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Pfeiffer Beach

1,225 Reviews

#2 of 35 things to do in Big Sur

Outdoor Activities, Nature & Parks, Beaches

Sycamore Canyon Road, Big Sur, CA 93920

Review Highlights

“Wow”

Beautiful place hard to find down a winding road. On the solstice the sun sets directly behind the... read more

Reviewed 5 days ago

DavidZ267

Holly Springs, North Carolina

via mobile

“A windy visit to the beach”

Having parked up in the parking lot just off the highway and purchased our shuttle bus tickets to... read more

Reviewed 1 week ago

Phil A

Wallsend, United Kingdom

Read all 1,225 reviews

868

All photos (868)

Full view

Certificate of Excellence

Traveler Overview

4.5 1,225 reviews

Excellent77%
Very good17%
Average4%
Poor1%
Terrible1%

Travelers talk about

“purple sand”(235 reviews)

“narrow road”(82 reviews)

“rock formations”(81 reviews)

About

Local Weather

F°C°

63°

46°

Oct

59°

43°

Nov

57°

40°

Dec

Contact

Sycamore Canyon Road, Big Sur, CA 93920

Website

+1 805-434-1996

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1 - 10 of 1,048 reviews

DavidZ267

Holly Springs, North Carolina

17464

Reviewed 5 days ago via mobile

Wow

Beautiful place hard to find down a winding road. On the solstice the sun sets directly behind the cave

Thank DavidZ267

trav1960

Chicago

2716

Reviewed 1 week ago

Purple Sand!

Luckily found the beach following instructions down a long and very windy road. It was a weekday so luckily not too crowded. It was extremely windy. Bathrooms were absolutely disgusting with no where to wash your hands (luckily the ocean was nearby!). I guess it's...More

1 Thank trav1960

Phil A

Wallsend, United Kingdom

5637

Reviewed 1 week ago

A windy visit to the beach

Having parked up in the parking lot just off the highway and purchased our shuttle bus tickets to the beach we sat in the sunshine and waited, looking forward to an enjoyable day at the beach. Our little shuttle bus arrived and we clambered onboard...More

Thank Phil A

dsmithou77

Dallas, Texas

Reviewed 1 week ago

Amazing views make for amazing pictures

It's a very short hike down to the beach for some amazing views and photos. This was totally worth the $10 it costs to enter and park.

Thank dsmithou77

mapawa

cagayan de oro city

229

Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile

Key hole rock

Located of Highway 1, but there are no entrance signs, and the road to get to Pfeiffer Beach is also unmarked. One has to keep an eye for the sign to make a turn off the highway and get ready to drive through gravel and...More

1 Thank mapawa

Billy H

Allover

1010

Reviewed 1 week ago

Beach road closed

Tried to sneak down and got shouted at by construction worker. There are signs along the highway advising road is closed. Stopped at bakery for a drink and snack instead.

1 Thank Billy H

jacksonlo

New York City, New York

13251

Reviewed 2 weeks ago

Beautiful beach! Can get very windy

We made a stop at the Pfeiffer Beach and glad we did. The views of the ocean, wind and water rushing to the shore are just hard to put into words, you need to go there to experience it! The beach was quiet when we...More

Thank jacksonlo

Mrmojo58

Danville, California

16057

Reviewed 3 weeks ago

Go - you can go!

Get out of the car! Walk the beach, take a DEEP breath! Go during the week if at all possible. Enjoy the journey!

1 Thank Mrmojo58

Greg P

2223

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Sunset Magic

This beach was tricky to find but well worth the effort. Hint* Sycamore Canyon Rd. There was almost nobody there mid week during sunset in August. I recall paying around $5 to enter. Amazing waves crashing into rocks....quite windy! Totally worth it!!

1 Thank Greg P

themadhatter726

Hebron, Kentucky

6422

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Dress warm and stay for the light show

What a beautiful place. We got there just in time for sunset. Now, I'm not from around here, so I'm not sure if it's always that cold, but I was shivering and glad for seat heaters in the rental car when I got back to...More

2 Thank themadhatter726

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Nearby

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Questions & Answers

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See all 30 questions

Fraudu

Which is the best time of the day to visit the key hole at this beach? Sun rise or sun set?

July 16, 2018|

Answer

It is sunset. The ARCH, the beach,and the ocean are West of the Santa Lucia mountains.

colleen643

can I use parking fee ($10) from Julia Peiffer Burns state park in Peiffer beach? or do I have to pay separate fee?

July 9, 2018|

AnswerShow all 8 answers

Pfeiffer state park is a state park, you pay once and can use all state parks. Pfeiffer Beach is private, you have to pay separately and no in/out privileges

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