Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach
4.5
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13 within 3 miles
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10 within 6 miles
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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
1,389 reviews
Excellent
1,057
Very good
229
Average
58
Poor
20
Terrible
25
Backpacker
San Luis Obispo, CA977 contributions
Jan 2020
It's ridiculous that they charge $12 to park. AND they had such flooding right before the gate, that there was a jam up of cars, as some of them didn't want to try going through the flooded canal. I saw a ranger pick the front end of a car that was in the flooded area. $5 parking fee would be reasonable.
Written January 13, 2020
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.
SleeplessInMontreal0
Montreal, Canada29 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Visited on August 3 at 5:30 pm. A sign near the parking entrance said we couldn’t get our money back for the parking if the beach was too windy. A warning sign before the beach mentioned “life-threatening waves”. This beach is not for the faint of heart. If you manage to walk along this beach in a straight line, survive the sand slapping you across the face and the wind pulling you in different directions - congratulations! It has beautiful views and perhaps it’s no so bad on other days, but they could provide some idea of the weather conditions prior to accessing the beach and paying for parking.
Written August 4, 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.
Dean_Amy-2004
Gettysburg, PA8,405 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Different from the east coast beaches we are accustomed to, it is beautiful to see the rocky shore and shaded purple sand. The water was COLD but just had to dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean.
Thanks to other posts with directions we had absolutely no trouble dining it, but you definitely have to know what to look for and where to look or you will miss it- it is NOT marked.
I was a bit concerned we’d have an issue getting in based on other reviews. We went on a Wednesday and arrived before 11 am. We were the 3rd car in the furthest lot but just 30 min later it was almost full. Moral of the review, go early and you should be fine.
Thanks to other posts with directions we had absolutely no trouble dining it, but you definitely have to know what to look for and where to look or you will miss it- it is NOT marked.
I was a bit concerned we’d have an issue getting in based on other reviews. We went on a Wednesday and arrived before 11 am. We were the 3rd car in the furthest lot but just 30 min later it was almost full. Moral of the review, go early and you should be fine.
Written June 17, 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.
N4246LIlauram
Peoria, AZ13 contributions
Apr 2022
Pfeiffer Beach is quintessential Big Sur. It is iconic. It is beautiful. The sand is purple is some spots. It is usually very windy and cold so dress for that and expect that. It is unmarked, but if you travel down Highway 1, it is about 3-5 minutes drive from the Big Sur Lodge. Look for a Yellow diamond road sign..the turn is just after that, and is a sharp turn down a very narrow road. You will drive this road for two miles through a wooded area where you will see deer and other wildlife. The parking area is just past the pay booth. Parking is limited and it is always crowded. Go early or in the off-seasons. Weekends are really crowded. If you are staying at the Big Sur Lodge, you would walk to it if you don't mind a long walk. For photographers, it is best to photograph this area at sunset, that is when light shines through the keyhole/doorway and makes for magical photographs.
Written April 28, 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.
Pam
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Family
We drove 2 1/2 hours to see the beach. We were extremely disappointed to deal with the very much surly attendant. I had been reading the reviews about him and was prepared for his rudeness but this took the cake. The first thing out of his mouth was “turn around and go home”. There is no need to be as rude, dismissive and condescending as he was.
When just trying to ask questions such as “is there a better time to return” or “May we wait here” or “how many cars need to leave before we may enter” all he kept yelling was “don’t tell me how to do my job and why don’t you come stand out here for 8 hours”. Being in a tourism position, it would help him greatly if he got some customer service skills. Or better yet, if he would make an effort to do his job and use his walkie talkie to radio down to the other attendant in the parking lot to see if there were any open parking spots, which he refused to do. He fit the description of the same blonde guy people have described in previous reviews.
This seems to be a standard practice for these parking attendants since about 2015 when reading the past reviews. Consistent rudeness.
For many this beach is a long drive to arrive to. I understand there is limited space and people will be disappointed if they can’t get it. It doesn’t help to have someone that rude not even making an effort to do his job. Telling us he doesn’t bother counting cars as the neighbourhood down below cars come and go from.
I’ve been to many of the other state parks where their employees are more than happy to give out information and helpful tips.
We never got to see the beach. A 5 hour round trip (plus added traffic on the way home) to be yelled at and scoffed at for even attempting trying to visit this place.
When just trying to ask questions such as “is there a better time to return” or “May we wait here” or “how many cars need to leave before we may enter” all he kept yelling was “don’t tell me how to do my job and why don’t you come stand out here for 8 hours”. Being in a tourism position, it would help him greatly if he got some customer service skills. Or better yet, if he would make an effort to do his job and use his walkie talkie to radio down to the other attendant in the parking lot to see if there were any open parking spots, which he refused to do. He fit the description of the same blonde guy people have described in previous reviews.
This seems to be a standard practice for these parking attendants since about 2015 when reading the past reviews. Consistent rudeness.
For many this beach is a long drive to arrive to. I understand there is limited space and people will be disappointed if they can’t get it. It doesn’t help to have someone that rude not even making an effort to do his job. Telling us he doesn’t bother counting cars as the neighbourhood down below cars come and go from.
