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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...
10 years ago
It was a gorgeous day. We just finished a fairly strenuous hike (Ewoldsen Trail Loop + Overlook), but since we were already going down and we planned on seeing this waterfall, we headed toward the trail through the tunnel and what a great view of the ocean, but don't stop there...go towards the right and you'll see an initial crowd of people. Take a photo there, but again don't stop, there's a better view further down and even across the bridge of the waterfall. Only thing is that it's not super impressive but on a day like today where the sun was shining, the water was just gorgeous. I'm sure on a day after a storm, the waterfall would be fantastic. Don't just stop at taking views of the waterfall, go to the very very end to the view on the right of the ocean. The trail itself is very short and you can easily access it through the trail in the main paid parking lot or if you park on the side of Highway 1 like we did, just go south and you'll find stairs down or if you don't want to walk too far, there's a dirt short cut that's slightly steep, but gets you down to the trail. Just make sure when you park on Highway 1 that you're behind the white line as you might get ticketed which will be much more expensive than the $10 parking in the actual park so...just follow the rules and you can park for free. Also you won't get service out here so just unplug from your phone and enjoy some nature! read more
10 years ago
McWay Falls is possibly the most beautiful place I've seen in Big Sur. This is saying something, as Big Sur tops my list of the most scenic places in America. The coastline around McWay Falls is as good as it gets on Hwy 1 - deep, turquoise waters and softly crashing waves contrasting with stunning cliffs. What makes this spot even more magical is the waterfall that ends right on the beach. The waterfall is not visible from the road, so you pull over and look beyond the fence. Alas there is no apparent way to hike down to the beach itself, only part way. It's memorizingly stunning, so close and yet just out of reach. I think it's part of the allure - a quiet beauty, undisturbed by humans. read more
8 years ago
This place is right off Highway 1! You will know where to stop when you see the sign for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. There are two options for getting to the falls. 1. You can park at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and pay $10.00. Or 2. You can park on the side of the road across from the falls and walk down the stairs to the falls from the street. We decided to pay the money to park at the State Park. We couldn't find any street parking and plus we had to use the bathroom so we didn't mind paying the fee. Also the money benefits CA State Parks which is awesome anyways! The hike down to the falls isn't really a full on "hike". It's more of a walk down a trail with some gravel and dirt here. There is no major incline but I would recommend to still be careful and wear tennis shoes. The walk down was pretty quick. Once we arrived at the falls we were so excited! It was so beautiful and the water was so blue. Even on a cloudy day it was still such an incredible thing to see. I'm so glad we came here to take a rest break and enjoy the beautiful falls! read more
Very Instagram worthy photos are conceived here. The "hike" is a joke. Think of it more of a leisure walk, compare to the ewoldsen trail. Depending on the time of day, the McWay Falls trail would be a good cool down or warm up for either before or after accomplishing the big ewoldsen monster. Since it was already around 3pm, we decided to check out this beauty first before starting the bigger hike. It was a sunny day so the view was quite breathtaking. On the other hand, the actual waterfall sadly was not. It was more of a background noise in the picture because it was very tiny! The colors of the ocean was very beautiful and not like your usual boring blue. For parking, there's a parking lot where you pay $10. On a very crowded day, like a Saturday for example, you may have to resort to parking alongside highway 1. It's very dangerous so be careful as you'll most likely have to park on a hill. Also, be sure your car is to the right of the white solid line. We saw a park ranger giving out parking tickets like he was Santa Claus! The view was nice and all, but the drive was not. It will take me quite some time to come back to this place aha. read more
More beautiful than the pictures! It is relatively the same but being able to hear the waves and feel the breeze is an experience in itself. Driving there is kind of nerve-wrecking because of the narrow roads and sharp turns but I would suggest coming at least once. There is plentiful parking in a lot or on the side of the road read more
