Pfeiffer Beach

Pfeiffer Beach is located in the Big Sur region of California. It is one of the most popular beaches on the Central Coast[1] and is well known for Keyhole Rock, a popular photography subject. On a limited number of days in December and January each year, photographers crowd the beach to obtain pictures of the setting sun visible through the arch. Due to the steep terrain prevalent along the Big Sur coast, it is one of the few ocean access points within Big Sur[1][2]

Pfeiffer Beach
Franciscan Complex,
Pfeiffer Beach is located in California
Pfeiffer Beach
Location in California
Coordinates: 36°14′19″N 121°49′03″W
LocationBig Sur, Monterey County, California
AgeCretaceous
Elevation0 m
Topo mapUSGS Pfeiffer Point

Limited access
Pfeiffer Beach panorama
Pfeiffer Beach panorama

The entrance to Sycamore Canyon Road, a single-lane, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) long access road, can be difficult to find. The road and the beach are within the Los Padres National Forest. The road is named for the Western Sycamores that grow along the road and near the beach.[3] Because it is so narrow, pedestrians and recreational vehicles are not permitted on the road. The Forest Service has a superior easement on the road. There are only five spots along the road where two vehicles can pass each other. Visitor traffic along the road is seven to ten times that of local traffic.[4]

The parking lot accommodates 65 vehicles and is usually full on summer and holiday weekends. When available, parking is $15 per vehicle.[4][5] During the summer, a shuttle may operate from the US Forest Service headquarters at Big Sur Station to the beach. It is a short walk from the parking lot to the beach.[6]

The beach is open 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. No camping or fires are permitted. There are four picnic tables available. Swimming can be hazardous due to the cold water, rocks, and strong currents.[5][7] The weather from June to August can be foggy and cold, known locally as "June Gloom".[8]

Attractions
Keyhole arch in offshore rock at sunset.

The 1 mile (1.6 km) long beach is known for purple patches of sand that are occasionally visible, especially after rain. The purple color is caused by Manganese garnet that is eroded down from nearby hillsides. Since Pfeiffer Beach is on Federal land, nudity is legal and state nudity laws and state park nudity regulations don't apply. The north end of the beach is sometimes clothing optional.[9]

Eytomology

The Pfeiffer family built the first home in Sycamore Canyon near the coast in the winter of 1869. Micheal and Barbara Laquet Pfeiffer were on their way to the south coast of Big Sur when they were forced to stop for the season in Sycamore Canyon. They liked the area so much they decided against moving south again the following spring. Their eight children married and lived in the area for several generations. The family established the Pfeiffer Ranch Resort at their home in 1910.[10][11] An Esslen midden site is near their home.[3]

Their son John and his wife Zulema Florence Swetnam built a cabin near the north bank of the Big Sur River in 1884.[12] John donated the initial 700 acres (280 ha) of land that became Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to the state of California.[13] Pfeiffer Beach is also named for the Pfeiffer family.

References
  1. "Pfeiffer Beach". Outdoor Project. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. "Pfeiffer Beach Keyhole Rock - a look at the varying moods found here". Discover Central California. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  3. Henson, Paul; Usner, Donald J. (Dec 10, 1996). The natural history of Big Sur. University of California Press. pp. 337–339. ISBN 978-0520205109.
  4. "Sycamore Canyon Shuttle". Community Association of Big Sur. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. "Pfeiffer Beach Day Use". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  6. Strong, Kathy (December 15, 2015). "Wild curves, waves — and food in Big Sur". Desert Sun. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017.
  7. "Pfeiffer Beach - Beautiful, secluded and purple sand on the Big Sur Coast". Discover Central California. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  8. "June Gloom: What California Beaches Are Really Like in the Summer". TripSavvy. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  9. "Check Out Our Complete Guide to Big Sur's Pfeiffer Beach". TripSavvy. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. "Hiking in Big Sur - Oak Grove Trail Loop". HikingInBigSur.com. Archived from the original on 2019-11-24.
  11. Heid, Analise Elliot (2013). Hiking & backpacking Big Sur: a complete guide to the trails of Big Sur, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness (Second ed.). Wilderness Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0899977270.
  12. "History | About Us | Big Sur Lodge | Big Sur Lodge". www.bigsurlodge.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  13. "Micheal Pfeiffer of Monterey County | 2 Land Patents". The Land Patents. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
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