Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
4.5
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
739 reviews
Excellent
462
Very good
194
Average
61
Poor
12
Terrible
10
Thomas J
Fremont, CA5 contributions
Jul 2022
Review:
I hated every state parks because they cost money, but you can walk in trails with limited time for free. Limited parking time is enough for a small hiking trip with a picnic. The tall redwoods are amazing. A big quiet river flow slowly. There's tables for picnic. Blue birds will fly very close towards you. The park is a nice protected environment in the harsh Big Sur lands, I would pick this out of all the Big Sur state parks.
Useful Plans For You If You Want To Go There:
My family started the second day of SF-LA trip. We went from Monterey to Pismo Beach. I suggest you to buy lunch in Monterey and serve in the picnic tables. Hike the river trail. Pass the water. Have your lunch at the lunch tables. Hurry, or you can't reach San Luis Obispo by sunset. There's not a single campground or hotel for you after this park.
I hated every state parks because they cost money, but you can walk in trails with limited time for free. Limited parking time is enough for a small hiking trip with a picnic. The tall redwoods are amazing. A big quiet river flow slowly. There's tables for picnic. Blue birds will fly very close towards you. The park is a nice protected environment in the harsh Big Sur lands, I would pick this out of all the Big Sur state parks.
Useful Plans For You If You Want To Go There:
My family started the second day of SF-LA trip. We went from Monterey to Pismo Beach. I suggest you to buy lunch in Monterey and serve in the picnic tables. Hike the river trail. Pass the water. Have your lunch at the lunch tables. Hurry, or you can't reach San Luis Obispo by sunset. There's not a single campground or hotel for you after this park.
Written October 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GrandTour61795333
29 contributions
Aug 2021
We enjoyed the amazing redwoods on the path by the river and then on the hike to the Pfeiffer Falls. The Pfeiffer Falls trail was steep going up, but the redwoods make it worth the effort! We continued on from the Falls to the Valley View trail and we probably would not recommend that trail. It would have been more enjoyable for us to just walk back down the Pfeiffer Falls trail. We also were pleasantly surprised that the park had a cafe (we loved the shrimp tacos and the ice cream) with wonderful seating on the back deck -- with a bar, wine and beer. It was a delightful day in Big Sur!
Written September 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikko Gandia
Monterey, CA316 contributions
Jul 2021
i hiked the valley view to pfeiffer falls trail loop after a 13 year closure and posted a video that includes a vlog, tips and suggestions for all hiking levels, so future visitors can be prepared for the journey to come. you can find a link to my youtube on my profile or you can look me up by name “nikko gandia”.
it's highly trafficked. if the lots are full, there's parking right outside the entrance. the loop is about 3 miles and 700ft of elevation gain. recommend going clockwise to see the falls last and because the decent is easier.
waterfall only hike - i recommend going on the east side of the trail, it’s about 2 miles out and back. shorter, easier and more scenic.
it's highly trafficked. if the lots are full, there's parking right outside the entrance. the loop is about 3 miles and 700ft of elevation gain. recommend going clockwise to see the falls last and because the decent is easier.
waterfall only hike - i recommend going on the east side of the trail, it’s about 2 miles out and back. shorter, easier and more scenic.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
russianwulfgar
Milwaukee, WI1,764 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
The trail straight to the falls was closed, so we had to take the longer, roundabout trail to the falls. I wish we hadn't. I'm 60 with a heart condition and no stamina. I was assured the straight-to-the-falls trail was doable for a person in my condition. But the longer trail is not meant for the faint-of-heart. So long, so steeply uphill, I had to stop and take many breaks and contemplated turning back many, many times. But I was also assured these falls were worth the trip. NO WAY JOSE! Skip, skip, skip these falls unless you love long, tiring, difficult hikes. The lodge is pretty even if the food is way overpriced, but sit in there if you can and drink or eat something you packed with you. So I'd like to give this place a 4 star rating for scenery, and a 2 star rating for overpriced food and underwhelming waterfall for the hard trip you have to make to get to it, so I'll average it out and give it 3 stars.
Written September 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharpinv
Sisters, OR7 contributions
May 2022
Amazing vistas with a color of ocean water I've never seen before. We came from the south and it's definitely a couple of hours of hard curvy slow driving so the passengers definitely get the most out of it. IF coming from the south, don't worry too much about trying to get into the little gravel turn outs for a view - the good views come later and have plenty of parking and much safer to enter/exit. For someone that had the choice and didn't want to make the entire drive, my opinion is that the top quarter is by far the prettiest and has the most "official" turn outs, etc. and if we had known that I wouldn't have stopped nearly as much on the southern three quarters. Still, glad we did it all but cherry picking the northern 20 miles gives you 90% of the experience with 25% of the hard driving.
Written May 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christin L
Downey, CA16 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
This was our first time staying in the campground. After the initial frustration of trying to reserve sites 6 months in advance with everything selling out in the first few minutes, the rest of the check in process was easy. The sites are large and easily accommodated the 3 tents we needed. There was a creek a short walk from the site which everyone enjoyed. The bathrooms are well-maintained with soap and toilet paper. The showers always have hot water. Something we didn’t prepare for was hold cold it got at night. Since it was July, we assumed a couple blankets would be sufficient. In the end, we slept in sweatpants, sweaters, socks, and an extra picnic blanket to stay warm enough. Planning to come back next year.
Written July 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
motherchristmas61
Richardson, TX897 contributions
Jan 2021 • Family
My daughter and I and her 2 small children drove from Pacific Grove to Pfeiffer Beach. Beautiful coastal drive!
