Pfeiffer Beach

Magnificent and unspoiled Pfeiffer Beach has a little bit of everything: an expansive sandy beach, rugged bluffs, huge rock formations with “windows”, tide pooling in low tide, and my favorite aspect, unique purple patches of sand! Since the beach has a western aspect, the location makes for glorious sunsets, especially as a setting sun peeks through the “windows” in the dramatic rock formations. I could stay here for hours exploring the various parts of this beach and watching the waves crash into the rocks and through the arches. The purple sand is indeed purple to magenta and striking on a sunny day when contrasted with the blue ocean waters and surrounding rocks. The distinctive purple coloration is due to manganese garnet particles found in surrounding rocks, and it is most apparent toward the north end of the beach. Complete photo album here and more details below. Bring your camera!

Pfeiffer Beach is managed by the Forest Service and includes a fairly large parking area, but it often fills to capacity on warm summer afternoons in the weekend with no additional parking. The access road is virtually impossible to find unless you know where you’re going. The turnoff is inconspicuous, but it’s 1/4 mile to the north of the Big Sur Post Office and Bakery. The 2 mile one-lane road down Sycamore Canyon is windy and requires caution (15 mph speed limit), but the beach is well worth the efforts. The beach is fairly exposed along the coast so it can be windy and chilly so come prepared. This is also not a place to take a swim as there are severe currents, high and unpredictable surf, and cold Pacific Ocean water. I will definitely be returning to Pfeiffer Beach for further exploration and sunset viewing! Complete photo album here.

Jah Beach and Ship Rock

Just north of Bonny Doon is another unmarked beach known as Jah Beach. The setting of this beach is truly inspiring with towering cliffs and appropriately named Ship Rock thrusting from the sea in the narrow and rugged cove.  This beach also contains a steep descent to reach it’s sandy shores. In addition, there is a sea cave with outlet into an even smaller cove and views of a smaller rock next to Ship Rock that looks like a submarine. The aesthetic placement of the cliffs, rocks, and beach makes for some amazing photography opportunities. 

Panther Beach & Hole in the Wall

North of Santa Cruz near the outpost of Davenport is a stretch of rugged coastline with rocky cliffs, sea stacks, and unique marine terraces interspersed with golden sandy beaches.  Panther Beach and Hole in the Wall Beach are two of these stunning beaches. Both are located just south of Bonny Doon Road and accessed from the same point. The parking area is not marked along the road and very easy to pass. If you’re traveling from the south and you reach Bonny Doon Road and the parking for Bonny Doon Beach, you’ve driven too far. The parking area is actually an elongated gravel strip by the old railroad tracks that is often potholed. 

Once parked, the descent to the beach on foot can be tricky in flip flops as it’s steep and rocky in spots. The extra effort to get here is well worth the effort as Panther Beach is beautifully situated among the cliffs. At the south end of the beach is a rock formation with an arch, known as the Hole in the Wall, that leads to its namesake beach. The only way to access Hole in the Wall Beach is through this arch and one must be mindful of the tides as this entry point can become inaccessible in high tides. Hole in the Wall Beach is equally gorgeous with several sandy alcoves and a distinctive golden hue to the rock walls.  At the far south end of the beach is an impressive sea stack with a large area of rock terraces for exploration in low tides. Look for Jah Beach and Ship Rock in the next post. Here are some photos with the complete album here.

Complete album here.

Pigeon Point Sunset

Pigeon Point Light Station, built in 1871, is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States standing 115 ft tall. It is located a few miles south of Pescadero on a rocky promontory with gorgeous views of the surrounding coastline and Pacific Ocean. The lighthouse is currently undergoing restoration to preserve this important heritage site. I have driven by Pigeon Point several times on the way to various trails in the area including fantastic running in nearby Butano State Park and Big Basin State Park via Waddell Beach. After a nice run, I stopped to enjoy a marvelous sunset on the cliffs near the lighthouse. Some of my favorite photos are below with more here.

Many more photos here.