Keyhole to Paradise

The iconic keyhole rock formation frames the endless Pacific

Pfeiffer Beach's famous keyhole rock formation creates one of California's most photographed natural windows, where erosion has carved a perfect portal through the offshore sea stack that frames the setting sun during certain times of year. This natural keyhole represents millions of years of wave action working on the sedimentary rock, gradually enlarging what began as a small crack into this spectacular archway. The formation demonstrates how coastal erosion creates temporary geological features that will eventually disappear as the process continues.