I’ve been to many of the other state parks where their employees are more than happy to give out information and helpful tips.
We never got to see the beach. A 5 hour round trip (plus added traffic on the way home) to be yelled at and scoffed at for even attempting trying to visit this place.
Written September 6, 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.
prashant_newaskar
Dallas, TX600 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
The entrance from the highway leading to the beach is without signage of the Pfeiffer beach. One could easily miss it. The two mile connecting road is quite narrow for two way transportation. One has wait for a short while to let the oncoming vehicle pass. The beach is supposed to have purple sands. What you actually see is faint shades of purple. The beach is quite outstanding. There are big rock formations standing in the water. Portions of rocks have been eroded by the constant pounding by the waves. Waves from the ocean gushing in through these holes look mesmerising. The weather was cool and nice. You can spend hours at the beach enjoying the beauty.
Written August 10, 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.
Zach Y
Anthem, AZ1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Couples
The residents of California do not want visitors here.
The gatekeepers of the State Park are aggressive, rude, and forbid entry to the park. You will waste hours of your life driving to this state park to be informed you must leave. You will not be asked, will not be welcomed; if you are lucky, the gatekeeper will tell you the residents of the road en route to the beach do not want you there.
Stay away. Do not waste your time.
The gatekeepers of the State Park are aggressive, rude, and forbid entry to the park. You will waste hours of your life driving to this state park to be informed you must leave. You will not be asked, will not be welcomed; if you are lucky, the gatekeeper will tell you the residents of the road en route to the beach do not want you there.
Stay away. Do not waste your time.
Written September 6, 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.
amaruss
Atlanta, GA21 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
If I were rating the service upon entry, I’d rate it a 0. BUT, this is a must do if driving the coast. It’s not part of the state park system so you do have to pay for entry. It’s down a narrow unmarked road off the main road. There’s a beach, beautiful rocks, and some areas with purple sand. The only negative I will say is the guy working the entrance gate when we arrived is the rudest, most miserable person we encountered during the trip. He wasn’t in the gate building when we arrived, so we pulled forward to where he was to ask if we needed to pay. He immediately accused us of trying to get in without paying, yelled at us to back the car up, and refused to talk after that. Any questions we asked, he dramatically pointed to the sign(s) with info. Biggest jerk.
Written July 16, 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.
MCaru
Aosta, Italy10 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
I don’t doubt that the beach might be nice, but it’s definitely not worth being treated the way my family and I got by the parking security in order to see it. Extremely rude, dude clearly hated his job and turned us away several times in bad manners because supposedly the parking was full (and I know for sure that it was not true). That is not the way to do business and to treat tourists. I’d rather spend hundreds dollars to rent a kayak and reach the beach by sea than pay 12 miserable dollars to support that business. Do better, be better.
Written August 31, 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.
L B
Bloomfield Hills, MI23 contributions
Aug 2021
You must get here well before noon in order to get a parking space or else you will be turned away. Very limited parking for the amount of people that want to go to this beach (during peak tourist season). Look for the large yellow "Narrow Road" sign on West side of Hwy 1. There are no signs that actually say Pfeiffer Beach before the road. It is well worth the 2 mile drive down the narrow winding road to get there. Amazing rock formations with waves crashing through carved holes in rocks, wide expansive beach with plenty of room, very picturesque. A must see in the Big Sur area!
Written August 23, 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.
Leslie C
Los Angeles, California
Are dogs allowed on this beach in the day area?
Written August 2, 2020
Yes! We saw many peppers there! You just need to be careful because on some of the rocks are sea urchins,that can possibly harm your pet's paws and yourself for that matter!
Written August 3, 2020
Can we make a reservation for parking? I have heard on many occasions people could not visit the beach for lack of parking.
Written March 7, 2019
I don't believe there is reserved parking. It seems to be your average "first come first served" here. Worth it, even if you have to wait a bit for a spot!
Written March 7, 2019
Hi, Is the drive to Pfeiffer beach open on Dec 23 (Sunday)? After turning right from CA-1 at Sycamore Canyon Rd, to reach the Pfeiffer beach there is 2.2 mile drive. Is this drive open?
Written December 23, 2018
I think you can call the parks dept and ask. I would before making that trip.
Written December 23, 2018
Which is the best time of the day to visit the key hole at this beach? Sun rise or sun set?
Written July 17, 2018
It is sunset. The ARCH, the beach,and the ocean are West of the Santa Lucia mountains.
Written July 17, 2018
Looking for suggestions around a medium-large size wedding on this beach. I've seen one or two wedding with dinner being served on the beach, but not sure how common or easy this would be.
Written July 12, 2018
can I use parking fee ($10) from Julia Peiffer Burns state park in Peiffer beach? or do I have to pay separate fee?
Written July 10, 2018
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
Written July 10, 2018
Randison13
Dallas, Texas
Can you bike to the beach from Riverside Campground and Cabins??
Written July 5, 2018
For a 100% reliable answer, please call the tourist center but I think they do allow bikes. Restriction on number of vehicles is mainly is due to parking spaces and restriction on pedestrians is due to absence of any safe sidewalk.
Written July 5, 2018
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