Located on the coastline of the Big Sur region, Pfeiffer Beach is a rugged beach situated within the Los Padres National Forest area. The beach has been named the 6th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach". The beach is popular for its magnificent rock formations and exquisite purple-colored sand. The sand in Pfeiffer Beach gets its purple color from the manganese garnet rock deposits which erode down to the beach from nearby hills. It has a rocky shoreline and a variety of rock formations are present near the beach. A massive rock formation known as the "Keyhole Arch" due to its natural archway is present just offshore. The Sycamore Canyon Creek meets the Pacific Ocean near Pfeiffer Beach and sometimes pools up and forms a lagoon on the beach. The water near the beach is extremely cold throughout the year.
If you’re looking for a short hike with spectacular views, the Waterfall Overlook Trail offers a stunning view of the Big Sur coastline. This short walk, located a mile south of Pfeiffer Beach, features wooden bridges and overlooks that provide breathtaking vistas of the ocean and surrounding cliffs. However, please note that parts of the trail may be closed due to maintenance or weather conditions.