Indeed, we quickly understood why Big Sur had a reputation for being the best place to witness where the ocean meets the sky. That was when the warm glow of the setting sun painted both the falls and the neighboring cove a warm yellow and orange. In addition to the picturesque (but inaccessible) cove, on a recent visit in 2018, we noticed for the first time that there was actually a sea arch almost behind the waterfall itself!Īnd while the scene is beautiful at almost any time of day, we were treated to a really special sight when we showed up right at sunset. McWay Falls as seen in the late afternoon of an overcast day in November of a dry year, which further proves its longevity The waterfall is said to drop some 80ft into a beach situated within a picturesque cove (McWay Cove also called Waterfall Cove) opening out to the Pacific Ocean. I swear that every time we’ve visited the Big Sur Coast, we’ve made at least one stop to McWay Falls so I’d imagine we had to have been here at least six times or more over the years. Its impossibly scenic location (as you can see in the photo above) was what made this waterfall unique and a place we never get tired of seeing no matter how many times we’ve been here. We’ve even confirmed that McWay Creek was year-round as we’ve been here in different seasons from Spring through Autumn.
The waterfall was where McWay Creek was said to drop some 80ft into a beach situated within the picturesque McWay Cove (also called Waterfall Cove), which opened out to the Pacific Ocean. Special-use permits allow experienced scuba divers to explore the reserve.McWay Falls was easily one of the most beautifully situated waterfalls on the California Coast that we’ve personally encountered.
The rocky shoreline is the access to the underwater Park. In March and April, they can be seen returning north to their summer feeding grounds in the North Pacific.īetween Partington Point and McWay Creek is the Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwater Area, which was established in 1970 and is now a Scuba diving area. Many whales pass close to shore at this point, and occasionally one will come into the mouth of the cove. Whale Watching - in December and January the bench at the end of Overlook trail is an excellent place to watch for gray whales migrating southward to their breeding and calving grounds off the Baja California coast. It features redwood, tan oak, madrone, chaparral, and an 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the ocean from the Overlook Trail.Ī panoramic view of the ocean and miles of rugged coastline is available from the higher elevations along the trails east of Highway 1. Named after Julia Pfeiffer Burns, a well respected pioneer woman in the Big Sur country, the Park stretches from the Big Sur coastline into nearby 3,000-foot ridges.
#Big sur waterfall onto beach series
A series of activities for the whole family. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park has an active Guided Hikes, Campfire Program, Junior Rangers, and Ranger Cubs programs through the summer months. USFS Pfeiffer Beach - directions: Travel 1.5 miles south on Highway 1, take 2nd right after the Ranger Station at single lane road. A loop trail starting in the redwood Forest by McWay Creek and climbing to incredible coastal views. A quick walk to an overlook facing McWay Falls, an incredible 80-foot waterfall that drops directly onto the sandy beach.Įwoldsen Trail: 4.5 miles roundtrip, moderate to strenuous. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a few miles south of Fernwood but worth the drive to see the beautiful McWay Waterfall and to enjoy the Ewoldsen trail.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California, United States
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