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Important note about visiting! They will be closed starting April 2025 and probably stay closed for repairs of a retention wall well into 2026 so if you are planning to come here do it now! It may be more than a year before the trail is open again. It's one of the most iconic stops in Big Sur with the popular attraction being a tall waterfall falling on the sand very close to the ocean. I've seen many waterfalls and this one is definitely in the top 10 for uniqueness. When we came before I remember parking along Highway 1 precariously, luckily now there is a large parking lot across the street for $10. You do a short hike through a tunnel under the highway and you'll be at McWay Falls quickly. We came early in the morning and no one else was there. If you care about lighting it's better mid-day to sunset, in the morning the falls side will be in shadow. I personally prefer the morning to avoid crowds. The wood fence along the hike, especially near the falls, is short in height and some parts are rotting so I wouldn't lean or sit on them or you might take a steep fall off the cliff. You cannot get to the falls, even if you kayak over it's not allowed and it's a steep and dangerous climb down you wouldn't be able to do without ropes and gear. Even still, the view from the path is gorgeous and it's worth your time to stop here.
After reading so much about the Big Sur area and McWay Falls, we made it a top priority to visit as part of our California trip. We got to the falls around 5 p.m. on a weekday, and the lighting was perfect for our pictures. Also the traffic was not too bad. Unfortunately, we were not able to hike the trail because it was closed for restoration, but we were still able to get an incredible picture from the road.
Very short and easy walk (with only a few stairs at the trail's beginning). The flat dirt trail leads you through a tunnel under highway 1 curving around to the right a short distance to a truly beautiful view. One of the few waterfalls that end directly into the ocean. I've been a few times since living here in California and it never gets old ... and any time of day it's breath taking!
What's up: I had heard about the waterfall that empties into the ocean before. When I found out that it was not too far away from where we were staying in Big Sur, we decided to stop by on our way back home. Parking: $10 per car. Since we had camp reservations for Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground, our parking fee was waived. They have a small lot on the left not too far from the restrooms and a larger lot towards the right. Environment: After parking, follow the signs and head to the tunnel that takes you under the road and to the other side of the highway. There were lots of signs warning of unstable cliffs and road closures but you'll be able to get to the point where you can see the waterfall spilling into the ocean; it's a lovely sight to see. Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. It's definitely worth a stop just to see the beauty of the surrounding area. We didn't do too much other than take pics of the waterfall and the ocean, but there were hiking trails nearby that you can take.
No way McWay! You are a vision! Finally got to see this picturesque (and very popular) waterfall IRL, and it's as beautiful and magical as every photo I've ever seen on Instagram. It's true that this is one of the most photographed spots in Big Sur (along with Bixby Bridge), and rightfully so. I mean it's not everyday that you see a waterfall on a beach, and the fact that the beach is off limits to humans makes it that much more magical, pure and pristine. It's Mother Nature in all her untouched glory! My hubby and I were lucky enough to visit on a random Tuesday in late Feb (well not that random, it was my birthday!), so there were no crowds and no parking issues. I'm sure it helped that we're still in a global pandemic too, so there were literally 4 other people at McWay Falls when we arrived. Unfortunately the bridge/walkway that extends out to give you a better view of the beach/falls was closed and fenced off, so you could only walk out to a certain point. Once you turn into the main parking lot at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park sign, there's a little box where you can self-pay the $10 fee (money goes toward maintaining this amazing park for everyone to enjoy). Since there was no way to get change and since there were only a few cars around, we ended up parking on the side of Hwy 1 right outside the parking lot entrance. Right behind that self-pay parking station is the trail head that leads to McWay Falls. It's a short, 5-min hike or so and BAM! Mother Nature showing off with her waterfall, trees, beautiful beach, crashing waves...you get the picture! This place is an iconic spot in Big Sur for a reason!
