McWay Falls
McWay Falls
4.5
About
A unique 80-foot tidefall in the Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park—the water appears to cascade directly into the ocean during high tide, while low tide reveals the sandy beach below. Try spotting condors overhead during the short nature walk from the parking lot to the viewing point. The area has inland and coastal hiking trails and is an excellent spot for whale watching in December and January.
McWay Waterfall is popular with tourists and locales and is often crowded, especially towards sunset—consider visiting during sunrise instead. Either way, it’s an unforgettable pitstop on your Big Sur road trip. – Tripadvisor
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- Jack L10 contributionsquick must see while driving Hwy1, Big Sur areaWent in May 2021. A quick must see. Had tried a month earlier but went to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park instead of Julie Pfeiffer Burns State Park. If you are traveling south on Hwy 1 from Monterey/Carmel area, go past Pfeiffer Big Sur about 10-15 minutes to Julia Pfeiffer Burns park. Easy mistake because Big Sur park does have a "waterfall" trail. Pay $10/car at self check in and it is an easy 10min walk to viewing area. The trail is more of a packed dirt sidewalk vs a "trail". There is a small stair to access trail, so it is not wheelchair accessible. I would say that a person with a walker or cane could navigate with patience. There is a single bench at viewing area. I would have stayed longer but the end of trail IS the viewing area and others were arriving and I didn't want to be crowded(pandemic). Because of safety concerns (steep cliffs), beach access is not allowed but, there was a single line of footprints in the sand. TIP: go early to avoid the crowds, this allows you to enjoy nature, hear the crashing waves and feel the seabreeze. I got there about 7:30am. Plenty pics of beach, posted pics of trail for info purposesVisited May 2021Written June 3, 2021
- eghrSan Francisco, California146 contributionsQuick stop ...The walk to the fall observation area is only about 10 minutes from the parking lot. Paid the $10 state park access fee and parked. Spent about a half an hour here. Unfortunately, the day was foggy so the view was not great. TIP: The state park access fee is good all day, so after McWay Falls if you are headed north on HW1, stop at the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Access is already paid, since you already paid for access at McWay Falls. You could spend all day here with the multiple interior and coastal hiking trails. There is also beach access. Avoid weekends - the park gets full quickly and you may have to park along the road.Visited August 2021Written September 3, 2021
- Cr1717Banning, California359 contributionsPark outside the state park if possibleYou can park outside of the state park and save $10. It’s a very short hike. The views from the cliffs outside of the park is better than the views down the trail inside the park. Watch out for poison oak.Visited February 2020Traveled with friendsWritten February 22, 2020
- Amy WPhoenix, Arizona139 contributionsAverage FallsThe falls are the most photographed falls in California. There is a bit of an easy hike to get back to them. We first went in the morning and it was foggy. We weren’t told that the falls wouldn’t be visible due to the fog. On our way back to the hotel we stopped again did the hike back and got to see them. They were nice but nothing that took my breath away. I have seen much better in Idaho and Hawaiian. There is a $10 a day charge and parking is limited.Visited June 2021Traveled as a coupleWritten June 29, 2021
- CuriousOptimistAustin, Texas85 contributionsA Little Bit of MagicIf you're driving the PCH or visiting Big Sur, this is an absolute must-see! The walk from the parking lot is easy and only takes about 10 minutes. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful scenic lookouts. The waterfall is mesmerizing, the water color spectacular, and we even saw otters frolicking!Visited July 2021Written August 1, 2021
- Nathan USan Jose, California959 contributionsMeh.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.Visited September 2021Traveled with familyWritten September 8, 2021
- N4246LIlauramPeoria, Arizona13 contributionsMcWay Falls is breathtakingMcWay Falls is a short walk from the parking area. You will walk down stairs to a paved path and leads through a tunnel, and the path meanders to McWay Falls. The fresh water from the creek turns into a waterfall that spills onto the beach sand. There is not a safe way to access the beach, so you will see McWay Falls from a viewing platform, and it is usually crowded so expect crowds. It is really beautiful. I like to go at sunrise when there aren't many people. Just before sunset is also a really nice time to see this area. It's a peaceful nature walk - not really a hike.Visited April 2022Written April 28, 2022
- Johnny TrekkieSan Diego, California9,192 contributionsOverratedFrom the many internet photos and youtube videos these falls look like a slice of Heaven... Because of all the hype, I was actually disappointed when I finally made it here. The falls underwhelmingly small, and the viewing area is quite far from the otherwise lovely little cove. Depending on when you arrive, there will be crowds of people, especially during these Covid times. That said McWay falls is still a nice earthly site to see and an easy visit along your Highway 1 drive. You'll need a good SLR camera to get a good photo, your camera phone won't do it justice. To be honest, I'm older and travel snob at this point in my life and seen much more incredible falls in Hawaii, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Canada, and more. McWay Falls is probably a 5 Star if you haven't seen many waterfalls and don't travel much.Visited May 2021Written June 9, 2021
- DWHSt. Albans, United Kingdom21 contributionsTry and avoid the parking...Avoid. We came to see the falls, filled in a ridiculously antiquated form to put $10 in a box for parking and then couldn't park as there was about 20 parking spots. There was nobody to talk to or complain to so we just left. Never saw a thing and felt cheated. I would not bother.Visited August 2022Traveled with familyWritten August 11, 2022
- Zeke BCosta Mesa, California27 contributionsDecent but not excitingThe 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.Visited April 2022Written June 12, 2022
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
1,197 reviews
Excellent
820
Very good
251
Average
93
Poor
24
Terrible
9
Amy W
Phoenix, AZ139 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
The falls are the most photographed falls in California. There is a bit of an easy hike to get back to them. We first went in the morning and it was foggy. We weren’t told that the falls wouldn’t be visible due to the fog. On our way back to the hotel we stopped again did the hike back and got to see them. They were nice but nothing that took my breath away. I have seen much better in Idaho and Hawaiian. There is a $10 a day charge and parking is limited.
