Big Sur beaches are not the wide, golden sand beaches of Southern California. Surrounded by rugged cliffs, difficult to access, often draped in fog, and much cooler than expected, they are still breathtakingly beautiful and worth the effort. The most beautiful is crescent-shaped Pfeiffer Beach, surrounded by purple cliffs that wash down to the beach spilling unique purple sand.

The most scenic part of the beach is a huge rock with a portal through which waves permanently crash with all the might of the ocean. This is not a swimming beach, the surf is too dangerous for swimming, but the purple sand, consisting of manganese garnet washed down from the rocks above, is perfect for strolling. Overnight camping is not allowed and the beach can only be used during the day.

You can reach the beach from Hwy 1, about quarter of mile from the Big Sur Ranger Station.

Address: Sycamore Canyon Road, Right off Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920

Big Sur Yosemite National Park Santa Cruz San Jose Oakland Mendocino National Forest Redwood National Park Sonoma, Northern California Modoc National Forest Calaveras County Point Lobos State Reserve Muir Woods National Monument Marin Headlands, Northern California Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Yosemite Falls Pfeiffer Beach Lava Beds National Monument Napa Valley Humboldt Redwoods State Park Mendocino, Northern California Sacramento San Francisco Six Rivers National Forest Klamath National Forest

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