. From there, keep an eye out for a sign that indicates an unnamed road is coming up on your right in 500 feet. It's a very sharp turn going downhill, with a sign warning: "Narrow Road". Soon you'll see a glamorous stone wall and fancy sign for "Pfeiffer Beach". Continue on this one-lane road for 2 miles, watching carefully for other cars you'll have to pull over and dodge. You'll reach the ranger hut, pay your $5 entrance fee (there's no other choice, as you can't park on the one-lane road, or the private driveways along the way). There's two parking lots that aren't too crowded before noon. From there, the beach is within eyeshot. It's a gorgeous scene, albeit very windy. Bring a fold-up chair, towel, and sunscreen - there are some calm places to lounge, hidden from the wind. You can walk down the beach for a couple miles, but going for a swim is basically ludicrous. My boyfriend described the temperature as "like knives stabbing into your feet" cold. This is a quintessentially Big Sur experience, and requires as little or as much time as you have to spare. Make the trek! read more

Pfeiffer Beach - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

I really don't understand all the hype. During covid time we tried to visit this beach 3 times and each time we were turned away at the entrance, coming all the way from San Jose this was a huge disappointment. Fast forward until now, we got passed the entrance (yez!!) and on to the ticket booth, ($12 yikes) but we were still super excited cause we've been trying so many times. As soon as we got to the beach we saw a few spots were there were purple sand. My gf's reaction was, what's stopping them from dyeing the sand purple, spread it around, and charging people $12 for parking?? If you're in Carmel I would suggest spending time in Point Lobos instead of driving another 45 mins to an hour to get to Pfeiffer Beach. read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! I LOVE being from CALIFORNIA! On the return from Nepenthe we decided to go for a walk in Pfeiffer State Park to have a picnic. We made a stop too soon and came across parking for what we thought was the entrance to the park trails. In fact it was the start of the trail towards the beach. The park trooper said the walk was 2 miles down and there was no parking! Not so bad until you realize it will be 2 miles allllll the way up on the return. I say this because we encountered a family of 3 that were willing to hitch-hike with us on the way up. Sadly our car was full. We got lucky and were able to drive down to the limited parking lot below. Here is where you pay the standard California State Park entrance fee of $10.00. A small price to pay for spectacular surroundings. The water is cold on the southern side, a tad warmer on the northern side along the rocks. Curl after curl of thunderous waves, soft white sand (I did not see any purple sadly) and minimal visitors are what makes this beach worthy of a 2 mile trek + entry fee. read more

Pfeiffer Beach - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

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I appreciate any beach that welcomes dogs, and luckily this is one of them! And probably more so than other ones I've gone to in Southern California, this beach provides scenic terrain and interesting rock structures to behold. It is tricky to find as there is no sign off the highway indicating it's location. Just look for a yellow sign that reads "Narrow Road" that leads to a paved street, and turn there (it's about 1/4 mile after the Post Office if you're driving from the South - although the yellow sign is easier to spot if you are driving from the North). You'll then take that road another 2 miles until you hit the parking teller for the beach. It's $5 for each car, and the parking area is a little on the small side. Which in one way is good since you know that the beach can never get super crowded, but also bad because you might end up in a queue till parking opens up. It does get a bit windy on the beach. We were there on a sunny day in the afternoon, and it was starting to feel a bit chilly. Our dog loved it though, and my husband and I enjoyed exploring the area. Would definitely recommend if you're in the area with your own canine companions! read more

Pfeiffer Beach - Shorty, enjoying the beach! - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