There is a sign to turn for the beach, but is rather sharp and then it is a two mile drive on a one way dirt road to the beach parking. No large vehicles are allowed. If you are driving a motor home type vehicle, you can park on the main road and walk the two miles. The entry fee was 12.00. They like exact change or credit card.
They are famous for their keyhole rock formation and their purple sand. We were told at the entrance the sand is only purple during the wet winter months because the rain loosens the manganese garnet rocks from the cliffs which turn the sand its beautiful pink and purple hues.
We took our lunch and ate on the beach, enjoying the crashing waves. The kids enjoyed playing in the sand and climbing rocks. We planned it so we would be there at low tide and maybe see some tide pools, but they were having King high tides and it was barely low enough to walk the whole beach along the cliffs.
There are restrooms and trash cans at the parking lot.
Beautiful beach! We loved our day there.
There is a sign to turn for the beach, but is rather sharp and then it is a two mile drive on a one way dirt road to the beach parking. No large vehicles are allowed. If you are driving a motor home type vehicle, you can park on the main road and walk the two miles. The entry fee was 12.00. They like exact change or credit card.
They are famous for their keyhole rock formation and their purple sand. We were told at the entrance the sand is only purple during the wet winter months because the rain loosens the manganese garnet rocks from the cliffs which turn the sand its beautiful pink and purple hues.
We took our lunch and ate on the beach, enjoying the crashing waves. The kids enjoyed playing in the sand and climbing rocks. We planned it so we would be there at low tide and maybe see some tide pools, but they were having King high tides and it was barely low enough to walk the whole beach along the cliffs.
There are restrooms and trash cans at the parking lot.
Beautiful beach! We loved our day there.
Written January 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JBRetired
Apple Valley, CA489 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
This trail has been rebuilt all new stairs and wide path. A lot of steps but take your time it is worth it. First it takes you through a magical woods of huge trees. At the end is the falls I would guess 60’ and runs all year. No it’s not a wide falls but it’s a beautiful setting. So let’s go!
Written March 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura S
Santa Ana, CA71 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Stunningly beautiful but so windy sand pelted skin! There's a narrow road in but cars were courteous to pull aside for passing. There's a $12 parking fee and the lot is small. It was a beautiful sunny, sheltered spot. Then you walk a small trail to the large beach. As soon as you get to the opening you are hit by galeforce winds. As we went back to the car I had felt bad for all the families with toddlers who were joyfully taking along their sand toys. Not gonna happen! I'm not sure hiw regularly its rhat windy, but the gate attendant should let you know as you pay to enter. Or maybe it would be helpful to post the beach windspeed.
Written June 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stellan D
Bromma, Sweden560 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Interesting park with a lot of redwood trees, some very big and impressing. Several trails from short and easy to longer and therefore more tiering ones. There is a Waterfall Trail but at this time it is closed but you can reach the fall via the Pfeiffer Valley Trail. There are possibilities to stay overnight in the park.
Written November 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donald H
Houston, Texas
How late can we arrive if we have reservations for a cabin in Big Sur State Park? How do we access the cabins after hours?
Written May 18, 2023
Anyone have a rec for the best RIVER SITE that is the most secluded? Please share the site number, if you've been there. I've looked at the reservation site photos and it's hard to tell. Thanks!
Written July 8, 2020
Anyone been to the campground recently? With the ongoing drought, is there currently sufficient flow in the river to float down the river with float tubes? Thanks.
Written August 15, 2021
Is there a phone cell service or Wi-Fi at Pfeiffer Big Sur state park?
Written July 27, 2019
The person above is right? It also depends who your phone carrier is AT&T or Verizon. But it’s vey slow. It works at Pfeiffer Big Sur Lodge. We just didn’t bother to try, just enjoy the Park. Take lots of pictures, and went to other places so we could use our WiFi. Remember you are really camping and the the WiFi signals can’t reach the towers. You can also call the Rangers Station for more information.
Written July 28, 2019
Leslielovestotravel8
Redondo Beach, California
We have 3 cars (friends coming from all over CA)...looks like only 2 cars per site. Can anyone confirm if there are lots for multiple nights? All I see are day lots and en route overnight lots (one night only).
Written July 12, 2019
Call the Ranger Station up at Big Sur I’ve seen camp areas with a couple of cars. But maybe you can get to camp sites side by side. Pfeiffer Big Sur Here camping vehicles must park in the parking spur for their designated camp sites. If the vehicles will not fit at the campsite the must park in lots 3 or 4. The area where you park your extra cars are safe. And close to by your camp area. I know because if you see in the pictures I had to park my truck in Area 3.
Written July 12, 2019
Yes! You can! There’s and RV grounds there. Just make reservations 6 months ahead of time. My RV is Airstream and I seen a lot bigger then ours parked in the campground area like 28’
Written June 16, 2019
Does anyone know of any companies who will rent and also drop off trailers at this site?
Written May 7, 2019
I don’t know that you can camp of have a trailer dropped off here. Probably best to contact the park.
Written May 21, 2019
Hello!
Just wondering if there is a particular place with an easily accessed stand of redwoods?
Thanks for your help!
Written November 17, 2018
As the others have said the visitor area is a great place. We sat here and watched three deer, a mom and two young ones, just wandering slowly along the stream and into the woods. The area also attracts squirrels and birds. The trees are all around you here and the surface is fine for accessibility as are the nearby bathrooms.
Written November 18, 2018
Всем привет.Что нужно непременно посмотреть в Биг Суре? Где лучше остановиться на 2 дня?
Written September 9, 2018
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