Pfeiffer Beach looks and feels magical and is one of our absolute favorite places to come every year. 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! read more

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - Parks Near Me

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One of California's bigger and more popular state parks, rightfully so. Not as touristy as Yosemite but 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. read more

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Great Stop in Big Sur -- Beautiful Trails, Swimming Spots, & Scenic Views! The drive along CA-1 to get here is reason enough to visit--absolutely stunning coastal views the entire way! Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park itself has a lot to offer. There are tons of trails to explore, though keep in mind that there isn't a whole lot of signage. The good news is that if you start from a central area, most paths naturally end up bringing you around in a loop at some point, so it's pretty easy to find your way back. A few takeaways from our visit: Water & Swimming: There are plenty of great spots along the rocks to dip in and swim, which is perfect on a warm day. Accommodations: Great setup whether you like roughing it or prefer comfort. Plenty of campsite options, plus the Lodge if you'd rather stay in a room. Pfeiffer Falls Trail: Honestly, this hike was pretty underwhelming. The falls were down to just a trickle when we went, but at least it was a decent walk to log some good steps! Overall, it's a lovely park with plenty to do. Just keep your expectations low for the waterfall if it hasn't rained recently, and enjoy the river, trees, and incredible coastal drive! read more

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Great campground with the Big Sur river running right through it. Loved the quick hike up to the waterfall through the redwoods. Lots of great shady sites and some really nice sites right on the river. Showers were nice and reasonably priced. If you are feeling lazy and don't want to cook, you can check out the restaurant/ coffee shop, also a nice little gift shop. There is also a store at the back of the campground that has ice , snacks , firewood and a small laundry facility which was super convenient !! Great woodsy campground with great amenities!! read more

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Beautiful area and such a great hike! Nice trek getting up to the waterfall! Keep in mind that there are roughly 5 sets of steep stairs to climb to get up to the top, but the views are beautiful! read more

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One of our favorite SP throughout CA - beautiful location along the Monterey coast, tucked away in the redwoods, with a beautiful and well-designed campground with plenty of sites near the river as well as away from civilization. Campsites are notoriously difficult to obtain due to popularity and bad-actors utilizing bots to book sites, but if you're lucky enough to get a reservation, spending a few days in the wilderness here is as good as it gets. Bathrooms are clean and showers are hot (coin operated). Day use parking is small, but there is plenty of room on the river for your family to post up, have something to eat/drink, and stay cool in the hot summer weather. Best recommendation. read more

What a lovely place to spend the day! The redwoods are a beautiful setting proving ample shade and a change from the gorgeous coastline just feet away. We thoroughly enjoyed our hike to the falls. Don't expect anything grand since it's anything but. The journey to them is picturesque and fun with many other adjacent hikes. We had my elderly in-laws with us, so we had to take it very slow and stop frequently. We got a bite to eat at the restaurant. Not the fastest service but the food was good. read more

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Wow, what an incredible park! My girl friends and I spent three nights camping there in spot 153 and we loved it! This park checked all the boxes for us, it had a river, hiking access and was set amongst some beautiful coastal redwoods! The bathrooms all had 2 showers and they were clean and well-maintained. You got one token for a dollar and each token got you five minutes of hot water, plenty of time to soap yourself off and get clean after a day of playing in the river or hiking one of the trails. The lodge had a restaurant and coffee bar, which was convenient for us. There was also a very nice gift store with supplies and beer and wine for purchase. I wish I didn't live so far away (6 hours) or I would be here all the time! Hope to return next summer with my family. read more

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Beautiful Saturday spent at Pfeiffer state park! Parking is $10 for the day which is valid for any state park you visit in a day which is cool if you are cruising along HWY 1 and plan to make any other stops. We scooped out the camping areas on this trip because we've been wanting to get into camping this year. They offer RV, tent, and bike in camping. They have RV and tent sites. Premium camp sites situated on the river for $60 a night and standard sites for $50. We ended up waking around all the camp sites and decided to also hike up to pfeiffer falls. Within the park they also have a restaurant and a few hotel rooms for those who like to be outdoors but sleep in something a little more comfortable. I can't wait to come back and camp along the river. read more