Wow... If you know anything about me, I am all about photography, the beach and sunset...(and occasionally sunrise)...lol. Its very rare that I am genuinely impressed with a beach area. Overview: Wayyyy off the highway where you would HAVE to know where it is, great waves, beautiful secluded view, one of the most interesting geographical spots to take a sunset shot (The Keyhole) and did I mention PURPLE SAND? When you are on the Central Coast and have a few hours (and 10 bucks for parking CASH ONLY) this is a MUST SEE. Bring a couple towels, bathing suit, your camera and have one unique time. Driving down beautiful Highway 1 around Big Sur country, if you follow the directions to the address listed on Yelp, you find yourself turning off the main road onto a one lane road that you drive on for about 10-15 minutes. If you didn't know what was at the end you totally would probably turn around here and just go home. Be careful to share the road safely, pull over and let people pass you coming the other way. The speed limit is 15mph. The address listed on Yelp actually gets you to the closest address to the entrance, so when you get to that address just keep going straight for another 30 seconds and you will see the entrance. The fee to enter and park is $10 and they only take cash. Bring extra cash and do your cell phone calls way before you get there, there is NO cell phone reception and no phone lines. You park in either the main lot or the overflow, there are bathrooms but they are the hole-in-the-ground type, so don't think there's going to be anything fancy. You walk from your car down a path for about 2 minutes along a river and then the path opens up to one the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. You have to look a little for the purple sand...there are spots where it's more prevalent than others...but its definitely there, and absolutely beautiful. The waves when we were there were amazing...just amazing. One of the locals said that it was a perfect day, apparently in the summer it can be a bit windy, but when we were there it was in the 70's. Warm enough that I was in the water for over a hour. If you are lucky enough to be there around sunset, look for the Keystone rock...it won't be hard to find. A few times a year the sunset lines up perfectly in the center. Its great for sunset pictures. This was a spot that we thought was going to be a quick stop during our day...it ended up being an all day event. For all the reasons listed above. I will be back. Many times. :0) read more

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Coming south from McWay Falls, I had no reception and had to estimate when this beach was coming up since I read that it is a bit difficult to find. I pulled over to Nepenthe/gift shop store for a quick bathroom break and asked a local for directions. She said that there's a yellow sign that says "NARROW ROAD" and that's where the entrance for Pfeiffer Beach was. It is easy to miss if you're heading north since the sign faces the other direction. But since there were a lot of cars pulling in and out of that intersection, I was able to slow down and notice. There was a long line of cars waiting to enter the parking lot when I arrived around 1 PM on a Wednesday. I was about the tenth car in line but the line moves quickly. Once the lot is packed, it's one car out, one car in. So I waited about 10-15 minutes until enough cars left for my turn to enter and park. While I waited, I noticed a lot of people were hiking down to the beach but it's a pretty far walk. Going down is easy but going up would be killer (especially if you got kids with you..) I want to say it is about 1-2 miles down to the beach. The roads are super narrow and you have to pull over if there are cars going both ways. As I was driving down, I saw two guys walking trying to hitch a ride so I picked them up and drove them down to the beach with me. So if you're walking, put out the ol' thumb and maybe a nice person will offer you a ride up/down the roads. It's $10/car entrance fee once you make it down to the beach. There are TWO parking lots so don't freak out if the first one you pass by is full. I didn't know so I waited there for a good 5 minutes until I realized there's another lot closer to the beach. The beach itself is pretty secluded and not too crowded since it's limited by the parking lot. Two neat things about this beach is the purple sand and the awesome view. The sand is very discreetly purple and if you didn't know, you wouldn't notice the sand is purple. There's a huge rock formation out in the water and lots of people climb to the top of it. In the water, there are two keyhole rock formations that is a great photo op, especially if it's low tide. read more

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This seems a bit unfair to review. We left Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, weather was great. Drove here, very narrow and bumpy ride. Get to the gate, $5 per car. They had a little sign that basically said to be cautious of the wind, no refunds. We laughed. How funny. Joke was on us. Got to the beach and it was blowing over 25mph. But our stubborn asses decided to rough it out, ignoring the other cars and people leaving. Sand hitting your face and feeling like mini needles hitting the back of your knees. Your hat blowing all types of ways. From the quick pictures I snapped, this beach is beautiful. Very nice. But it was basically impossible to enjoy ourselves here on this day with the winds blowing that crazy. Forget about the sandwiches we made to eat here, unless we would like it with a side of sand. When we left, we couldn't help but feel the two folks in front collecting the money were just sitting there, thinking, "Suckers..." Morale of the story: Check the wind ratings before you go to the beach. read more

This is a really beautiful place to enjoy the sunset! Come early so you get a parking spot and a good place to sit. I'd suggest bringing a blanket or chairs to sit on so you can enjoy the view comfortably. All of the photographers gather by the large rock but it is easy to grab a quick photo without being in the way, everyone is very respectful of each other's space. The road itself is a little hard to find, it is not marked. But there is a sign as soon as you turn the corner so it is early to know you've found the right road. We encountered several cars coming the other direction but it was easy to get out of each other's way. The parking situation is a little tricky. The lot was almost full when we arrived so we parked on the street before the park and it was just a short walk in. Be mindful of the no parking signs in front of gates/driveways. read more

