Monterey County, CA · Pacific Ocean

Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)

The Big Sur beach with the famous Keyhole Arch and the purple-streaked sand (manganese garnet from the cliffs above). Reached via the narrow Sycamore Canyon Road off Highway 1 — easy to miss. Sunset through the arch is the photograph everyone wants.

Today's Conditions

Great day for a beach walk.

58°F water

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Sunny. High near 67, with temperatures falling to around 65 in the afternoon. Northwest wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Weather

67°F air — cool but workable
Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

58°F water — cold — wetsuit or stay dry

Safety

UV 11 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure

68 /100

good

42 Swim

62 Sunbathe

78 Walk

75 Photo

Best for walking today

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

67°F

Sunny

Wind

13 mph

Rain

This Afternoon

UV Peak

11 Extreme

High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~18m

Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM

Tomorrow

67°F

Mostly Sunny

Water

Water Temp

58°F

Cold

Barometer

30.07 inHg

1018 hPa

Water Quality

Clean

10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus

USGS · sampled 8mo ago

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (PZZ565)

The MTR office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.

CAZ505 SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
CAZ509 SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN MATEO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
CAZ529 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COASTAL AREAS n/a
CAZ530 MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COASTAL AREAS n/a

NWS SRF · MTR · Issued Jul 18, 7:56 PM

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

9:03 AM

Sunset

11:23 PM

Moon · 18%

Waxing Crescent

Neap tides — smaller range

Tides

Time	Type	Height
1:23 AM	High	5.2 ft
8:17 AM	Low	-0.1 ft
3:03 PM	High	4.8 ft
8:50 PM	Low	2.0 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:24 AM	High	4.4 ft
8:55 AM	Low	0.6 ft
3:46 PM	High	5.0 ft
10:07 PM	Low	1.8 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:36 AM	High	3.7 ft
9:33 AM	Low	1.3 ft
4:29 PM	High	5.1 ft
11:29 PM	Low	1.5 ft

Time	Type	Height
5:08 AM	High	3.2 ft
10:13 AM	Low	2.0 ft
5:14 PM	High	5.2 ft

Time	Type	Height
12:45 AM	Low	1.1 ft
7:02 AM	High	3.0 ft
11:00 AM	Low	2.5 ft
6:00 PM	High	5.3 ft

Time	Type	Height
1:49 AM	Low	0.7 ft
8:48 AM	High	3.2 ft
11:58 AM	Low	2.9 ft
6:47 PM	High	5.4 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:40 AM	Low	0.3 ft
9:56 AM	High	3.4 ft
1:01 PM	Low	3.1 ft
7:34 PM	High	5.5 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 9413450, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Jul 18

67°

Sunny

Sun Jul 19

67°

Mostly Sunny

Mon Jul 20

69°

Partly Sunny

Tue Jul 21

74°

Mostly Sunny

Wed Jul 22

66°

Mostly Sunny

Thu Jul 23

65°

Sunny

Fri Jul 24

65°

Sunny

What to Bring Today

critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
critical Wetsuit (if swimming at all) Water is 58°F — dangerously cold

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Beach Info

Parking

Forest Service lot, $15/vehicle. Fills by mid-afternoon; arrive early or in the off-season.

Dogs

Dogs allowed leashed.

Entry Fee

$15/vehicle Forest Service day-use fee.

Address

Sycamore Canyon Rd, Big Sur, CA 93920

Amenities

picnic tablesno restrooms or potable water on-site

Frequently Asked

Is it safe to swim at Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur) today?

Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur) shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur) dog-friendly?

Dogs allowed leashed.

Is there an entry fee at Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)?

$15/vehicle Forest Service day-use fee.

Are there lifeguards at Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)?

No lifeguards are stationed at Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur). Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)?

Amenities at Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur) include picnic tables, no restrooms or potable water on-site.

When is the water warmest at Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)?

The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.

Where is Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur) located?

Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur) is in Monterey County, CA, at Sycamore Canyon Rd, Big Sur, CA 93920.