This is one of the most picturesque waterfalls you will ever come across. You've probably seen photos on someone's screensaver or even come across it online and you are immediately mesmerized by its beauty. It certainly is one those "must stop" areas when traveling on Highway 1 (PCH for SoCal folks) whether you are driving up north or down south along the coast. McWay is an 80 foot waterfall in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur. The water comes from nearby McWay Creek and flows year round into the Pacific Ocean creating a spout that some people may describe as a unicorn's piss. In all seriousness, it's a gorgeous, serene, relaxing place and has been the backdrop of many amazing photos. You can't hike down the beach though as it's not permitted. Even if you try, you're bound to get arrested by the numerous Park Rangers on site. There's a path on the bottom of the road which you can also access through tunnel from the park. There are several lookout points along the path, and it's quite an easy and picturesque walk. In case you're wondering, the falls is named after Christopher McWay, an early settler and farmer who came to the area in the 1870s with his son. Also named after him is McWay Canyon and McWay Creek. He must've been an early Mandalorian as this is McWay. To get here, it's about 37 miles south of Carmel and you can park on the side of the road if the parking lot is full inside Julia Pfeiffer State Park. Have some patience as it's a very popular area so expect some slow downs and traffic in this area. Bring your camera, a good attitude, and please don't leave your trash and masks on the ground. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 76
Waterfall plunging into the Pacific We made a brief stop to see this beautiful sight of an 80-foot-tall waterfall cascading from the cliff into the beach below. McWay Falls is located in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and is probably the most well-known stops in all of Big Sur, at least in my opinion. Just like Alamere Falls at the Point Reyes National Seashore, it is a tidefall. I was delighted to see that it wasn't crowded at the viewing point during our stop. You can also drive into the park, pay the fee, and follow a trail to get a closer view but we didn't do that since we were trying to gauge our time to try to hit more bookmarked landmarks we'd like to see. Also, the beach is not open to the public. The falls took us no effort to see. There is some parking on the side and a walkway that took us to the viewing area. The views from the cliffs outside of the park offer a gorgeous scenery. The public were not allowed to go down to the waterfall area and, personally, I prefer it that way so it can remain pristine and beautiful to the eyes. Plus, there are no people in my photos... yass! postcard perfect! It falls year round and during high tide, the falls is a tidefall. This was our 4th stop and was well worth it but don't make a day of it here. Review #1688
No thank you.. As of right now this is a tourist trap. Trust me on this, save your time and money and skip this place and just enjoy the amazing pictures on the internet. There's only one partial trail open here and it's very crowded. The view isn't that great anyway. Simply put, it's not worth the $10 day use fee.. Your best bet (when driving southward down the 1) is to pull over on the side of the road for free. Keep in mind there isn't a lot of parking off the street. Save that money for the Pfeiffer State Beach and their purple sand...
This post is looong overdue becuase I believe the highway 1 now near this waterfall is closed from 2025 to 2026 (but check) I love, love, love waterfalls, and this spot is absolutely gorgeous. McWay Falls feels truly magical, the way the waterfall spills onto the beach and meets the turquoise ocean is breathtaking. This waterfalls combines two of my favorite things (the beach and waterfall so what's there not to love). The views are stunning, peaceful, and unlike anywhere else. An unforgettable stop along the coast and one of the most beautiful natural sights I've ever seen. I wish there was a way to hike down, but there isn't, I guess it's a good thing as it preserves this spots natural beauty read more
A must stop location if you're visting the Big Sur area!! No matter how many times I have seen this site, it still continues to make me smile and look on in admiration of it's natural beauty! Images are from two separate visits. Can get crazy busy so best to see in the off-season or during the week if possible. There is parking on the street, however, be careful of traffic, as well as a paid parking lot. read more
One of the Falls we wanted to see in Big Sur was the McWay Falls just before highway 1 closure. Every week we drive up and down NorCal to visit California Beauties. From the North Bay, just take the highway 1, pass Point Lobos, Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Park, Pfeiffer Beach (purple sands) and to the end before the closure. It's quite a beautiful drive in Big Sur. The McWay Falls can't be access, can only see from the top. It's quite beautiful even in July. Most people park on the side of the road to avoid park parking fee. The park is on the left of the falls, we parked and walked out to see the falls. It seems like there's trail going down to the falls but it's closed. Anyhow, on trip, we can visit Pfeiffer beach, Pfeiffer falls, Point Lobos, and Bixby Bridge. read more