Pfeiffer Beach - Sunset - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

This beach has been touted as "hidden gem" with "stunning purple sand beaches" that is hard to find, as it is off an unmarked road. Certainly, that makes it all the more enticing to find this "special place." Here's a walk-up call, folks. First of all, you drive down a bumpy road that's barely passable, for two miles. So far, this keeps it intriguing, until you get to the toll Kiosk where there is a 10 dollar entry fee. This is US Forest Service property partnering with a private concession. Here, pay close attention to a sign that is said to be posted on the kiosk wall stating, "Warning high winds. No entrance refunds." We somehow missed this while fumbling in our wallets. What this meant was after a 5-minute walk down a tree lined wind tunnel with gusts of up to 30knts with stinging sand blowing horizontally, we knew it was time to leave--it would not be an enjoyable experience. When returning to the kiosk to ask for a refund or to visit on a different day, the docent declined both requests while that he had no money to refund us with, while asserting that this situation was "not my fault." When asked where such a rule was posted, he appeared to be unaware of any rules, stating "that's just how it is." When asked to speak to to a supervisor, the young man stated that he had no way to communicate with anyone from the kiosk and that we would have to "wait for one to drive by." Annoyed, we drove two miles back toward the entrance, where a second parks person confirmed there was a sign "clearly posted at the kiosk." Had either the docent confirmed such a sign, or had we seen it, it would be appropriate if the attendant at the kiosk would ADVISE GUEST THAT IT IS A HIGH WIND DAY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN DECIDE WHETHER THEY PLAN TO STAY BEFORE PAYING a non-refundable $10 ENTRANCE FEE. read more

Be prepared to travel down a long and winding road to the get to the beach. It was about 2 miles of windy unpaved road with many areas being single-lane car driving with pull offs to let other cars by. Drive safely and be courteous. Come just before sunset - the light on the rocks is beautiful. It's a great spot for snapping photos. It wasn't too crowded when we were there in February. There was a mix of people there -- young and old, families, visitors from abroad, and people relaxing alone. This is a destination for sure. Soak in the beauty of this gorgeous beach in Big Sur. The water was chilly and the waves were rough so no one was swimming. Remember to bring a beach towel or folding chairs to sit and relax. Entry was $10. There are bathrooms available near the parking lot. If you're in the area, you have to make the trek to stop here. It's breathtaking. read more

Pfeiffer Beach - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

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If there is any place along in the vast expanse of Big Sur that has the undeniable power to make you feel insignificant as a human being, it's here. This isn't a beach or a park or a deeply recessed secret cove meant for surfers and hippies and sea anemones. It's a land of giants, casting man almighty into lilliputian stature against the fantastic scale of nature's terrains. Hills become mountains, rocks become islands and shorelines become saturated deserts (and purple ones at that). Neither pictures nor words can relate the sheer immensity of Pfeiffer Beach. You simply have to go. Bring someone you love; they'll love you forever. read more

Pfeiffer Beach is literally a hidden gem in Big Sur. Hidden as in it's really hard to find since there are no signs! Just 2.5 miles south of Big Sur Village, you'll have to make a sharp turn onto an unmarked road (yellow sign that says: NARROW ROAD). The 2 miles to the beach is on narrow roads, so drive carefully. Let opposing traffic pass when necessary. Parking is $10 cash, and when the parking lot is full, the attendants will turn cars away! Cars who park on the path will get towed! The beach is everything and more - beautiful water, stunning purple sand (from the manganese garnet), and awesome rocks. When the sun is out, your photos will be postcard-like! Take your cameras out and be prepared to get your breath taken away! read more

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Gosh, this beach is so breathtaking and perfect. The best beaches are often those on unmarked roads, or that require two feet to get to. While you can drive here, you turn on a one-lane unmarked road just south of Pfeiffer SP, leaving the redwood studded state land for the cypress strewn federal land of the Los Padres. There is fairy tale-esque purple sand, hobbit worthy rock formations, expansive inspiring views, and the setting is intimate. It's possibly the most romantic beach I've ever been to, scarcely populated with people and hermit crabs. The abundance of rocks allow you to find your own private hamlet with waves crashing in-just mind the tides and starfish! read more

