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All 20 Big Sur Attractions »

McWay Falls

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, CA
Ranked #5 of 14 attractions in Big Sur
4.5 of 5 stars 38 Reviews
Type: Waterfalls
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38 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    25
    10
    3
    0
    0
Date Rating
delaware
Senior Contributor
30 reviews 30 reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 17, 2012

McWay Falls is now a signature shot for many of the publications promoting Big Sur tourism. It is pretty. To get the best effect, you should visit when the sunshine comes from the west at an angle in the late afternoon. More

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See 2 more reviews by nanoDelaware for Big Sur
vero beach, FL
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
24 helpful votes 24 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 15, 2012

This was our favorite part of the Central California coast. It was so beautiful that it actually bumped out the seal pups for our favorite coastal photo! More

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san jose
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 14, 2012

A short hike through a paved path leads to the point from where you can see the waterfall and the pristine beach below. Do able with toddlers More

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Gold Canyon, Arizona
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 11, 2012

Wow! This place is gorgeous. It is a very short/easy hike from the parking lot More

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Allentown, Pennsylvania
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 3, 2012

1.7 mile hike to the waterfall. It's not very big at all, but the hike provides some beautiful scenery. More

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See 5 more reviews by laredo11 for Big Sur
Bristol, United Kingdom
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 1, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

It's just a short walk from the car park to the point where you can see the waterfall cascading on to a picturesque beach. In April there were lots of wild flowers and beautifully scented wild herbs lining the path. There are some useful and interesting information boards about the area. We also walked the canyon trail, up along a... More

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See 3 more reviews by 2bristolians for Big Sur
Las Vegas, Nevada
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
Reviews in 28 cities Reviews in 28 cities
24 helpful votes 24 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 30, 2012

This spectacular site is easily accessible from both the highway and the Pfeiffer Burns park. It is an easy walk for a great view. More

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See 2 more reviews by chumbud for Big Sur
Dallas, Texas
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 19, 2012

This was my second stop at McWay Falls and it is amazing to say the least! I like parking on the mountain side and taking the tunnel under the road to get there. You are surrounded my mountains that are also breath taking. It's hard to know which way to look. Definitely worth the stop and time to sit and... More

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See 2 more reviews by robyng78 for Big Sur
Worcestershire, England
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
16 helpful votes 16 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 14, 2012

the falls are great. The way the path allows you to take in different aspects is wonderful. Allow a good 30-40mins to walk the path, take photographs and relax. More

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See 3 more reviews by Boo1000 for Big Sur
Big Sur, California
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 27, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

I live in the area so visit often. It is one of the most beautiful scenes on earth. Be sure to take the trail to the LEFT when coming through the tunnel to walk on the trails there with excellent views. To the right is the trail to the Falls. I think a lot of people miss the trails to... More

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