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Hiked mid-week the week before Easter and there wasn't too many people. There is a fee to park inside the park, however, once you pay it gives you access to the other parks in the area. I imagine this place can get very busy over the weekend and in peak season, so probably good idea to get here early. There are public restrooms and the park seems to be well maintained. Started off with the river walk hike (flat and easy) which takes you to both the Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View Trails. The Pfeiffer Falls trail is pretty easy though there are quite a lot of steps in areas which some people might have difficulty with. It's a beautiful walk though and also recommend making the effort to climb up the Valley View Trail for it's scenic views. read more

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We stayed two nights at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and while the scenery is absolutely stunning (as expected for Big Sur), the experience was seriously impacted by poor enforcement and lack of oversight from staff. Right off the bat, our check-in experience was frustrating. We had reserved and paid for an ADA campsite, only to arrive and find someone else already occupying it. Apparently, there is no system in place to verify IDs against reservations, which seems like a huge oversight--especially for ADA-designated spots. After spending time sorting that out, things settled temporarily. Our first night at the Weyland campground quickly went downhill once "quiet hours" (10pm-6am) began. Instead of quiet, the majority of the campground was loud, playing music, and talking well into the night--until nearly 4am. There was zero enforcement of quiet hours, and no visible presence from a camp host or ranger to address it. It honestly felt more like a free-for-all than a state park campground. Hoping for a better experience, we moved to the South campground for our second night. Unfortunately, things got worse. The bathroom across from Site 45 was in unacceptable condition. The ADA shower stall took three of my paid shower tokens without working, and to make matters even worse, there was literal human feces on the floor. Not just dirty--completely unsanitary and clearly not being maintained. We attempted multiple times to contact the camp host about both the bathroom situation and earlier noise issues, knocking several times with no response. It was incredibly frustrating to have no support or accountability when problems came up. It's really disappointing because this park is naturally beautiful and has so much potential. But the lack of basic management--no ID checks for reservations, no quiet hour enforcement, and poorly maintained facilities--completely takes away from the experience. It honestly feels like the park is being let down by the very people responsible for running it. Would love to return someday, but until there are major improvements in oversight and maintenance, it's hard to justify coming back. read more

Beautiful state park with redwoods and hiking trails galore, a waterfall, and a river to float and relax on. $10 admission fee, but well worth it. We camped here for two nights. They had flushing toilets, potable water, and showers available at a minimal cost and the water pressure and temperature were perfect. They also had a miniature camp store nearby (not the main one with the restaurant) that sold essential items and had operational laundry facilities. Employees also came around evening time to sell firewood. Our camp site was within walking distance of Big Sur River Gorge. No tube rentals available, but we brought our own tubes. The water was so clear and chillingly refreshing. The river path with all the drawings of nature and on conservation were cute and educational! What a beautiful and well-maintained state park. read more

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Another great Ca.state park. A short drive from Carmel down the Hwy 1. Plenty of parking. A nice variety of walking trails. Some short flat trails. We saw a lot of campers heading out on the trails for some overnight camping. Nice to see some hard to find California native flowers. FYI no cell service. Download your maps, or bring a paper map read more

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What an adventure hiking the River/Valley View Trail in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park ~ it was certainly a peaceful and rewarding experience!!! The trail winds gently (but also steeply) through redwoods and oaks, with filtered sunlight and shade for much of the trail. The bulk of the hike is a climb, with amazing views of a stunning overlook of the Big Sur River Valley... totally worth the effort. But I will emphasise that it takes effort!! The hike is a mix of forest serenity and panoramic views, plus if you decide to visit Pfeiffer Falls it's an additional hidden gem. Perfect for an adventure in the Big Sur! read more

