Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur
DETAILS:
Location: 9101 Sycamore Canyon Road, Big Sur, CA 93920
Pfeiffer Beach lies at the end of Sycamore Canyon Road on the westside of Highway 1. The turnoff onto Sycamore Canyon Road sits between the Big Sur Ranger Station and post office. Please be aware that this turnoff can be easy to miss since Sycamore Canyon Road is UNMARKED.
Hours of Operation: Sunrise to sunset.
Parking: Limited parking available on site. Cost covered with day-use fee.
Cost:
$12 day-use fee, per car. $30 day-use fee, per van. $50 day-use fee, per bus. Cost covers parking. Cash preferred, but credit cards accepted when kiosk is open. An additional 3.5% fee is added for credit card use.
Parks Management Annual Pass ($50.00) also accepted for entry.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours.
Miscellaneous:
Please note that multiple locations in the area have “Pfeiffer” in their name. So make sure you’re headed to the right location!
Weather conditions can restrict access to the area. Please check the websites provided below (under “resources”) before visiting to see access availability.
Access/parking is limited. On any given day, you may be instructed by staff to wait for vehicles to exit before being allowed in or turned away completely and asked to return at a later time during peak congestion.
The drive down Sycamore Canyon Road is approximately 2 miles from the turnoff on Highway 1 to the parking area. The walk to the beach from the parking area will only take several minutes.
Walk-in access from Highway 1 is not allowed.
If the kiosk is unmanned when you arrive, you will still need to pay the day-use fee via the self-registration envelopes provided.
Dogs are allowed on all United States Forest Service (USFS) property which includes Pfeiffer Beach.
With 840 miles of coastline (3rd longest in the United States), California contains a literal treasure-trove of beaches that come in every shape, size, and terrain imaginable. Whether it’s the sand-filled stretches of La Jolla, “Surf City USA” in Huntington Beach, the nostalgic shores of Coronado Island, the urban synergy of Santa Monica, or the cliffside grandeur of Laguna Beach, it’s safe to say that California possesses whatever oceanfront view your heart desires. It’s an embarrassment of riches for sure and we haven’t even mentioned Big Sur yet which is arguably the state’s most fabled length of coastal property. The various sights of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1 will absolutely take your breath away as you drive through the region, and while it would be almost impossible to name just one stop that would encapsulate the area, a visit to Pfeiffer Beach would be a great place to start.
We should get some business out of the way before I convey the magnificence that is Pfeiffer Beach. First of all, you should know that Julia Pfeiffer Burns was a prominent frontierswoman in Big Sur history and multiple locations in the area are named in her honor. So please make sure not to confuse Pfeiffer Beach with Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park or Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. To complicate matters even further, Sycamore Canyon Road (the access road to Pfeiffer Beach) is unmarked off Highway 1 which makes it super easy to miss. And since parking is purposely limited in a noble effort to control foot traffic, you may be instructed by staff to wait or turned away completely when you do find Sycamore Canyon Road. But I promise that Pfeiffer Beach will be worth all the trouble.
Any discussion about Pfeiffer Beach must begin with its signature landmark; Keyhole Rock! Of all the craggy rock formations and sea stacks that populate the coast like ancient leviathans frozen in time, it’s hard to say that any of them are more well-known than Keyhole Rock, so named because of the door-like tunnel that sits center mass. Something primordial awakens in your soul as you watch the waves crash out of this opening and it almost feels like a fairytale when you witness the golden rays of a sunset glimmer through. Even if you’re not familiar by name, no doubt you’ve seen its visage in countless pictures across the internet since it’s one of the most photographed natural structures in the state this side of Yosemite.
As you begin to walk north, you’ll start to notice the second most distinctive feature of Pfeiffer Beach; the purple sand! Don’t worry, this isn’t some sort of toxic runoff that’ll have you growing an extra toe, this violet hue is due to the Manganese Garnet that washes down from the cliffs and hills above and you’ll encounter various swaths of it as you continue your trek. Eventually, you’ll encounter a small cairn garden left by previous visitors and you’re welcome to add to that collection if you feel so inclined. And should you tire of the view (to quote the Princess Bride, “Inconceivable!”), there’s more than enough rock formations and tide pools to explore that will keep you content throughout your stay!
