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 L
    10 contributions
    quick must see while driving Hwy1, Big Sur area
    Went 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 purposes
    Visited May 2021
    Written June 3, 2021
  • eghr
    San Francisco, California146 contributions
    Quick 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 2021
    Written September 3, 2021
  • Cr1717
    Banning, California359 contributions
    Park outside the state park if possible
    You 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 2020
    Traveled with friends
    Written February 22, 2020
  • Amy W
    Phoenix, Arizona139 contributions
    Average Falls
    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.
    Visited June 2021
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 29, 2021
  • CuriousOptimist
    Austin, Texas85 contributions
    A Little Bit of Magic
    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!
    Visited July 2021
    Written August 1, 2021
  • Nathan U
    San Jose, California959 contributions
    Meh.
    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 2021
    Traveled with family
    Written September 8, 2021
  • N4246LIlauram
    Peoria, Arizona13 contributions
    McWay Falls is breathtaking
    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.
    Visited April 2022
    Written April 28, 2022
  • Johnny Trekkie
    San Diego, California9,192 contributions
    Overrated
    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.
    Visited May 2021
    Written June 9, 2021
  • DWH
    St. Albans, United Kingdom21 contributions
    Try 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 2022
    Traveled with family
    Written August 11, 2022
  • Zeke B
    Costa Mesa, California27 contributions
    Decent but not exciting
    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.
    Visited April 2022
    Written June 12, 2022
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Jack L
10 contributions
May 2021
Went 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 purposes
Written June 3, 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.

eghr
San Francisco, CA146 contributions
Aug 2021
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.
Written September 3, 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.

Cr1717
Banning, CA359 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
You 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.
Written February 22, 2020
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.

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.
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.

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