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BEST SPOT TO SEE RED WOODS. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a sprawling, 1,000-acre sanctuary centered around the pristine Big Sur River. Often nicknamed "mini Yosemite," it trades direct beach access for dramatic inland scenery, boasting spectacular valleys, forested peaks, and dense groves of ancient coast redwoods. Ancient Redwood Groves: The park is famous for its majestic coast redwoods, with some trees measuring over 1,000 years old. Accessible walkways, like the Redwood Deck, allow visitors to stand among these towering giants. Diverse Hiking Trails: Trails cater to all skill levels, ranging from the flat and easy Nature Trail loop to the challenging, steep ascent up the Buzzards Roost Trail, which rewards hikers with panoramic views of the ocean and mountains. On-Site Lodging and Camping: Unlike many rugged coastal stops, this park features developed accommodations, including a large campground alongside the river and the historic Big Sur Lodge, which provides comfortable cabins and a restaurant. The redwoods you see growing in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (as well as nearby Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), the tallest living species of tree on Earth. The groves found throughout the park are particularly special because they mark the southernmost boundary of where the coast redwood species naturally thrives in significant numbers. Because they are located at the southern edge of their natural geographic range, the climate here is slightly drier and warmer than the dense, misty rainforests of Northern California. While they generally do not reach the record-shattering heights of their northern cousins in Humboldt or Redwood National Park, they are incredibly impressive, with many individual trees in the park towering well over 200 feet tall and thriving for upwards of 800 to 1,000 years. They rely heavily on the marine fog flowing through the Big Sur River gorge to stay hydrated during the dry summer months read more

Visited Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on 1/19 and got free admission for MLK Day. We arrived around 10 am and had no trouble finding parking, there were plenty of open spaces. The park has a gift shop, lodging, and a restaurant, which was nice to see. Every staff member we interacted with was incredibly helpful and genuinely excited about the park, which really added to the experience. There are lots of trails surrounded by beautiful redwoods, with clear signage making it easy to navigate. The trails were clean and very well maintained. Restrooms are available both at the lodge and near the parking lot, which was convenient. The Pfeiffer Falls trail could be challenging for those who hate stairs. Lots of stairs on the hike lol it's manageable and I'm out of shape, but you'll be huffin and puffin on the way up. It's only about 1/2 mile to the falls. Beautiful sights along the way. Definitely Instagram level spots. We had a good time taking photos on the cascading stairs and bridge. Can't wait to bring friends here in the future. Definitely worth the stop. read more

Absolutely stunning. A must see for any family traveling on or around this area. The redwoods were amazing read more

We did the buzzard lookout loop and what a view!! It's a little tough getting to the top but well worth the effort. You get a clear view out to the Pacific and mountains on the other side. Such a beautiful, special place. Highly recommend making this one of your stops along Hwy 1. read more

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My husband and I love to explore State and National Parks. Pfeiffer State Park is no exception! A beautiful park to enjoy nature at its best. We love the redwoods here and it's amazing how big these trees are! The waterfall didn't have much water flowing on our visit but the walk up to the falls was still worth it. My favorite was all the amazing redwoods. read more

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SPOTTED: British super star, RINA SAWAYAMA at California's BIG SUR!! I went here because I saw Rina Sawayama post photos on Instagram #Influenced Type of visit: Day time Hiked here recently (end of February) and let me say, I enjoyed the bodies of water I saw (tiny waterfall, river and watering hole). The hike was steep at parts, which I did not enjoy. The hike was not as beautiful as Point Lobos, which is nearby and which came to mind. The gift shop was cool. I regret leaving without a keychain. Advice: If you're mainly here for the watering hole, visit during the summer or during a heatwave. And don't forget sandals in your checklist, because these rocks can really poke your feet! read more

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This review is just for the gift shop and it was awesome! They had more camping gear and better-quality items than I've seen in most outdoor stores. Such a cute shop, with a great selection of thoughtful gifts and unique park souvenirs. The woman at the front register was incredibly nice and welcoming, which made the experience even better. We'd love to come back and explore the entire park next time! read more

The beach is indeed purple, very unique and beautiful. The wind is extremely strong and the sand is blowing like crazy. The tent can be blown away. You will get sand in eyes and mouth in a few minutes. The parking lot is extremely small. Most of the time the road guard will tell you the parking lot is full and you have to leave or wait. The road guard is a grumpy old man who is very mean. read more