This gorgeous 80ft. waterfall is located at Julia Pfeiffer State Park and flows year round. Fun facts: - This waterfall is one of only two in the region that are close enough to the ocean to be referred to as "tidefalls", the other being Alamere Falls. - Originally the waterfall cascaded into the ocean but due to landslides and a fire it formed an inaccessible beach. - The waterfall only meets the ocean when the tide is in. It is about a half mile trail to see the waterfall and trust me it is worth the stop. Parking can be scarce and please be careful while crossing the street because it is very dangerous as cars seem to zoom by. This is one of many pit stops driving California's beautiful coast. Makes me realize, west coast is really the best coast. :-) Enjoy!! read more
5 years ago
You have to pay $10 CASH to park, the trail was only .2 miles because it's CLOSED and the park rangers were extremely rude and not helpful. You can use the pass at other parks, but if you come specifically to see the fall (like we did and drove hours for), it's far away and not worth the $10. read more
First things first .. the whole setup (naturally but of course) is absolutely gorgeous .. very scenic and beautiful. But .. my bad but I think from that way up the waterfall is kinda timid .. again .. I am truly in for a "pretty scenic setting" part but the waterfall is yeah a bit of a baby .. may be from the beach, right down there, you might get a clearer picture .. but from the road .. that way up; well no. :D May be I have been to Palouse falls a bit too much to compare or something. :P . jokes apart I wish we could have gone right to the beach and things would have been 5 stars for sure. So, it was a foggy evening, the drive was very mystic .. the fog kept flowing in. It was fun except we could not get the view we would have liked .. But 100% Mc Way falls is something I would want to return to .. go right to the beach (if possible) and just may be touch it :) read more
If you're coming down to Big Sur, McWay Falls is a MUST! The view is simply gorgeous. Yes, the whole cove is beautiful and you'll get a spectacular view no matter where you stand, but here's my secret tip: the best point along this short trail is where the palm tree is. This just sets the mood of serenity, paradise, and creates a tropical feel. I swear, my boyfriend and I just relaxed there along the fence for a good 20 minutes. Beautiful, simply beautiful. 5/5 read more
Located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, the Overlook Waterfall Trail for McWay Falls is a must-see scenic stop along Highway One/the Big Sur Coast. The waterfall is simply stunning and breathtaking with 80ft of water dropping onto secluded beach over a mysterious cove. The trail is well maintained, clearly marked, and easy for everyone of any age. Distance: 0.6 mile Elevation change: ~100 ft From the parking lot, follow the sign to Overlook Waterfall Trail. You'll go down on some wooden steps and reach a tunnel. After you exit the tunnel, you will be awarded a gorgeous view of the waterfall. Most visitors observe the falls along the trail, taking pictures along the way. The most scenic part is at the end where there are several panels explaining the history of the fall and nearby estate that was donated to the park. Some people try to go down to the beach area, which is blocked off and dangerous with possibility of citation. read more
6 years ago
Beautiful small place. We went from Los Angeles to San Francisco. parking cost $ 10, there is a toilet. the park is small. walk to the waterfall less than 10 minutes. there is a small balcony overlooking the bay and the waterfall. you cannot go down to it. read more
11 years ago
No matter what season it is, this place is frigging amazing. Parking here can be a little difficult because you may have to park along the side of the highway if all the other spots are taken. SO BE CAREFUL GETTING IN and OUT of your car! I came here around 12-1pm and the weather was actually very warm. I wore a T shirt and it was perfect. My friends and I ate lunch on one of the benches along the trail that overlooks the falls. The hike is really short and takes only 5 minutes from the highway to the out look point. There are multiple outlook areas for the falls so make sure you keep walking! I ended up spending 2 hours here taking pictures and just observing the ocean side. This place is so worth driving down. read more
Not nearly as great as I wanted it to be. The majority of the Park was closed for safety reasons and the trail to see the falls was also closed after a certain point. It was an easy walk, took a few pictures, otherwise there isn't anything else to see. I wouldn't travel out of my way to specifically to see this place, but since I was already on the highway, I decided to stop. read more
