Pfeiffer Beach
Beach · Big Sur, California
The Big Sur beach with purple sand — manganese garnet washing down from the hillside stains it in streaks after rain. Its offshore rock carries a keyhole arch, and for a few weeks around the winter solstice the setting sun lines up to fire straight through it, which draws photographers from across the country to a beach most people cannot find.
Sycamore Canyon Road, off Highway 1, Big Sur, California, 93920, United States
Daily, roughly 9 AM - 8 PM in summer, shorter in winter. $12 per vehicle. Gate closes when full.