This is a very well structured park, with a nice campground and stores. We hiked the Pfeiffer Falls Trail, and this is the review for that -- Short trail with a good elevation gain to reach the waterfall. The first 1/3 of the hike you will pass redwood trees, but you also pass by pavement and structures, as well as a metal fence which takes away from the naturey vibe a bit. That all disappears as soon as you near and reach the waterfall. We brought a snack and ate it on the rocks just down from the falls with a view of it. Bring water. Expect a good incline to get there and decline returning. read more

During our visit to Pfeiffer State Park Lodge, we ordered chicken pesto sandwiches for lunch togo. Unfortunately, when we reached our destination to enjoy the meal, we discovered that the chicken was halfway raw and this was quite disappointing and raised serious concerns about food safety. It's crucial that the kitchen ensures all chicken is thoroughly cooked to avoid any health risks. However, when we returned the sandwiches to the lodge, the staff handled the situation commendably. They promptly refunded our money and prepared another chicken pesto sandwich that was fully cooked, at no extra charge. Their prompt response and steps to correct the issue demonstrated their commitment to customer service and food safety. We will definitely be back. I thought the lodge was beautiful and the staff was a hit & miss when it came to friendliness. I thought the gal in the gift shop was fabulous, but the gentleman at the front desk taking reservations and the gentlemen taking orders at the takeout was a bit odd. Improvements need to happen for better customer service. read more

ive visited the central coast a handful of times big sur is one the most beautiful and peaceful places i really love visiting visited pfeiffer big sur state park on a friday morning.. ive never been to this state park, but i am so glad we decided to make a stop here parking: $10 (vehicle) we stayed for a few hours, you can easily spend an entire day here its dog friendly (certain trails) everyone we encountered were so friendly we walked a couple trails and i was able to take quite a few nice photos def recommend visiting read more

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This park is a must see with awe inspiring shady trails with giant redwoods! Make sure to visit their adorable general store with lots of cute stickers, Smokey the Bear merch and Big Sur t-shirts. There's also an ice cream counter with some pretty delicious choices! I went for their root beer float after hiking and was not disappointed. He filled it with rich, fluffy vanilla ice cream and poured the root beer over and gave me the bottle of extra root beer to enjoy it fully . There are restrooms near the store that are quite clean as well. read more

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Pfiefer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur, CA, March 31, 2024 Let me just say, for starters, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a great destination. I am pleased that they have been doing a little bit better job trimming the overhead trees that go over the roadways into the campsites. When we were here a few years ago, many of the trees were overgrown and the top of our RV was impacted. We made reservations a few months back for the Easter weekend to celebrate it with my son and his husband. We were in the RV, and they were in a tent. We drove in on a windy Friday morning and arrived right about noon. They weren't checking people to the campground until about 12:30, so we asked if we could go dump our tanks and get freshwater. The Ranger at the front kiosk was very gracious and said we could take care of those tasks and then come back at 12:30. That's what we did and everything worked out very well for the rest of the check-in. Friday night and much of the day Saturday, we had some pretty torrential downpours of rain with wind, lightning, and thunder. I don't know what the official rain total was, but I've heard it was over 2 inches in 24 hours. When we awoke Sunday morning, we had calm blue skies and our spirits were lifted. Unbeknownst to us, there had been a road slip out the night before. They closed off Highway one afterwards. Suddenly, we were being told we were stranded and would not be able to go back north. As you can imagine, we were concerned we might be trapped for many weeks or even possibly months until they got the road repaired. Fortunately, CalTrans determined that the road on the northbound side would be usable to accommodate an evacuation. Before we knew it, we had packed up and were on the road to be part of a 4 PM convoy out of Big Sur. Everything went smoothly and we were able to get out of the area. We originally had planned to stay until Tuesday. However, we had to cut our trip short because of the road situation and mandatory evacuation. The state park was very gracious and refunded our money for the days that our trip was cut short. We probably won't be coming back again during the rainy season when road slip-outs and landslides are more likely to close the road. read more

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - Road slide out north of Pfiefer Big Sur State Park, Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024 - Parks Near Me