Important note about visiting! They will be closed starting April 2025 and probably stay closed for repairs of a retention wall well into 2026 so if you are planning to come here do it now! It may be more than a year before the trail is open again. It's one of the most iconic stops in Big Sur with the popular attraction being a tall waterfall falling on the sand very close to the ocean. I've seen many waterfalls and this one is definitely in the top 10 for uniqueness. When we came before I remember parking along Highway 1 precariously, luckily now there is a large parking lot across the street for $10. You do a short hike through a tunnel under the highway and you'll be at McWay Falls quickly. We came early in the morning and no one else was there. If you care about lighting it's better mid-day to sunset, in the morning the falls side will be in shadow. I personally prefer the morning to avoid crowds. The wood fence along the hike, especially near the falls, is short in height and some parts are rotting so I wouldn't lean or sit on them or you might take a steep fall off the cliff. You cannot get to the falls, even if you kayak over it's not allowed and it's a steep and dangerous climb down you wouldn't be able to do without ropes and gear. Even still, the view from the path is gorgeous and it's worth your time to stop here. read more
After reading so much about the Big Sur area and McWay Falls, we made it a top priority to visit as part of our California trip. We got to the falls around 5 p.m. on a weekday, and the lighting was perfect for our pictures. Also the traffic was not too bad. Unfortunately, we were not able to hike the trail because it was closed for restoration, but we were still able to get an incredible picture from the road. read more
Short walk from the parking lot to the lookout point that even kids can do it. No dogs allowed on the trail which is a bummer but good thing we checked and didn't bring our pup with us. The view is gorgeous! Even from this distance. read more
Very short and easy walk (with only a few stairs at the trail's beginning). The flat dirt trail leads you through a tunnel under highway 1 curving around to the right a short distance to a truly beautiful view. One of the few waterfalls that end directly into the ocean. I've been a few times since living here in California and it never gets old ... and any time of day it's breath taking! read more
What's up: I had heard about the waterfall that empties into the ocean before. When I found out that it was not too far away from where we were staying in Big Sur, we decided to stop by on our way back home. Parking: $10 per car. Since we had camp reservations for Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground, our parking fee was waived. They have a small lot on the left not too far from the restrooms and a larger lot towards the right. Environment: After parking, follow the signs and head to the tunnel that takes you under the road and to the other side of the highway. There were lots of signs warning of unstable cliffs and road closures but you'll be able to get to the point where you can see the waterfall spilling into the ocean; it's a lovely sight to see. Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. It's definitely worth a stop just to see the beauty of the surrounding area. We didn't do too much other than take pics of the waterfall and the ocean, but there were hiking trails nearby that you can take. read more
3 years ago
Love! Lifelong local and just finally made it here. Park in the lot, pay $10, walk 5 minutes and you're there! This is one of only 2 waterfalls that falls directly into the ocean - the other is in Humboldt county. Truly beautiful. read more
5 years ago
No way McWay! You are a vision! Finally got to see this picturesque (and very popular) waterfall IRL, and it's as beautiful and magical as every photo I've ever seen on Instagram. It's true that this is one of the most photographed spots in Big Sur (along with Bixby Bridge), and rightfully so. I mean it's not everyday that you see a waterfall on a beach, and the fact that the beach is off limits to humans makes it that much more magical, pure and pristine. It's Mother Nature in all her untouched glory! My hubby and I were lucky enough to visit on a random Tuesday in late Feb (well not that random, it was my birthday!), so there were no crowds and no parking issues. I'm sure it helped that we're still in a global pandemic too, so there were literally 4 other people at McWay Falls when we arrived. Unfortunately the bridge/walkway that extends out to give you a better view of the beach/falls was closed and fenced off, so you could only walk out to a certain point. Once you turn into the main parking lot at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park sign, there's a little box where you can self-pay the $10 fee (money goes toward maintaining this amazing park for everyone to enjoy). Since there was no way to get change and since there were only a few cars around, we ended up parking on the side of Hwy 1 right outside the parking lot entrance. Right behind that self-pay parking station is the trail head that leads to McWay Falls. It's a short, 5-min hike or so and BAM! Mother Nature showing off with her waterfall, trees, beautiful beach, crashing waves...you get the picture! This place is an iconic spot in Big Sur for a reason! read more