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It was a fun adventure getting here. Thank goodness we didn't miss the sharp right turn towards the path down to the beach. We arrived around 10am and the wait was minimal at the front gate. Parking costs $10. You can also park outside on the main street but it takes roughly 2 miles to hike down. The purple sand beach is nice and clean. My only complaint was the restrooms since it was smelly and dirty, so make sure you bring hand sanitizer and soap since it's not provided. There's usually an overcast from early morning until the afternoon so bring extra layers because it does get chilly. read more

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Who gave this place anything BUT five stars? What a gorgeous, incredible space on the earth. My favorite thing about the central coast is the uniqueness of the beaches, and how the pines and forest goes right up to the sudden beach and ocean. Dog and family friendly, incredible photo opportunities and scenic views, and purple sand! There is nothing NOT to love. read more

Pfeiffer Beach - he kept trying to drink the ocean water. *shakes head* - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

Save your time and plan early and a back up adventure! Went here on a Saturday morning at 11am. Ranger told everyone to turn around and leave. We came all the way from SF to be turned away. Kind of a bummer. Please plan accordingly. Might be better to come on a non weekend day. There is no sign on anything that the parking lot was full, UNTIL YOU TURN INTO THE NARROW ROAD. Save yourself and your effort. read more

I'm almost afraid to write a review for this beach, but I have to because I had such an incredible experience. I'm not an outdoors person per se, but being in Big Sur really made me realise how beautiful our coast is. It is really hard to find and a bit treacherous for the one lane road into the beach. Tip: Please drive v.v. slow. Like 5 mph slow. It is literally one lane and can get hairy with oncoming traffic. The parking lots were nice and the bathrooms were the cleanest port-a-potties I've ever seen. It was a bit foggy but cleared up and I thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures of the gorgeous rock formation and purple sand. We enjoyed acting silly and ran around the beach, took our jumping pictures and left happy with a smile on our face that lasted the 2.5 hour trek back home. read more

I can't even write a full review on it because words just can't explain how amazing my experience with Pfeiffer Beach was... except I need to forewarn you that this place was extremely difficult to find. We went after the information cabin was closed and really scrambled to find it. I can't even explain to you how to get there to be completely honest. I suggest you arrive early enough to get to that information desk to save you time. We drove back and forth to find this hidden gem, but it was WELL worth it! I would suggest to catch this scene during dusk or dawn. You won't regret it! (Pro tip: leave before it's too dark because there are no lights going out and the trees are superrrr creepy!) read more

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We made the mistake of turning into the state park that we thought was the entrance to Pfeiffer Beach, but the rangers were super nice and handed us a paper with instructions. I'm going to go out on a limb and say we weren't the first. Once we found the entrance, it was a windy road down to get the beach. Do NOT let this discourage you! There was parking when we got there there, but I hear this can be tricky at times even with the overflow lot. I believe it was $5 to park, but it was totally worth it. The beach itself is just BEAUTIFUL. It's so remote with gorgeous cliffs and the best part of all -- IT'S DOG FRIENDLY! We snagged a spot in front of the keyhole in the rocks and were quickly surrounded by photographers waiting for THE sunset shot. Annoying, but I can't blame them. It's the stuff calendars are made of. TIP: Bring a jacket, blanket, something warm during sunset! It got really chilly. read more

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One of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to. Tip: Come during low tide (6AM-8AM or 5PM depending on the day-- you can check online for how high the tides might be at Pfeiffer Beach) to get the best photos of the Keyhole Arch/ Rock. Also, try to come before the crowd gets here, which is around 10AM and on. When we left Pfeiffer Beach, the line to get into the parking lot was very long. Also, have $10 cash on you to pay in the front. We came here on July 4th at around 8AM. We were early, so there was plenty of parking, and plenty of photo opportunities with the Keyhole Arch/ Gateway to the Pacific/ Portal to the Sun. This beach by itself is gorgeous-- even on a foggy day. The fog rolled in during 8:00 AM when we got in, but it gave the beach an ethereal look. What I absolutely loved about this beach was that when you come in early, there was barely a crowd, and it was very peaceful. Not only that-- we took many pictures of the beach without anyone else in the photo. I also walked towards the gateway of the Keyhole Arch, but the water was freezing! Also, the tide rose significantly higher and higher during the hours of 8AM to 10AM, so that we couldn't get too close to the hole. Photographers say that the best time of year to come to take pictures of the Keyhole Arch is during Winter or Winter solstice, where you can capture the sunset inside of the keyhole. This is ideal because during the winter, the sun sets at around 5PM, which is the other time of day where the tide is low. :) read more

