Pfeiffer Beach, Beach on California's central coast in Monterey County, US.

Pfeiffer Beach stretches along the Pacific Ocean with steep rocky cliffs and a large rock formation featuring a natural arch with a distinctive opening. This opening, known as the Keyhole Arch, frames waves flowing through it and creates a striking visual feature of the location.

The Pfeiffer family settled in Sycamore Canyon in the winter of 1869, when Michael and Barbara Laquet Pfeiffer stopped there on their way south and stayed. Their son John, who built a cabin on the Big Sur River's north bank in 1884, donated the first 700 acres that became Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The family opened the Pfeiffer Ranch Resort at their home in 1910.

Photographers gather here to capture the light beaming through the natural opening in the large rock formation. The sunset lighting creates a special display that draws many visitors to this spot.

The beach is reached via Sycamore Canyon Road branching off from Highway 1, leading to a fee-based parking area. Good planning helps since the paths to the shore cross uneven terrain and weather can change quickly.

Sycamore Canyon Road, the single-lane approach to the beach, is named for the Western Sycamores growing along it and near the sand. The Pfeiffer family settled in the canyon in the winter of 1869 and stayed for generations; an Esselen midden site lies near their old home.