This was so disappointing. I was camping up in Big Sur and thought I would check out these falls. When i first get parking was closed, so I had to park far away. Not a big deal, there parking was probably full, there's only so much they can do about that, right? Wrong. Once I make to the parking lot, it is empty! They have tons of people visiting the falls and only 2 cars in the lot! Then there's the bathrooms. They had about 5 port-a potties, and they were the most discussing thing i've ever seen. All five of them were filled to the top! There was literally a mound in them that was above the toilet seat. I have never seen something like this before. , . At this point I am already upset, but since I am here I am still going to go on the hike to see them. After about 7 minutes of walking, I see that the trail is closed. There is just a cluster of people at this end of the trail trying to take pictures of the falls from afar. I have never been so disappointed, and to be honest, i'm glad the parking was closed, because I would have been more upset if I had paid the 10 dollars for parking. (Note: as i was leaving they started letting cars in there "full" parking lot). read more
5 years ago
Came on a Tuesday around lunch. Weather was great, very frequent traffic coming and going, and the mist from the sea eclipsed what could be a decent views. The walk to the falls was very short and took no more than 45 to park, walk the mini-trail, and get back to the car. Apart from the cloudy view, the walk to get there was a bit boring and the viewing of the falls is far. Bathrooms are on site and you can access this trail with a wheelchair, stroller if you choose to. read more
I came here on a foggy day, so I guess the experience is somewhat less impressive. The iconic photo I saw of this place was taken during sunset with ornamental non native plantings of amaryllis flowers from decades ago in the foreground. I guess it is hard to beat that photo. A good place stop and gawk and take a short walk but somehow this place does not do a lot for me. The waterfall used to fall directly into the ocean until debris from a massive fire, landslide and highway reconstruction project near the area filled the cove to form a sandy beach. There is no trail down to the beach which might have better views but alas no. Double bummer. read more
8 years ago
Spent the whole day driving from the Bay to Monterey to see this fall and I was low key disappointed why? You might ask? There wasn't really any falls to see, there was a lack of water, so the waterfall was more like a trickle... however it was still beautiful! The "hike" was easy (like super easy) I think it was less than a 10 minutes walk over. Parking was easy (just park along the side of the road!) Walk down the stairs and follow the pathway to the view point of the water fall! You can't get lost but if you do feel free to follow all the other people heading over lol For those who have tmobile (you will have no service) so it's best to download the map and not get lost! The roads are also very curvy, it's like playing Mario kart but in rl (jk but am i?) I'm hoping to check the falls again some other day, hopefully there'll be more water! read more
11 years ago
A beautiful place, and easy to get to. You can either park right on route 1 or the designtated parking spot at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Regardless, it is only a 5 minute walk to see this gorgeous view. You can't go down to the falls, but it is a view from the road/vista point above. This isn't much of a " hike" to get to only about 5 minutes, so good for those that like photo-ops. Hikers, head over to the actual park for a 5 mile hike! read more
8 years ago
9 years ago
One star for McWay Falls only because it's the biggest tease I've ever had in my life. If I could actually walk down to the beach area where the waterfall is, I would give this place a 5. Don't waste your time driving over here when there's plenty other options unless you really want to see exactly the same picture I just posted. read more
10 years ago
Add McWay Falls to your go-to list if you're in Big Sur or road-tripping along the Pacific Coastal Highway! It's a beautiful, picturesque stop. It's just a short walk from the side of the road. It isn't a huge waterfall, but it is still a stunning sight to see with the blue water and waves crashing! Notice that all photos of the falls are from high above. There are no paths to hike down. Some have gone down, but I've read that you can get a ticket, if caught. It's $10 parking if you park at the Julia Pfeiffer State Park. Free, if you park along the side of the road. read more