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Went to Pfeiffer Big Sur SP two times this month, last time was Sat 6/17/23. Hiked Buzzard Roost about 5 miles loop, strenuous and Pfeiffer Falls the Valley View Trail. Buzzard Roost was tough, and no views at the top, all fogged in. Then we went to Valley View Trail because the easier Pfeiffer Falls trail is closed. Lots of climbing, but little bit short. Park by lot 1 larger or 2 (smaller lot). Go early cuz it fills up! Other time I got to hike River Gorge Trail, forgot to bring my sandals so didn't go into the cold water, friends liked it. Park by lot 3. Worth going! Worth a visit for hikes. read more

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Last summer, before we hit the road on a long road trip, we spent a few days camping in Big Sur. I grew up camping all up and down this coast, and over the years, I've become very familiar with it. About 45 minutes north of our camping location, we visited Pfeiffer Big Sur state park. One thing I've learned about this area is that in the last decade or so, it has become very popular... Crowded is probably a better descriptor. The early bird gets the worm, but the early hiker gets the parking spot. Which is to say, if you arrive mid morning or later, you're probably going to have a bad time at many popular locations. Pfeiffer beach, for example, with its famous waterfall onto the purple Sands below, was an absolute Disneyland like nightmare of cars and people. Park rangers did their best to try to manage it, but it was downright dangerous. We continued north a little bit from there, however, to visit the state park. Our camping tag in the window at a different state park served as our entrance fee, and we pulled inside and found parking in one of the lots near the creek. It was a warm day inland, with that usual ribbon of dense fog and mist hugging the extreme coastline, and clear blue cerulean skies just inland over the redwood forest and riparian areas. We had a great time hiking around, seeing the different sites, taking family photos, and getting in a little exercise after eating one too many s'mores. It happens when you're camping. There's lots to see here, and thankfully, there are still a few places that have not been overrun by people... Especially the ones that don't pop up at the top of the list when you Google "Big Sur." But regardless of where you visit, I hope you enjoy, keep it clean, and do your part to protect and preserve this unique California resource. read more

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This state park is incredible with views on both sides of the Hwy. The road is narrow and curvy so come prepared if you get carsick. There are lot of pullouts on Hwy 1 as you drive down to the park. Lime Kiln was my favorite hike, but that burnt in 2020 and has yet to reopen as has that section of the Hwy so you can't drive Hwy 1 the whole distance. Tan Bark Trail is an enjoyable 4.7 mile hike if you're looking for a hike that nicely blends the deep, dark, ferny, redwood forest part with the iconic rugged CA coastline. This trail is classified "hard" by AllTrails app probably due to the 2,043 foot gain. It can be steep. There are steps through part of it. It is a loop trail and generally takes people 4hrs to complete. For a smaller hike, we decided to try out Big Sur River Gorge Trail. It's 1.1 out and back. Not one I'd recommend if you like cutting out into nature. You're on a road for most of the walk. Then you're walking through the campground. At least you exit the campground to the trail, but then there's only maybe a few hundred feet left of trail. It's pretty though. read more

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - Tan bark trail - Parks Near Me

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This is our second time visiting Big Sur. Last time parts of it had been closed due to forest fires/construction, so we got the chance to check out what Big Sur has to offer. Some tips on trip planning: 1) Bring Swim Suits and Swim Gear. You can get to the Big Sur River Gorge pretty easily by parking in lots 3 or 4. Just follow the trail signs. You will hike about .5 miles, up a hill and past a campground, where you will find lots of areas to wade and/or swim. Put down your outdoor chairs or towels and get ready for some fun. For higher temperature try to get to the gorge around 1:00 pm. Nice swimholes, good rocks/streams for water tracing. Just watch out for slick rocks due to algae. 2) Picnic Areas. Lots 3 and 4 have pretty good picnic areas, if you need a place to rest and fuel up. There are some grills there as well, so you can bring charcoal and cooking items of your choice. 3) Pfeiffer Falls. You will park in lot 1 or 2, and then hike out of the State Park, past the Big Sur Lodge, and finally to the Pfeffer Falls trail (alternatively you can just park at the lot near the trail). This trail has a nice loop. Waterfall is pretty minimal in the summer. Give yourself 1.5-2 hours to complete this trail 4) Facility cleanliness. The bathrooms are well maintained, especially for such a popular state park. You might want to bring your own toilet seat covers and toilet paper, just in case. read more

