Pfeiffer Beach
Purple-tinged sand and the Keyhole Arch at the end of narrow Sycamore Canyon Road.
Know before you go
- Parking
65-car lot, often full. Single-lane 2.2 mile road that may close after rain.
Verified · USDA Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest · checked Oct 3, 2026
- Fees
$15 day use (Pfeiffer Beach annual pass $50).
Verified · USDA Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest · checked Oct 3, 2026
- Paying
Unknown – check locally
- Getting down
Path to the beach. W. of Hwy. One, end of Sycamore Canyon Rd., Big Sur.
Coastal Commission listing · California Coastal Commission
- Tide & surf
Unknown – check locally
- Hours
9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Verified · USDA Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest · checked Oct 3, 2026
- Dogs
Leashed dogs allowed (6 ft leash).
Verified · USDA Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest · checked Oct 3, 2026
- Restrooms
Yes
Coastal Commission listing · California Coastal Commission
- Showers
No
Coastal Commission listing · California Coastal Commission
- Accessibility
Disabled access listed.
Coastal Commission listing · California Coastal Commission
- Lifeguards
No lifeguard service listed.
Coastal Commission listing · California Coastal Commission
- Rules
No camping or fires. No walking or biking on Sycamore Canyon Road (motor vehicles only) through Jan 29, 2027.
Verified · USDA Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest · checked Oct 3, 2026
Information only, not safety advice. Conditions change. Always follow lifeguards and posted signs.
Tides & daylight · next 3 days
Information only, not safety advice. Conditions change, so always follow lifeguards and posted signs. Data: official city, county, State Parks and National Park Service pages, the California Coastal Commission, NOAA and the National Weather Service · Facts checked Oct 3, 2026 · Map © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.