Such a breath taking view! Definitely a good waterfall spot worth stopping at. Photos alone speaks for itself but it doesn't do it any justice. Parking - on the street Price - free Tourist Trap - yup! Instagram worthy - yes, totally It's a tiny walk and you will be able to check out the view. I saw some people come around from the tunnel, but not sure where they came from. The water fall is amazing and sounds beautiful. If you are toad tripping on the PCH, make sure to pop in! read more
5 years ago
As long as you adjust your expectations before seeing this gem, you can't be disappointed. And when I say adjust, it means you should approach the falls knowing you can't actually be on the beach. That would be GLORIOUS! Anyway, it's a short walk from the highway to the actual view of the falls. I was bummed that you can't bring your dog, but oh well. All in all, if you're driving on highway 1, stop and see this. It's one of the most beautiful views you'll encounter. read more
No words nor pictures would do this place justice , you just have to see it with your own naked eyes and feel this place with all your senses. Turquoise colored ocean , white sandy beach , blue sky , the ocean breeze, the sound of the waves , the warmth of the sun on your skin ... couldn't capture those in pictures. It's worth a five hour ( one way ) drive. Every minute of it. read more
6 years ago
Worth the drive from Monterey! The view is breathtaking. You want a memorable trip you must take a drive to McWay Falls. read more
4 years ago
Such a shame, I had such a bad time here. First, when I arrive, there is a sign saying the parking is full. Ok, that's fine, but, when I look over to the parking area, it is easily 3/4 empty. I ended up having to park in the highway about a half mile away and walk up into the park. When I get inside, I would like to use the bathroom. I come to notice that ALL FIVE of the porta-potties were literally over flowing over the top so you couldn't use them. It was disgusting. After being unhappy with experience so far, I start down the trail and after about 10 minutes of walking, I see it's blocked off. So you can't get down to the fall itself and the view of it from up there is not that great, very annoying. Also, dogs are not allowed in the park. Maybe if they had the parking open so I could pay the $10, they would be able to pay to clean their porta-potties. Hopefully they open up the trail soon and clean the porta-potties, otherwise I definitely would not recommend McWay falls for now. read more
Checked this place off my (expanding) bucket list! We parked on the side of Hwy 1 and walked not too far, I'd say maybe half a mile? The water is so serene, beautiful Tiffany blue hue. I wish we could walk down to the bottom and see the waterfall up close. There's nice little reading material at the end of the walkway of how the place came to be. It's even more amazing in person than in photos! Great photo-op and a quick stop before exploring more of Big Sur. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
You really have to come here if you are in Big Sur. If you don't, you are missing out on one of the most beautiful parts of the Big Sur coastline. They recently sectioned off the most iconic part with the palm trees and I hope they open that back up to the public sometime because that is the real gem. Anyway, it's right off highway 1 and you can avoid paying the parking fees if you just park off the 1. There is also a pretty cool story behind McWay Falls...the waterfall actually used to empty directly into the ocean until back in 1983 there was a landslide and a large chunk of highway 1 fell into the ocean, creating the beautiful beach that you now see today. Anyway, I highly recommend stopping here and you can also check out the redwood forests right across the 1. read more
6 years ago
You may just miss this along PCH if not looking carefully! There are some places to park along the road but be careful sometimes you ah get a ticket. You can park inside for a fee of $10 but it's Julia Pfeiffer burns state park pass all day. Short little trail to reach the falls. The view is beautiful and perfect for photos! read more
Driving along the coastal highway, we saw signs for this waterfall and decided to stop the car and explore. So glad that we did. After a small hike (honestly, perhaps 5 - 10 minutes) you see this beautiful waterfall cascading onto a secluded beach. It is breathtaking. A small path hugs the coast which gives you even better vantage points of the falls. As an added bonus, you can also take a short hike to the top of the cliff where you can see the exact point where the waterfall cascades over the side. Not as awe-inspiring as Niagara Falls, but stunning none-the-less. One of the absolute highlights of our trip to California (and there were several). If in the area....definitely check it out. read more
7 years ago
If you are driving along the coast, you might as well make an effort to stop here and enjoy the beautiful view. It's best to park along the side of the road if you can find any spots since it cuts walking time down to a fraction. Worth the stop, but does anyone know how to actually get down to the beach area? read more