This is one of the most picturesque waterfalls you will ever come across. You've probably seen photos on someone's screensaver or even come across it online and you are immediately mesmerized by its beauty. It certainly is one those "must stop" areas when traveling on Highway 1 (PCH for SoCal folks) whether you are driving up north or down south along the coast. McWay is an 80 foot waterfall in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur. The water comes from nearby McWay Creek and flows year round into the Pacific Ocean creating a spout that some people may describe as a unicorn's piss. In all seriousness, it's a gorgeous, serene, relaxing place and has been the backdrop of many amazing photos. You can't hike down the beach though as it's not permitted. Even if you try, you're bound to get arrested by the numerous Park Rangers on site. There's a path on the bottom of the road which you can also access through tunnel from the park. There are several lookout points along the path, and it's quite an easy and picturesque walk. In case you're wondering, the falls is named after Christopher McWay, an early settler and farmer who came to the area in the 1870s with his son. Also named after him is McWay Canyon and McWay Creek. He must've been an early Mandalorian as this is McWay. To get here, it's about 37 miles south of Carmel and you can park on the side of the road if the parking lot is full inside Julia Pfeiffer State Park. Have some patience as it's a very popular area so expect some slow downs and traffic in this area. Bring your camera, a good attitude, and please don't leave your trash and masks on the ground. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 76 read more
Waterfall plunging into the Pacific We made a brief stop to see this beautiful sight of an 80-foot-tall waterfall cascading from the cliff into the beach below. McWay Falls is located in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and is probably the most well-known stops in all of Big Sur, at least in my opinion. Just like Alamere Falls at the Point Reyes National Seashore, it is a tidefall. I was delighted to see that it wasn't crowded at the viewing point during our stop. You can also drive into the park, pay the fee, and follow a trail to get a closer view but we didn't do that since we were trying to gauge our time to try to hit more bookmarked landmarks we'd like to see. Also, the beach is not open to the public. The falls took us no effort to see. There is some parking on the side and a walkway that took us to the viewing area. The views from the cliffs outside of the park offer a gorgeous scenery. The public were not allowed to go down to the waterfall area and, personally, I prefer it that way so it can remain pristine and beautiful to the eyes. Plus, there are no people in my photos... yass! postcard perfect! It falls year round and during high tide, the falls is a tidefall. This was our 4th stop and was well worth it but don't make a day of it here. Review #1688 read more
No thank you.. As of right now this is a tourist trap. Trust me on this, save your time and money and skip this place and just enjoy the amazing pictures on the internet. There's only one partial trail open here and it's very crowded. The view isn't that great anyway. Simply put, it's not worth the $10 day use fee.. Your best bet (when driving southward down the 1) is to pull over on the side of the road for free. Keep in mind there isn't a lot of parking off the street. Save that money for the Pfeiffer State Beach and their purple sand... read more
Long winding road often leads to beautiful destination. Big Sur has plenty of them and the most picturesque of them all is the McWay Falls. It is an 80-foot-tall waterfall on the coast of Big Sur in central CA that flows 365 days from McWay Creek in JPBurns State Park. The hike to the falls was fairly easy. I am glad that I was able to see it in person and able to cross it off on my bucket list. It's so gorgeous and romantic. Getting inside the park has a nominal fee of ten bucks. Plenty of parking spots. Overall, I am ebullient that I was able to visit this wonderful natural falls. And I HIGHLY recommend this fall. read more
Undisturbed It's so close, yet so far. Part of the allure is the fact that you cannot get to the falls. It's actually illegal and if you're caught you can expect to be fined a nice chunk of change. Please respect the one rule and allow the natural untouched beauty to remain just so. You'll find this beautiful waterfall at the Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park. You may park inside of the park or get lucky with a spot along the highway. The short trail has been closed for sometime now due to erosion but you can still see the falls from the road. On a beautiful sunny day the waterfall literally sparkles as if it has glitter flowing through it. This spot is what poets write about. You really shouldn't miss this place. It's as beautiful as it gets. Also, as most of you already might know, Big Sur once again just recently experienced another landslide that took out a large portion of highway one. This area might disappear for good one day. See it before it's gone forever... read more
Beautiful bay! The falls are nice too, but the bay is the star of this show. It's a short walk from the parking area to the overlook. Be sure to pay the $10 entrance fee. Not only will your funds help preserve and maintain the beautiful natural resources, but your entrance fee pays for a day pass at other state parks in the area. read more
When in Big Sur, one must stop by here for the gorgeous view! We came on a weekend where there were random bouts of rain, so by the time we arrived there, the sky was pretty cloudy and they closed the path for you to hike below (due to the recent rain). But that's okay, since we were able to snag a free parking spot along the shoulder like what pretty much everybody else was doing. The view is really nice. I highly recommend coming out here. Though my advice to you is to download Google maps onto your phone because you will not get service during your drive up here. read more