Pfeiffer Beach - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

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By far one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to! Its serene environment is something you just don't get at other beaches. Getting to the beach can be a little tricky because you have to drive on a narrow, rocky dirt path. Be aware of your surroundings and be courteous to other drivers coming from the opposite direction, and you'll be fine! Also...DON'T FORGET TO PAY FOR PARKING! When you drive by the window and don't see anyone inside, do not keep driving. Drop your money in the slot and grab the parking pass to put on your dashboard. A lot of people ignored parking because no one was at the window and got tickets because a worker came down to the parking lot to check for passes. So make sure to bring cash! I believe it was $10. The beach itself is gorgeous. It's clean, and you can walk on the sand without worrying about stepping on rocks, seagull feathers, seaweed or trash. Being a bit secluded, this beach is far from crowded. You'll mostly see couples sunbathing or reading books, but unlike other beaches where people's towels are nearly touching each other, everyone's spaced out because the beach stretches out relatively far. There's also a good amount to explore! I ended up climbing over rocks to get a different view of the beach, and if I had more time, I could've easily spent my entire day there. When visiting Big Sur, definitely stop by! read more

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Sea breeze, salt water, rock formations and purple sand... This place has been on my bucket list for a while and I actually got to cross it off today. Truly an amazing, secluded place. I'm literally in loss for words... The road is extremely narrow so drive carefully. $10 for parking and when the lot is full, you are to wait- "One car out, one car in." Man is it worth it. There's no cell service, so get lost on purpose. I can't wait to go back! Note: bathroom in the parking lot and the beach is dog friendly. read more

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One of my favorite places in big sur to visit to be honest, since this beach is entranced on a private road.... it was sort of hard to find via google maps. Beautiful lavender sand, big rocks sighted in the ocean, and a wonderful place to be for some peace of mind. read more

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As a native Southern Californian, I've been to my fair share of beaches and know what's good and what isn't. Pfeiffer beach is unlike any other beach that I have been to. It's dog-friendly, there are patches of purple sand, huge rock formations to climb, a small rock stacks garden (somewhere), You can drive into the beach parking lot for $10 if there is parking. Otherwise, it's around a mile and a half walk down to the beach on pavement. I recommend walking to the beach because the walk is a view within itself; there are wildflowers, horses, and views that you can only soak in by walking. My friends and I managed to hitchhike spontaneously on the back of a truck down to the trail, which was SUCH an experience! It feels like living in the countryside on a warm summer day. Whatever season you decide to come to Pfeiffer Beach is the best season. (Come during the winter to shoot the sun through the rock keyhole.) Enjoy the view and enjoy your time :) read more

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After 11am, parking may be fully taken and can't park near the beach. Unless you want to park on side of the highway and hike down two miles of compact road. $10 parking fee when there's still parking spaces. Two parking lots. The entrance to get to this place can be easily missed as it's on the other side of the highway. Basically, if going up north, make a left in Sycamore Canyon Road (has a yellow sign of Narrow Road". There's a bathroom near the second parking lot. The beach is dog-friendly. Bring jacket as it gets really windy here and of course, no phone reception. We brought our blankets and food--had a picnic here and just walked around to see what's around. Famous purple sand!!!! Crain everywhere made by many tourists, caves and rock formations. Great beach, especially if you're in Big Sur, this beach is a must-see! read more