6 years ago
While visiting San Francisco, my friend decided to rent a car and take me down the coast. Absolutely amazing. This was a wonderful place to stop along the way. read more
7 years ago
10 years ago
McWay Falls, in or around (not actually sure lol) Julia Pfeiffer State Park, is a waterfall that is just off Pacific Coast Highway (actually... that's what we call it for Socal) - just off Hwy 1 in Big Sur. The previous day, I was trying to find something that could be a landmark that would tell us where McWay Falls is, because along Hwy 1, after you leave San Simeon, the chances of you having signal or data is pretty slim. And GPS can work, if it knows (I think we typed in the state park on the GPS), but we weren't completely sure where McWay Falls was exactly. This is at the most Southern part of the State Park :) You'll be able to tell and see where it is when you see the big sign that tells you where the park is. You then can park inside or park on Hwy 1 (heading northbound) on the street (be careful!). Actually I take that back. I don't remember if it was northbound AND southbound (both sides) because I remember there was a trail that walked up to the road. Either way, you follow the trail that takes you to McWay Falls (it'll say once you get to the park). You follow the trail- it's a pretty flat trail and you'll be able to walk to it in about 7-10 minutes, depending on how fast or slow you walk. The waterfall itself is alright, but the colors that show up make it sooo nice. Would I say that it's a must stop? If you're driving Hwy 1 from LA to SF, might as well soak up the view. There'll be variances in the ocean, and this is one of those places! It's a good place to stop by and take pictures, and you can also take other trails and visit other parts, time willing. Definitely stop by if you have a chance! And if you have more time, make sure you explore the rest of the park. ALSO BE WARY GAS IS ~APPX 10 MILES AWAY FROM THIS LOCATION. [Heading North on Hwy 1] read more
An absolute MUST when driving along the 1. Although all of the big sur coastline is breathtaking, this cove is the most picturesque scene of all! McWay Falls boasts 50 shades of blue and the most surreal turquoise waters I've seen in Cali. The "falls" is a bit misleading - don't expect a massive waterfall but the beauty of the cove makes up for it. Pro tip: don't pay 10$ for parking at the state park, instead park along the road and take the trail down beginning on the side of the road closest to the coast. Otherwise you are paying 10$ just to walk a further walk, unless you are planning on doing another hike. Access to the beach is prohibited and extremely dangerous but luckily you can soak up all the beauty from up above! read more
McWay Waterfall is one of the popular destinations seen by every traveller on Highway 1. It's located in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, is an 80 foot waterfall, falling straight onto the beach below, which is the most admired feature of the place. Me and the Hubby took the shortest trail that leads to the waterfall as it was sunset time and we were in a hurry not wanting to miss the view. The trail path was easy, flat and wide. There was a small tunnel along the pathway, the end of it leads to a stunning Ocean facing view point. Pause for a moment there and click as many silhouette shots as you can, especially if you hit this place during sunset. Then turn right and continue proceeding further to the waterfall view point. Honestly, I felt the waterfall part to be a mere hype. I can only see tiniest cascade of water falling to the beach below. Because of this reason, I could not appreciate the much talked about the waterfall view. But, however, I must admit that I did enjoy the overall view of it along the surrounding area. It was amazing and got many nice shots in my cam. Parking tip, - There is an official parking area inside the park. $10 is the fee per day use. - Visitors can also park for free outside of the park along the west side of Highway 1. read more
Words cannot describe just how amazing the view truly is! This location is a great place to go for a picnic, a short getaway, place to read your book(s), and etc. The walk here isn't that bad either, if my brain remembers right the walk here was barely over half a mile. So, not only is the walk here short but simple as well. A word of advice would be to bring exact change of $10 as parking does not give back change (bummer right?) Overall, I would really recommend coming here for the view whenever possible because it will take your breath away. read more
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
Indoor Amenities
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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