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One of my favorite parks to visit! Love how the Pfieffer falls trail is now open and the river is flowing well after the couple of days of rain. Parking: $10 per vehicle for a day visit. There are restrooms close to the parking lots as well. There's a couple of trails that you can access easily if you come early to be able to park in either day use lot 1 or 2. It's a short walk to the Buzzards Roost trail and Pfieffer falls. read more

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Giving one star to hopefully attract attention of the staff managing the campground. There is no doubt that this place is magical. The nature is amazing, the river is gorgeous. There is nothing than sitting on the bank, listening to the sounds of running water and enjoy peace and quiet. That is until people show up. What is a world??!! We stayed at Wayland camp, at the very end where the trail to the gorge starts. If you are a person to is sensitive to personal boundaries, do not under any circumstances book sites 117, 115 or 109. Since the moment we arrived and set up the camp, people just dashed through our site to use the restroom. And I am not talking about walking between site boundaries. No, just walking between our tents, picnic table and fire pit, our chairs, coolers, etc. One lady walked within a foot away from my partner who was sitting by the fire. And if during the day we could at least see them coming, at night we were woken up multiple times because of people walking within inches of our tent. Just imagine a stranger dashing through your living room, or your bedroom at night. Our polite requests were blatantly disregarded. We were able to divert some of the return traffic by using the most effective tool - public humiliation, such as suggesting people would hurry up before they soil themselves, commenting on their hand washing habits or asking follow up questions on their bowel movements. This all could be easily fixed if the management would build a wall behind the restroom building in the side that faces the camp sites. People would be forced to walk around and not disturb campers peace. And just to be clear: the scenic route instead of a short cut would take maybe 30 extra seconds. The added benefit would be improving the ambience. For the most part we had a clear view of the toilet when people did not closed the door. Also, we wouldn't have a bathroom light shining into our tent all night long. Also, what's up with people blasting music at all times? At most campgrounds we have been to, you are not allowed to play music that is audible outside your campsite. And I get it, yes, some of us like a soundtrack to our lives, but some of us don't. Some of us go camping to be one with nature and not have to listen to your beats. Why are you trying to outperform a waterfall? Anyhow, we will definitely be back, but only if we can score a campsite that offers more privacy, and perhaps during less busy time. read more

I feel as if there are some confusing reviews about Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in this particular listing. Some reviews call out the waterfall (McWay Falls) at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is an entirely different park, further south. Others have posted a review of Pfeiffer Beach which has its own entrance fee and down the road on the west side of Highway 1. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is it's own entity along the Big Sur river on the east side of Highway 1. It has a lodge, restaurant, campgrounds, river and redwood trails and is home of Pfeiffer Falls. They do a great job of keeping their website updated with park and trail information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570 I love visiting this park for the peaceful woods and river walk. Some popular trails include the semi-loop up to Buzzards Roost, Valley view and a side journey to Pfeiffer falls. In the winter storms of 2023, part of the trail to the falls (including a recently built footbridge) sustained major damage so is only partially accessible, The hikes don't feature the standard sweeping Big Sur views but are lovely in their own ways. Spring brings an array of wildflowers and it's a place to enjoy the redwoods along the coast. The entrance fee will also cover the fees for Andrew Molera and Julia Pfeiffer parks but Pfeiffer Beach collects its own fee. They also accept the CA state parks day use pass. Great park for relaxing strolls, short but steep hikes and an up close look at the river. One of my favorite state parks! read more