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This place is simply - - heaven on earth. I'm uploading photos. LOOK. And on a cool Saturday afternoon, it was still Big Sur's best kept secret. It's hard to find, and allegedly not many people know about it - - but still, you'd think it'd be jampacked. People were sparse at this beach - - whether it's because people really don't know about it, or because the weather was sunny and quite crisp cold, I dunno... we shall see. Sand as soft as a baby's butt, waves crashing everywhere, photo opportunities galore, with blue skies abouding - - Pfeiffer Beach ranks up there with some of the best beach experiences I've had - - and this says a lot, as I have been to my share of beaches. This is not a place you go to in hopes of finding vendors, or expecting someome somewhere to be selling drinks, etc. It's a peaceful and serene beach where you take in the fresh air, and just relax for hours upon hours, take a nap, and kick back with a beer that you brought. Heaven on Earth, I tell you. PS - Dogs are welcomed too. Supposed to be on leash, but we had some dogs who were havin' the time of their lives in the water also. I had a blast taking photos of the people and especially the dogs. read more

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It was so beautiful I hardly know how to capture it within the confines of a review. I've waited so long to do so because I truly just don't even know how to describe it. Simply outstanding. Unexpected. Gorgeous. Fantastic. The list goes on... Heed the advice of the 65+ 5-star reviews, find this gem (it is worth the questions to really find out where it is)...go here. If you are touring the area, this is a must-see. *Parking passes bought at any State Parks are good for any, so you'll be covered here if you bought it elsewhere. read more

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I would say that Pfeiffer Beach has been one of the most amazing places I have been to in my life. The sand is not super purple, but there are spots here and there that are. It's pretty cool to see how sand turns out like that. I went with my friends during the Super Bowl and it was pretty warm out! I almost missed the turn to the road, but I thank GPS for the help. After you pass the Big Sur Station from Hwy 1, you're only about a minute or so away from the turn. You turn where it says narrow road, and it's such a bumpy and tiny 2 mile down. I dreaded it. It's $10 to get in to park and a short walk to the beach. The keyhole was phenomenal! I literally had my friends go with me and stay there for about 6 hours for parking and to see the sun go through the keyhole. We didn't stay to see the super yellow/orange silhouette through the keyhole, but I still got a light! I would go again if not for the drive. Glad to say that I've been there and it was very memorable! read more

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It is a really beautiful beach. The beach is hidden. From CA-1 head south when you see big sur station on your left, be prepared to make a sharp U into the 2nd driveway down. You drive in for 2 miles on a narrow one way road (so be advised to yield and stop for other cars). You finally hit the bottom, pay $10 in cash and enjoy the wonderful purple sand, and the keyhole view. It's amazing! read more

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Beautiful beach that feels untouched despite the many visitors. The parking lot is small and is $5-10/ vehicle depending on the season. It's a 2 mile drive after turning off from highway 1 and can be tricky to find. When heading south, it's a hairpin turn on the right side of the road (look for a stop and yellow "narrow road" signs). Be sure to bring a jacket since the winds pick up. It's a dog friendly beach, which was great since my dog loves the outdoors :) read more

Holy crap. That is all. I never use the word "breathtaking," but there's a first time for everything. A perfect soft sand beach, gorgeous rock formations, pounding waves, beautiful birds.... It was really hard to convince ourselves not to stay here the entire day. Please do yourself a favor and get here as early as you can. We arrived sometime around 10:00 and it was perfect- there weren't too many people at the beach and it almost felt like we had the place to ourselves. If you can manage to get in even earlier, there's a good chance you'd be the only one there. When we were leaving around 11, we noticed that a lot more people were making their way to the beach. Like everyone else has said, remember that this is some cold water and it will probably never be comfortable to swim in, even in the summer. If you do go in the water, please be extremely safe as I am sure there are plenty of undercurrents and riptides- watch children and pets very carefully! Come prepared with blankets/towels, sunscreen, snacks/drinks, and a good camera. And please leave the beach looking as pristine as when you arrived (meaning: don't throw your trash on the ground). Finally, read up on how to find the entrance from Highway 1, because you will definitely need to be in the know. Otherwise, you will never find the place! Five bucks to get in and well worth it. And as the friendly ranger told us: "Head north on the beach and find my favorite thing: purple sand!" Tip: here's a link that shows a good picture of the turnoff from Highway 1 http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/cabigsurmenu/p/beach_pfeiffer.htm read more

