Pfeiffer Beach
Big Sur, CA
Pfeiffer Beach is genuinely famous for its purple-tinted sand, a mineral deposit that shows up most vividly after rain, along with a dramatic rock arch just offshore that the surf crashes through. It's easy to confuse with the similarly named Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park inland, but this is the actual ocean beach, reached by its own narrow access road off Highway 1.
The purple sand and rock arch are genuinely unique among California beaches, though the narrow, easy to miss access road and shared name confusion trip up a lot of first time visitors.
How we score beachesDon't confuse this with Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the inland redwood park a few miles up the highway, this beach has its own separate, easy to miss turnoff.
A day use fee applies; the exact amount is best confirmed at the entrance.
A path leads from parking to the beach.
Dogs are welcome; check posted signage for specific leash rules.
Fog is common most mornings year round, and the purple sand shows up most vividly after a recent rain.
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