Holy nuts. McWay Falls is just as beautiful as when I saw it the first time 5+ years ago. It's so picturesque...like a postcard. Here are my tips to get there below: 1. You will likely lose reception on the way to McWay Falls, so leave the GPS tab open on your phone. Don't swipe the tab away or you're not getting reception back. While your phone might still say "No Service", your GPS should still work (I have an iPhone). This will help guide you to McWay Falls, which I feel like is the last attraction on Highway 1, anyway before the mudslide. 2. The correct park to get to McWay Falls is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, NOT Pfeiffer Burns State Park. You will first pass Nepenthe (restaurant with amazing views of the mountains), Pfeiffer Burns State Park (has the purple sand beach - haven't been, but will return), Bixby Bridge (awesome views of the bridge, mountain, and ocean - great photo op!), Andrew Molera State Park (I need to come here and check this place out next time), and THEN you will finally see Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park at the very end. 3. You can park along the highway if you don't want to pay or if parking is full. Otherwise, once you see the sign for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, go in and park. There is self-pay where you put money into an envelope and into a box. I chose to park along the highway. I was only there for about 30 minutes anyway. 4. Once you are in the parking lot, locate the restroom. Right across from the restroom, you will see a sign that says "McWay Falls". Take that path and it will lead you down the stairs towards the easiest hike you will ever take in your life. It's about a flat five minute walk to a tunnel. 5. Walk through the tunnel, make a right and McWay Falls will be right there! Enjoy the beauty of California and gasp like I did at its beauty. A lot of the walkway going pass McWay Falls is closed off. There was a gate and people squeezed through at their own risk to get better views of McWay Falls. I would bring any visiting friend here! Heck, I would bring anyone here. read more
Drove 5 hours to see this, based on our daughter's request. Surprised at how small the falls was. The trail is closed since it looks like a part of it broke, so you can't go down to the beach. So everyone crowds around the fence. 5 min easy hike to the trail. Hard to find parking, and the turn around is strange. Outhouses were overflowing. Nice falls, but probably wouldn't drive 5 hours just to see it. Maybe just two or three :) read more
5 years ago
It's unfortunate you can't go down to the beach but you can see the falls from afar which is quite lovely. read more
It's a beautiful waterfall, but it's just so far away! Even after walking to the viewpoint at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, the waterfall seemed insanely distant. Pfeiffer State Beach is closed to the public and offers the only legal entry way to the waterfall. Not sure if it's always been like this, but after seeing the falls in the distance, it makes you want to get even closer. And, don't even think about trying to hike down there illegally. There are police and workers on site ready to fine you for trespassing. I'm so used to being right up under waterfalls, so close that I could touch them if I wanted to. But this waterfall... it's merely just a tease! If your planning on visiting Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park just to see the waterfall, don't waste $10 on it! You can park on the side of the road and you'll be almost just as close, and for free! The $10 is worth it if you're planning on actually hiking at the park, and it can actually be used at other state parks that are near by on that same day. If you do plan on visiting the view point at Julia Pfeiffer Burns, try and get there early because the parking fills up. This is a heavily trafficked park, so you'll be fighting to get that tiny view of the falls. There are tons of people waiting to take a picture at the viewpoint, so just be patient. The hike... well, really the "walk" to the viewpoint is only about a quarter mile. The views of the beach are breathtaking and the falls make for a gorgeous picture! I just wish I could have been closer to the falls so that I could fully experience its' charm. read more
Stunning View!!!! I was driving the pacific high LA to SF. McWay Falls is a must stop. The sightseeings are one of the best of the West Coast. I wish I could swim there! There is not a lot of space available next to the road, but I could leave the car for a minute and enjoy the magnificient views. read more
5 years ago
This is a perfect FIRST stop on your road trip to Big Sur from LA. It's a great short walk (not even a hike) with a pretty view. Granted you can't see it up close & personal or the fact that it's blocked off makes it limited. It's literally a 10 minute walk towards the view. No uphills or struggle at all. I've seen old people & kids go through this. Even though there are signs of no dogs, I've seen a few bring their dogs on leash. PARKING & ENTRANCE: we didn't want to pay the fee to park (even tho there wasn't anyone "manning" the station) so we parked right outside the entrance on the side of the road. You can't miss the entrance sign & there are always cars parked on the side. If you want to explore more of the park (on the left hand side of the hike), then it'd be good to park inside. We only stopped for a short while to enjoy this falls. Although it was pretty far, for the time it took to hike this, it was worth the stop. Be mindful of the weather, it can cloudy and block the entire view or it can be clear and sunny which will make the experience better. Either way, a good stop! read more
4 years ago
