Keyhole, Big Sur California

Located 40 miles south of Carmel on California Pacific Coast Highway, is Pfeiffer Beach is located near Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur is definitely off the beaten path, but well worth the drive. It is a bit tricky to find: At Big Sur Station on Highway 1, look for Sycamore Canyon Road, a 2 mile twisty and narrow road which winds to the beach. From the parking area, you have a short walk down to the beach. Sycamore Canyon Creek empties into the Pacific here, a rocky point protects some of the sand at the cove, large waves can happen so attempt at low tide. The beach is beautiful at sunset and do not miss the unique “purple-colored” sand at the north end of the beach that comes from the garnet rocks on the cliffs.

For a few weeks every year in mid-winter (December or January) during sunset, a ray of mystical fiery orange glowing light appears in the Keyhole arch which is absolutely breathtaking. This natural phenomenon draws many photographers and visitors from all over the world. Catching this rare light on your camera is one of the greatest prizes for photographers.

The light comes through the Keyhole Arch perfectly (or close to it) during this time of year due to the angle of the sunset, which also explains why there aren’t fixed dates for the event. As the angle of the sun gradually changes from day to day, the best days for the “Light Show” are right in the middle of the date range, as that’s when the sun is directly in the middle of the arch at sunset. The earlier and later dates in the range will see the weaker quality of light.

If you’ve never been or are unfamiliar with Big Sur, it’s an area of the Central California Coast located off of the Pacific Coast Highway and encompassing a fairly large chunk of land roughly between Carmel and San Simeon. There are no official boundaries of Big Sur, so don’t expect to see “Now Entering” and “Now Leaving” signs when you arrive.

Pfeiffer Beach is on land within Los Padres National Forest but is managed with help from the California Coastal Commission.

Places to stay in Big Sur, California