Written June 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CuriousOptimist
Austin, TX85 contributions
Jul 2021
If you're driving the PCH or visiting Big Sur, this is an absolute must-see! The walk from the parking lot is easy and only takes about 10 minutes. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful scenic lookouts. The waterfall is mesmerizing, the water color spectacular, and we even saw otters frolicking!
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathan U
San Jose, CA959 contributions
Sep 2021 • Family
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.
Written September 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N4246LIlauram
Peoria, AZ13 contributions
Apr 2022
McWay Falls is a short walk from the parking area. You will walk down stairs to a paved path and leads through a tunnel, and the path meanders to McWay Falls. The fresh water from the creek turns into a waterfall that spills onto the beach sand. There is not a safe way to access the beach, so you will see McWay Falls from a viewing platform, and it is usually crowded so expect crowds. It is really beautiful. I like to go at sunrise when there aren't many people. Just before sunset is also a really nice time to see this area. It's a peaceful nature walk - not really a hike.
Written April 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johnny Trekkie
San Diego, CA9,192 contributions
May 2021
From the many internet photos and youtube videos these falls look like a slice of Heaven...
Because of all the hype, I was actually disappointed when I finally made it here. The falls underwhelmingly small, and the viewing area is quite far from the otherwise lovely little cove. Depending on when you arrive, there will be crowds of people, especially during these Covid times. That said McWay falls is still a nice earthly site to see and an easy visit along your Highway 1 drive. You'll need a good SLR camera to get a good photo, your camera phone won't do it justice.
To be honest, I'm older and travel snob at this point in my life and seen much more incredible falls in Hawaii, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Canada, and more. McWay Falls is probably a 5 Star if you haven't seen many waterfalls and don't travel much.
Because of all the hype, I was actually disappointed when I finally made it here. The falls underwhelmingly small, and the viewing area is quite far from the otherwise lovely little cove. Depending on when you arrive, there will be crowds of people, especially during these Covid times. That said McWay falls is still a nice earthly site to see and an easy visit along your Highway 1 drive. You'll need a good SLR camera to get a good photo, your camera phone won't do it justice.
To be honest, I'm older and travel snob at this point in my life and seen much more incredible falls in Hawaii, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Canada, and more. McWay Falls is probably a 5 Star if you haven't seen many waterfalls and don't travel much.
Written June 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DWH
St. Albans, UK21 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Avoid. We came to see the falls, filled in a ridiculously antiquated form to put $10 in a box for parking and then couldn't park as there was about 20 parking spots. There was nobody to talk to or complain to so we just left. Never saw a thing and felt cheated. I would not bother.
Written August 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zeke B
Costa Mesa, CA27 contributions
Apr 2022
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.
Written June 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel L
Haywards Heath, UK74 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
As we were driving on the PCH from LA to San Fran, we looked up a few stop points. A waitress on our journey recommended the stop and so we did. It’s a very quick pit stop for a nice view. Yes there is a waterfall but it’s very small. My biggest recommendation is to park on the road nearby and not in the main (small car park). It costed us $10 and we were there for 10-15minutes. I wish we had just parked on the road for free. The walk from the car park to the viewing deck was about 5 mins (not far at all- I’ve read other reviews suggesting it’s a ‘hike’ which it wasn’t). It’s a pretty photo opportunity if you’re looking for a quick stop and photo. Glad we did it but not glad we paid to park.
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christin L
Downey, CA15 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Finding parking for our group of 18 people in 4 vehicles was a challenge but definitely worth the view. The falls overlook is a short walk from the parking lot easily manageable for the young children. We were disappointed that there doesn’t appear to be a trail down to the actual beach.
Written July 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anniediane
Annapolis, MD26 contributions
Jun 2022
Short and easy hike to the falls. Absolutely gorgeous. Don't drive the coast without stopping. There isn't a lot of parking but stick around, people come and go frequently. The views are spectacular.
Written November 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bella
Madera, CA
are you able to walk on the beach?
swilson1999
Carluke, UK1,039 contributions
No, we were unable to get down to the beach unfortunately
Sorcietto
Rome, Italy76 contributions
Ciao, vorrei sapere se per arrivare al belvedere senza entrare nel parco ci sono indicazioni direttamente sulla strada..... insomma è facile arrivarci?
grazie mille....
