Few travelers find Pfeiffer Beach, but it is well known and loved by the locals.

The beach is unmarked from the highway, and to get there you must keep a sharp eye for Sycamore Canyon Road located just outside Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.  At the end of Sycamore Canyon Road, you will find a nice parking area, restrooms, and the beach only a quarter-mile down a beautiful path.  As of this writing, entrance was $5/car.

Be certain to bring a camera as the rock formations are stunning, and you won’t want to miss showing your friends photographs of the patches of purple sand that adorn the beach.  With manganese garnet in the hills surrounding the beach, colorful shades of violet, ruby red, pink, or even royal purple gets washed down to the beach.  The farther north you walk, the more colorful the beach becomes.

Although somewhat remote, the beach is family-friendly and well worth a visit.  Don’t forget your beach towels!

The beach is “point A” on the map below.

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