Keyhole Arch at Pfeiffer Beach

Off a dirt road in Big Sur, CA lies a secluded beach hidden by large, steep cliffs. The cliffs keep a rock formation known as Keyhole Arch hidden from the hustle and bustle. Just off Purple Sand Beach, Keyhole Arch is a natural hole carved into the rocks from the crashing waves around it.

Every year around the winter solstice, right before sunset, the sun will dip down into the center of the arch. On a clear evening with a low tide, the angle of the midwinter sun allows for a stunning natural glow.