this is a stop on my 1 day big sur PCH road trip! i made a y0utube video with tips and info you need to know about all 5 stops & 2 restaurants, so you can be prepared! search "Nikko Gandia Travels" or find a link to my y0utube on my profile. all stops have free parking options and are easily accessible to most and can be explored rather quickly. read more
What more can be said that hasn't already been said? If you love nature and natural beauty, then this is a fantastic spot that you'll never regret having visited. As others have said, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (the park where the falls, beach and trails are located) has been closed recently. The trail was damaged. It is still open, but you really can't see the falls from the trail until it is reopened. Visit the official park website for more information. Still, you can stop and park on the side of the road and still get a wonderful view of McWay Falls. It is worth the drive! read more
Ok. So the rave about this spot lead me to long to go to it. We drove about three hours. We stopped as we drove to see the Bixby bridge and hike in sea otter state game refuge. The drive was astonishing. The view points are what you should be stoping on. There are so many points to stop and take in the beauty. Spoiler alert: this is a beautiful place but not like the hype. Park on the street. No need to pay the $10 fee and park inside. It's not something you'll stay long for so in my opinion it would be a waste of money. We parked outside like many others. We saw the fall from above by the highway. Then we walked into the actual park and walked through a little tunnel to see the falls a little bit closer. The view was prettier from the highway. You cannot get too close it's completely blocked. You cannot go on the beach there is no way down and no access. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
I mean it's one of the most sought out places to see in the CA coast! It's literally beautiful! The water is sooo blue and you can see the rocks. It gets crowded but everyone moves pretty fast so you can definitely get pictures at the lookout point. The waterfall is so pretty because the water eventually goes into the ocean. Truly one of my favorite places in the world read more
4 years ago
The entrance is located right off the highway in Big Sur but the parking lot was closed. People were parked along the street and at two vista points on either side of the entrance. We had to walk on the narrow shoulder but luckily passing drivers were driving more slowly. The falls are half a mile hike from the parking lot and are viewed where the path stops on a cliff side above and across a cove from the waterfall itself. I imagine it would be hard to get a good view of the waterfalls when the path is crowded. To be honest, I was underwhelmed by the height and low flow of the falls, but it was still interesting. There's one bench at the view point if you need to take a short break before heading back. A decent stop to stretch your legs if you are driving through Big Sur but I wouldn't go out of my way too far. read more
This has been on my bucket list for quite some time and we finally decided to make the drive down to see this tranquil cove. We were staying in Monterey and the drive took approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. We found a spot on the side of the road to pull over and get out to enjoy the view. The Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park was closed and the path down to get closer to the falls was also closed which was a bit disappointing. The view form the lookout point gave you a decent view of the falls. I recommend coming on a weekday to avoid the crowds. We found no trouble snagging a parking spot and having our space to take photos on a Friday day. read more
7 years ago
Absolutely a breathtaking view! We were driving the coast highway south from Carmel to Morro Bay and decided to seek out McWay Falls. We thought we would see it by entering the state park right there, but noticed the no dogs sign as we turned in. So we pulled off to the side of the road across the street and got out to see what we could see. Wow! There we had a gorgeous view of McWay Falls. Within minutes several other cars had pulled into the little turn out there for a glimpse of nature's beauty. If you're driving the coast highway, it's a must stop kind of place. read more
McWay Falls is one of the scenic views off Highway 1 in Big Sur. There is ample parking on roadside and the falls are within walking distance. It is a must stop point if you are looking for some awesome photography inspiration or just to soak in the blissful ocean view. The Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is close by for another attraction to visit. read more
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More info about McWay Falls
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Big Sur, CA 93920
Directions
(831) 667-1112
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578
Hours
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Outdoor Amenities
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Ask the Community - McWay Falls
Is it a good idea to take toddlers there?
Yes completely safe as long as you follow the signs and rules. Safe travels
Is McWay falls currently accessible?
By water yes so you can kayak there but not climb down
Are there road closures on US 1 to get to the falls?
No, road should be open in both directions now. It was open when we were there in late July. Drive safe!
Can I fly a drone here? Wanted to take picture and videos of this amazing place.
I didn't see any signs posted about drones
Review Highlights - McWay Falls
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McWay Falls - beaches - Updated May 2026
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