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Camping trip got off to a rocky start, but... Pulled up to the kiosk at the entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur SP and showed the ranger/clerk our reservation made online. $50/night for a "Premium Riverfront site" (they are quite lovely with white noise from the river to fall asleep) and $35/night for standard sites. Figured that'd be fine, and we'd get the parking pass and be own our ways. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park : CAMPING -https://bit.ly/3xalZZ1 Nope. She told us that our reservation had been cancelled and we'd been refunded. Guess we hadn't paid that much attention to emails detailing this transaction so it was time to get bummed and figure out a new plan of action. Not sure how it works because the sign clearly stated that there were no sites available without reservations but we were relocated to a different site which turned out to be in an area with better spaced campgrounds. Heard neighbors rarely but never saw them. Had to pay again at the kiosk *sans reservations this time* so it was actually a few bucks cheaper. ...it ended up being just fine. Did a couple hikes. Nothing technical. Buzzard's Roost Trail and the Valley View Overlook ones. Turns out the soles of my shoes were worn flat (aka no tread) so while I slid around on the gravel a fair number of times, it was still quite do-able. Those shoes did not make it home. Took showers while camping. (...camping...showers?) Five minutes of a near hose blast of fairly hot water for a buck. No warning when it shuts off so be rinsed clean when it does. Bring own soap, shampoo and towels. Flip flops advised as well. The rustling in the bushes coming down the hill next to the campground seemed a bit unnerving at first, especially in the dark. Turned out to be deer. Morning lattes were out of the question. Pro tip: pull shots and freeze them in ice cube trays. Bam. Iced espresso shots. Campfire breakfast? Totally within reason. Sausage, bacon, eggs, pancakes...mmm. Stopped by the Carmel Valley Farmers' Market before heading to Big Sur and picked up some awesome pork chops from the folks at Stenvick Farm. (https://bit.ly/2TKykoj) Delicious. No metal food locker, so keep that in mind. Brought some wood. Ended up using wood as a heat source for cooking as well as for poops and giggles so purchased more from the store at $10/bundle. Glad they had another site readily available. Would have not been a fun early drive home otherwise. read more

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First time here. No signal for me so can't search for anything. I just walk around and figure it out. read more

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Nice place for hiking and well kept. $10 per vehicle and if you want to save on the state park fees, the $10 ticket is valid for the full day at other state park areas like Point Lobos Reserve if you want to take advantage of a few stops in one day. My crew took the Pfeiffer Falls trail, which is pretty although a short hike. Everything is well marked on the trail but I recommend always having an offline map as that comes in handy when there's no signal out in these areas. There are some steps going uphill... nothing intense but you'll get a bit of "hiking" in. There's a little cafe/restaurant and maintained restrooms in the building near the lot. Make sure that you don't miss the river trail not too far for some cool pics too! read more

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - Pfeiffer Falls - Parks Near Me

Went to Big Sur this weekend for a birthday trip. I absolutely love hiking and haven't been to Big Sur in a while so this was the perfect get away to try something new. The Big Sur area isnt too far from Monterey which is a big tourist attraction and also another great place to explore. Monterey has plenty of beaches, shops, and other favorites that your sure to love. I enjoy the cooler weather and Big Sur is the perfect in between of the 70s right about this time. Also, for those who cant decide of the are coastal lovers or those who love the pines Big Sur has both so you don't have to pick. The main attraction you might have heard about is Mcway Falls in Big Sur which is one of my favs. One this trail another waterfall that captured my attention was Pfeiffer Falls. Its about 30 mintues to reach the falls. A relatively easy hike with plenty of cool picture taking opportunities. Although it can be tricky getting started on the hike because you arent given a map; there is only one map before you hike the park and some signs you you really have to keep your eyes open for your correct turn or else you might miss it. Loved how being on these trails made me feel like I was so far away from the beach and into a whole other world. That was especially true for the next trail Buzzards Roost. This was a longer, more difficult trail for intermediate to advanced hikers. This trail has a steep incline..bc you are hiking a mountain! When youre hiking uphill it feels like it takes forever..but when you reach the top its an amzing view. As you go down watch for the steep incline. The way back down is much faster. Definitely a cool spot to check out. There is also so more river trails that the map offers as well. read more

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Stayed in the campground for a night, what a treat! Super peaceful setting in the redwoods by the river. Also went up the Valley View trail. No cell service, which I enjoyed. The bathrooms were clean although so brightly lit at night, I would steer clear of campsites too close. Overall, would stay here again! read more

The campground and bathrooms were very clean and well kept. We were close to the river and Gorge as well as many nice trails. read more

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