When people talk about Big Sur, there’s one place in particular that is always mentioned, the beautiful McWay Falls. Located adjacent to the world-renowned Pacific Coast Highway, visiting McWay Falls is a highlight to Big Sur as it’s undoubtedly one of the most naturally-stunning places on the entire west coast.
What is McWay Falls?
Possibly the most gorgeous area in all of Big Sur is McWay Falls, an 80-foot waterfall on the coast. Managed by the California State Park system, the area is located within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
The water that feeds McWay Falls is fed by the year-round flowing of McWay Creek. The best time to see McWay is during high tide when the waterfall juts directly into the ocean. If you get the chance to visit during this time, you’ll be seeing one of only two tidefalls in the entire state of California.
Want to do some hiking in Big Sur? Check out the short Partington Cove Trail here!
How to Get to McWay Falls
The viewpoint for McWay Falls is easily-accessible, located just across the road from the entrance to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The easiest way to access the viewpoint trail is by parking in the state park, which costs $10 for day use.
If you’re wanting to save money or don’t plan on spending much time here, you can park your vehicle off of Highway 1. Be sure to have the vehicle completely off the pavement and watch for traffic when crossing the highway. There is another pull-off just north of McWay Falls which will allow you to access another view.
Embarking on a Highway 1 road trip? Click here for the best stops along the way!
History of the McWay Falls Area
In the early 1920s, a wealthy congressman and his wife purchased a 1600-acre piece of land here in Big Sur called Saddle Rock Ranch. In 1940, the couple replaced the log cabin on site with a two-story mansion called the Waterfall House. Nearly 20 years later, they moved away from the area, leaving behind the property to the state. That plot of land was turned into Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, named after a local pioneer woman.
The original owners wanted their mansion to be turned into a museum featuring local California flora and historical objects from the Big Sur area. At this time in the 1960s, travel to the Big Sur area was light. Along with that, multiple mud slides occurred which shut down Highway 1 for up to a year. Lack of funding and resources for maintenance disallowed the museum plan to happen and the mansion was tore down.
Visiting McWay Falls
When visiting McWay Falls, we normally park off pavement on the northbound side of the road, just north of the entrance to the state park. From here, walk through the entrance of the state park and take a right for the McWay Waterfall Overlook Trail.
Check here to see the status of the McWay Falls Trail
Taking this route, you’ll walk through a drainage pipe and instantly meet panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Walking north along the trail, we can begin to see McWay Falls dropping 80 feet into the ocean.
Continuing on for 1/4 of a mile, we come to the Waterfall Overlook on the site of that former mansion. Remnants of this past still exists with the foundation of the home, non-native palm trees and a funicular railway.
Visit Big Sur at any time of year to see the beautiful crystal clear McWay Falls flow heavily into the ocean.
Read More Nature Posts HereBe sure to check out my California archives here for more first-hand experiences and tips for exploring!
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