Trip ideas while visiting Big Sur in California
Pfeiffer Beach is a great option if you’re short on time and can’t explore state park trails. It’s located near Los Padres National Forest, about 7 miles south of Andrew Molera State Park. This beach has a secluded atmosphere with beautiful shorelines covered by tall cliffs filled with lush vegetation and impressive rock formations. One of the most famous rock formations here is Pfeiffer Keyhole Rock, which sits just a few feet into the ocean. This distinctive arch is hard to miss and attracts many photographers. During low tide, visitors can walk through the water to get a closer look at the surrounding tide pools around Pfeiffer Keyhole Rock. However, the best time to see this rock formation is at sunset when the sun shines brightly through the keyhole, offering a magnificent photo opportunity.
Pfeiffer Beach, while peaceful and hidden away, can become quite busy at times. Certain individuals who have visited the beach recently mentioned encountering long queues in order to find a parking space. Nevertheless, despite this inconvenience, travelers expressed that the experience of witnessing the extraordinary keyhole rock at the beach made it all worthwhile. Numerous visitors highly recommended bringing a jacket due to the windy conditions in the area. Additionally, they emphasized that even if you’re not particularly interested in photography, it would be wise to bring a camera or ensure your phone is charged so that you can capture the breathtaking scenery.