Bob H
Watsonville, CA788 contributions
I have always pay my entry fees which is good all day for all other state parks. I am guessing you can park somewhere on the side of the road then walk in to avoid paying. But, check to see if there is a sign saying no parking. The walk is about 1/8-1/4 of a mile which includes a tunnel that goes under the highway to the falls. I cannot remember if there is a specific sign saying, McWay Falls." I do not think so just the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park sign.
Joshua Lee
Las Vegas, NV16 contributions
Can you fly a drone to get aerial shots of the falls?
bevbanks
Newport, UK29 contributions
Hi. When we there a lad was flying a drone, but somebody told him he wasn't allowed and could get a ticket. I don't think he was an official. No access to the waterfall. Good view though from the road.
Kim B
1 contribution
Hi,
We're hoping to explore our beautiful state next weekend driving from Sacramento to San Diego in one day. We'd like to explore big sur, 17 mile Dr, Bixby creek bridge, mcway falls, Pfeiffer beach, hearst castle and elephant seals. What order should we do it in and how long would you think we should take at each place please? (I have 3 young children). Thank you!!
Bob H
Watsonville, CA788 contributions
Hi,
Using Mapquest, the drive from Sacramento to San Diego would take over 8 hours going on the most direct route- Interstate 5. I am guessing you would add another 2-3 hours if you are to take Highway 1 to see the sights you wanted to see. Without stopping, you are looking at 10-11 hours of driving. I do not recommend doing this especially you have young kids. In other words, you do not have time to stop to see all those sights.You really need to add another day.
As for the order, you almost have it right. Pfieffer beach would be in front of McWay falls. Safe travels.
beachboy1928
1 contribution
We are planning on staying in Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground the second week of December. We will be visiting McWay Falls. How is the air quality? Is there smoke from the terrible fires in CA right now?
Bob H
Watsonville, CA788 contributions
Well, I live in the Monterey Bay area so the air quality has been bad such that I have stopped jogging. Monterey half marathon was cancelled. The smoke is from the Camp fire( Paradise). Personally, I have not gone south to Big Sur so I cannot give any assessment.
We are going to have significant rain on 11/21 and 23. Hopefully, the rain will suppress the fires. And may blow the smoke away. Maybe someone on Tripadvisor who lives in Big Sur can give you a definite answer to your question.
Can u walk down to the falls?
JMJBL
Lewisburg, PA282 contributions
You could not walk down to the falls on July 2018.
I'll be camping at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and wanted to go see Mcway Falls. Looks like there is a lane closure on the way there until September 5. Is there a way to get there without going in reverse and making a 3 hour drive?
caseywouldgo
Los Angeles, CA15 contributions
I didn’t see any lane closures from Pfeiffer to McWay, but you can always check the local traffic or CA state park websites before you go.
Cynthia J
18 contributions
do you know if this trail has opened yet? Who would we notify before attempting to check it out on the day of our visit there?
Bob H
Watsonville, CA788 contributions
I was there in Feb and the trail was open. I am sort of local as I live north of the park. I have not heard any news about Mcfalls on local news. No news is good news.
The only issue is getting there. Approaching from the south( LA- Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo) areas ) is not possible. Highway 1 suffered a massive mud slide where Cal-Trans is trying to re-open the highway by the end of 2018. The only other option to avoid going all the way around from the north is coming from the east. There is a small road called Nacimiento-Fergusson which goes from Fort Hunter Liggett( King City) to Highway 1 BUT is essentially an one lane road with blind curves so you have to go slow. It takes about one hour to cross over the mountain pass from the east vs three or more hours coming in from north; assuming you start from Highway 101 in King City.
Good luck and safe travels
Is the trail to mcway falls currently open?
Jim R
Sydney, Australia6 contributions
Trail is half closed July 2018. Better views from the road.
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Claim your listingMcWay Falls (Big Sur) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about McWay Falls
- We recommend booking McWay Falls tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 6 McWay Falls tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience McWay Falls:
- Big Sur McWay Falls California Coast One Day from Monterey Carmel (From $278.00)
- Big Sur Self-Driving Audio Tour in California (Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway) (From $14.99)
- Big Sur Monterey California Coast McWay Falls from San Jose (From $385.00)
- Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour (Pacific Coast Highway) (From $24.99)
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Big Sur PCH Highway 1 (From $14.99)
- Hotels near McWay Falls:
- (7.13 mi) Post Ranch Inn
- (6.57 mi) Ventana Big Sur, An Alila Resort
- (9.72 mi) Glen Oaks Big Sur
- (5.65 mi) Deetjen's Big Sur Inn
- (6.72 mi) Ventana Campground
- Restaurants near McWay Falls:
- (5.65 mi) Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Restaurant
- (6.23 mi) Nepenthe
- (7.11 mi) Sierra Mar
- (6.44 mi) The Sur House
- (7.24 mi) Big Sur Bakery
- Attractions near McWay Falls:
- (0.00 mi) Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- (6.25 mi) Big Sur Tours and More
- (1.60 mi) Partington Cove
- (6.09 mi) Bixby Bridge
- (8.59 mi) Pfeiffer Beach
McWay Falls Information
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