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Hidden gem for sure. The beach is beautiful and the purple sand is awesome. My husband and i got there early so we beat the crowd. The beach is hard to find so we went around a couple of times. Luckily, we found a ranger that gave us the direction and lead us to this place. FYI: the place is hard to find. Once you get to Big Sur info center its the second right. First you will pass the mailbox and a gate, then the you make the second right. There's a yellow sign that says one way narrow road, you make a right. Slow down bc you might just pass it. Once you get to the narrow road and its about 2 miles but watch out for the upcoming vehicles. The road is very narrow but there are a few turnouts. The parking is $10 and very limited. I recommend to come early esp on wkends! Pfieffer beach is very confusing but once you find it, it's worth it. The scenery on hwy 1 is beautiful and you will enjoy the view. read more

Pfeiffer Beach - Purple sand - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

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The view is simply stunning. You could spend a moment here photographing every angle and taking it all in or a day with a blanket and chairs. Beware, fee is $10 and we found it listed nowhere before our long trek down a 2 mile windy road. They take cash but actually also may be able to take check, no cards accepted. The drive isn't so bad, just turn on your lights and allow for others to pass you on the road since it's one lane for both sides of traffic. Note: When coming from the south going North on US 1 if you pass the Post Office you've gone too far, it actually only says "no RV's" on the sign with no reference of Pfeiffer Beach until after you make your turn all the way down the road. read more

Pfeiffer Beach - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

I came to Big Sur last year and with no cell service or knowledge as to where Pfeiffer Beach was, went home without experiencing it. This year, I did my research and found this hidden gem with no problems. Sycamore Canyon Road is a sharp turn off of Highway 1 and the one-lane road will lead you 2 miles down to the beach parking lot. Parking is $10 and once full, they will close the lot. I got here around 8:30am on a Saturday and it was practically empty. The beach itself is gorgeous and the purple sand is awesome. The tide was coming in but we enjoyed exploring the beach and taking pictures in front of the keyhole arch. If you're planning to check out Pfeiffer Beach, get here early to avoid the risk of parking filling up or the beach closing. However, weekdays when it might not be as crowded could be better for those looking to come at sunset. read more

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Awesome Beach Sooper Windy Parking was hell Dont go on busy days Apart from that ,, awesome place read more

Reading all the reviews on yelp I was a little hesitant on taking that 2 mile narrow road. It wasn't that bad. It's a paved road and lots of trees all around until you reached the parking lot. $10 cash only gets you in to a beautiful beach and purple sand. Big Sur is amazingly beautiful and locations like this one makes the drives soo worth it! Check it out you won't be disappointed! read more

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As you're driving along the coast, you get so use to the sight of water running along the banks of the coast that you kind of start to assume they all are the same. Well, that's until you get to Pfeiffer Beach. Definitely does take some time to get to the actual "heart" of the beach, but it does make it all worth it as you are finally there and you see the crisp clear water and the beautiful rock formations out in the water. Parking is about $10 and it's not a super rigorous hike or anything... just a few dirt paths leading right up to the beach and when you see the open area, you're there! If you can, try to come at sunset and stand right where the "keyhole" is at the biggest rock there with a hole in the middle; the sunset view will be the best one you'll see no where else. read more

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Pfeiffer Beach isn't easy to find, has a tedious winding two mile drive and a $10 parking fee in a relatively small parking lot but it's soooo worth it! The beach is beautiful with its patches of purple sand, the keyhole rock and expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. Definitely worth climbing up on one of the rocks and admiring the view. The shape of the beach makes it great to get some panoramic pictures. Noticed a few people bird watching around the area too, so might be worth carrying a pair of binoculars when you're out here. There's absolutely no shade in and around the beach so if you're going to be here for a while don't forget your sunscreen. Also, like most beaches in Northern California the water on most days is too cold to venture into. If you're okay making the walk you could park right before the winding road begins (there's usually a good amount of parking out there). read more

Pfeiffer Beach - On top of the rock - Beaches Near Me - Big Sur, California

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This is a beautiful beach; I've been here many times. AND IT IS DOG-FRIENDLY! Unfortunately, this trip I arrived too late and was turned away by traffic control because the parking lot was full. I guess it's better to be turned away at the top of the road than at the bottom after a nail-biting trip down a long, narrow, winding road. Next time, I'll be sure to arrive early in the day. And after reading some of the other reviews, I'll bring cash for parking. (Guess it's been a while since I've been here, I don't recall paying $10 to park.) Anyway, was disappointed that I missed it. read more