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Pfeiffer Big State Beach

Highway 1, Big Sur, CA
831-667-2315
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Ranked #1 of 14 attractions in Big Sur
Type: Beaches
128 visitor photos
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228 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    187
    35
    3
    1
    2
Date Rating
MD
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
20 helpful votes 20 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 15, 2013 NEW

the road to it is NOT marked. Please see other review for direction. It was definitely worth the $5. I put it on my list to see it because of the reviews, so I was expecting a beautiful beach, but it still exceeded my high expectation. It is much more than just a beautiful beach. There are dramatic rock formations,... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 7 more reviews by DigTravelMd for Big Sur
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
19 attraction reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 13, 2013 NEW

Wow. I read all the reviews before choosing carefully our Hwy 1 stops and do not regret stopping here! I have some tips for you.... If you are coming from the south like we were, shortly past the post office, you will see a large driveway or road that goes way up high. RIGHT BEFORE that high road is the... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 3
attleboro, ma
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 11, 2013

Definitely worth the ride down the narrow 2 mile drive to Pfeiffer Big State Beach. We had unseasonably warm weather and the temp was around 80. Very unusual for this area. Spent a few hours on the beach walking and exploring. My husband found a piece of Jade, very excited. Views are beautiful and lots of photo ops.

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Brighton
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 10, 2013

Oh it can be hard to find, that's true of most things in Big Sur, worth the effort though wild and rugged with photo opportunities everywhere you look. Flights of Pelican heading south at sunset, the setting sun framed by rock. The sand in colours you've never seen before. Big Sur feels like home and this is home's beach.

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1 review
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 10, 2013

It is the most profound feeling to see how very small you are in the grand scheme of things, while on the edges of the largest body of water on earth.

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Durham, NC
Contributor
16 reviews 16 reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 9, 2013

This is a dramatically beautiful beach, as the pictures show. I have been there several times over the past 15 years when I am in that part of California. One thing to remember about the central California coast: the calmest time of the day is in the morning. By midday there is usually wind on the beaches, sometimes, as others... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 3
See 2 more reviews by spidersilk for Big Sur
Bowling Green, Ohio
1 review
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 9, 2013

No matter what you call it, this is one of the great beaches in the world, if only for the beauty. The surf is a little rough for swimming, and the water temperature is frigid anyway. But the scenery is spectacular. For once, my granddaughter's favorite word, "awesome," truly applies.

Was this review helpful? Yes 5
la
Senior Contributor
28 reviews 28 reviews
6 attraction reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 9, 2013

I took my daughter, 3 friends and my son camping in Big Sur (see separate very positive review of Ventana Campground) As part of our daily missions to explore the area, we spent a day on this magnificent beach. The weather was perfect, 75F, quiet waves in a protected cove. Snooze, play in the waves, my son and I tried... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 5
London, Canada
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
25 helpful votes 25 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

Beautiful beach and a great place for photography. The road is narrow and so you need to pay attention to oncoming traffic and may need to pull over. The turn off is hard to find.

Was this review helpful? Yes 6
See 3 more reviews by 30Lovetoeatout30 for Big Sur
Louisville
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
6 attraction reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

Every mile along the CA highway 1 that parallels the Big Sur coastline is stunning. Pfeiffer beach is especially pretty and wild looking. It can be very windy and the water can be rough, but it is gorgeous to view. The park associated with it is lovely too with creeks to wade in and great picnic sites. Big Sur Lodge... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 8
See 2 more reviews by LouisvilleLin for Big Sur

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