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Hiking to McWay Falls in Big Sur

December 22, 2015 By Jeff H 6 Comments

Photogenic McWay Falls in Big Sur

McWay Falls is “that” waterfall in Big Sur that everyone has seen and many have photographed. I had driven up and down Big Sur several times before I finally made a point of going here. It was on my “must-see” list for years, but I just hadn’t timed my drive right… until this year.

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Trail Details
Distance: 0.5 miles
Time: 10 min.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 50 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Year-round
The “hike” to McWay Falls is really just a casual stroll on a mostly paved trail. It’s no more than half a mile, and only when you include the weave and bob around the crowds. But it’s well worth it. McWay Falls is one of the most scenic, most photographed views in Big Sur. The waterfall from McWay Creek spills directly onto the beach. The color of the water can be surreal. The jagged rocks; the surging ocean; the coastal forest all converge and magic happens.

The best place to get to McWay Falls is from Falls Trail just past the entrance to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. You’ll pay a day use fee to park here, but the Falls Trail goes under Pacific Coast Highway via a tunnel, making it a safer option than jockeying for a parking spot along busy Highway 1.

The Falls Trail takes you to epic McWay Falls in Big Sur

Once you pass through the tunnel, you wind your way along the top of the bluff to the right. You’ll see great views of McWay Falls, where the water from McWay Creek spills 80 feet down, directly onto the beach.

Interestingly, that beach didn’t always exist.

In 1983, a huge landslide just north of the cove dumped massive amounts of dirt and silt into the ocean. Pacific Coast Highway was closed for nearly a year as crews worked to clear the slide and stabilize the hills. The cove, which used to be filled entirely with sea water, was filled with sand and sediment that washed up as a result of the landslide.

The overlook itself is the terrace from what used to be the Waterfall House — a vacation residence of Lathrop and Helen Hooper Brown. The ranch was donated to the state on the condition that it be preserved for a state park — dedicated to Julia Pfeiffer Burns — one of the pioneer women of Big Sur.

Standing there on the terrace, it’s hard to imagine a more idyllic bedroom view.

McWay Falls Trail Map

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: mcway-falls.gpx

McWay Falls Tips

  • Visit later in the afternoon for best the best light
  • Don’t ignore the signs warning you to NOT climb down the cliff to the beach. It accelerates erosion and could lead to further access restrictions. Lead by your example.
  • Many people park on the side of Highway 1, but avoid the risk by parking on the east side in the state park’s parking lot. You’ll have to pay a few bucks, but you have a scenic tunnel that takes you safely and directly to the fall overlook.
  • In December and January, the overlook is a good place to watch for gray whales migrating southward to the calving grounds off the Baja California coast. You can see them return northward in March and April.
  • There are bathrooms available inside the state park on the east side of PCH.

More Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Resources

  • Take time to hike the Ewoldsen Trail on the “other” side of PCH.
  • Official Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Brochure (PDF)
  • Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (official website)

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Weather Forecast

The location could not be found.

Filed Under: State Parks, Trail Guides Tagged With: Big Sur, coastal, easy, family-friendly, State Park, vista, waterfall

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Jeff H

About Jeff H

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

Comments

  1. soulrunner74 says

    December 23, 2015 at 12:19 am

    Nice Track
    Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  2. Joe says

    May 10, 2016 at 8:14 am

    Avoid paying the day use fee by camping in one of the nearby state parks. Your camping fees give you access to any state park on any day you’ve paid overnight fees. This is a great trip to do on the way back to so Cal from Pfeiffer Big Sur state park.

    Reply
    • Theresa Eychaner says

      June 20, 2020 at 11:48 am

      Is there a link where of a cwrtain place where I can camp over night to hike falls.

      Reply
  3. Steve Perez says

    June 27, 2019 at 8:19 am

    Can you swim at the beach by the McWay Falls?

    Reply
  4. Bob says

    December 2, 2019 at 3:38 pm

    Very nice article. Beautiful and encouraging to try to visit early next year, especially my wife and I who aren’t hikers. Very easy access. Thanks for the opportunity to explore. Saw a picture of the area at a motel in South Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Beach and Yacht Club.

    Reply
  5. Eliza says

    July 19, 2021 at 11:09 am

    Do you know if this ‘hike’ to the falls is stroller-friendly? Thanks for this great information!

    Reply

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