McWay Falls

The McWay Falls trail at the state park is still closed unfortunately. You can walk along the highway a little way and see a view of it. It's nice with a steady falls in late Dec. There wasn't much water in late Sept, when it was toward the end of the dry season. The coast is spectacular.

It was such a beautiful day, and I am happy about that. No fog, and the fall was easily visible from the viewing area. Unfortunately, the last part of the trail is still closed, but as you can see from the photos, the fall is visible. The trail is super easy. It turned out to be a hotter day than I expected, so I didn't stay there long. There is a bench if you want to relax a bit before heading back. ***Parking is self registered. Pick up the cash envelope on your way in OR park to the side to complete. Remember to leave the top portion on dash. Park staff were present, checking and walking the trail as well. If you pay for parking at any state park, keep your receipt because it will cover all state parks in the area for the entire day. Restrooms available.

Beautiful spot! Like a 10 min walk through the tunnel from the car parking lot to see the falls. You can't go near the falls but can see them from top of the cliff clearly. Worth it to stop by here if you're in the area

Beautiful waterfall with breathtaking views. Ontop of that, it's pretty easy to get there. Went on the weekends and there were many free parking spaces by the road. Definitely recommend.

McWay Falls is one of the most iconic and breathtaking natural sights along California’s Highway 1, nestled within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in the heart of Big Sur. This 80-foot waterfall dramatically cascades directly onto a secluded beach or into the Pacific Ocean, depending on the tide, creating a picture-perfect view that looks like it belongs on a postcard. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it's one of the few waterfalls in the U.S. that empties directly into the ocean. Located right off Highway 1, the park is accessible via a short, well-maintained trail that leads to an overlook with a spectacular, panoramic view of the falls and the turquoise waters below. The trail is flat and easy, making it suitable for visitors of all ages. There is also a historic house site nearby and interpretive signs that tell the story of the park and the McWay family's legacy. While access to the beach is restricted to protect the fragile ecosystem, the viewpoint alone is more than worth the stop. Parking can be limited during peak times, so it's best to arrive early. Overall, McWay Falls is a must-see destination for travelers exploring Big Sur—offering a serene, almost magical experience that's perfect for photographers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking peace and inspiration from the natural world.

This was the last stop while driving south on PCH. The road was closed a couple miles south of here due to an avalanche or something. The short hile to the falls is definitely worth it. You’re mostly disappointed at the end, since the falls itself is a bit underwhelming. They should’ve named this place after the view (emerald point? Dragon eye?) rather than after the falls. Most visitors are disappointed the first time they see these little bitty falls ;-)

Pictures taken June 18th. An incredible place to visit. The walkway / trail down to the beach was closed that day so if you plan to go to the bottom, try to find out about that before heading out. Otherwise nice views of the falls from top and the 10 minute walk from the lot to the end of the walkway overlooking the falls. Beautiful!

As far as I know this the only waterfall in the world which is found at the beach. I had seen many people posting photos and videos captured from the tunnel under the waterfall but looks like the path has been closed for the trekking. In a way its good, this view is more beautiful without humans 😊 There are limited parking spaces near the visitor center, parking inside charges around $10, the inside parking was full and we were asked by staff to park at parking areas away from the entrance. The center has public restrooms, entree is free. As the Route 1 was closed we had to come to this place from north which adds up 3 hrs drive one side. But if you are driving from LA then it adds to the advantage as when you drive from the North you get better views of the Pacific coast You can trek to the view point which is easy and may take hardly 10 minutes. You might try to get the photos from the farthest view point. The view you get is astonishingly beautiful and you would love to stay there for longer time just to get more glance of the natural beauty. You can observe The waves swallowing all the water falling from the waterfall. A point where a sweet water loses its identity and meets into Ocean and becomes like it. Dont miss it.

One of the Falls we wanted to see in Big Sur was the McWay Falls just before highway 1 closure. Every week we drive up and down NorCal to visit California Beauties. From the North Bay, just take the highway 1, pass Point Lobos, Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Park, Pfeiffer Beach (purple sands) and to the end before the closure. It's quite a beautiful drive in Big Sur. The McWay Falls can't be access, can only see from the top. It's quite beautiful even in July. Most people park on the side of the road to avoid park parking fee. The park is on the left of the falls, we parked and walked out to see the falls. It seems like there's trail going down to the falls but it's closed. Anyhow, on trip, we can visit Pfeiffer beach, Pfeiffer falls, Point Lobos, and Bixby Bridge.

Important note about visiting! They will be closed starting April 2025 and probably stay closed for repairs of a retention wall well into 2026 so if you are planning to come here do it now! It may be more than a year before the trail is open again. It's one of the most iconic stops in Big Sur with the popular attraction being a tall waterfall falling on the sand very close to the ocean. I've seen many waterfalls and this one is definitely in the top 10 for uniqueness. When we came before I remember parking along Highway 1 precariously, luckily now there is a large parking lot across the street for $10. You do a short hike through a tunnel under the highway and you'll be at McWay Falls quickly. We came early in the morning and no one else was there. If you care about lighting it's better mid-day to sunset, in the morning the falls side will be in shadow. I personally prefer the morning to avoid crowds. The wood fence along the hike, especially near the falls, is short in height and some parts are rotting so I wouldn't lean or sit on them or you might take a steep fall off the cliff. You cannot get to the falls, even if you kayak over it's not allowed and it's a steep and dangerous climb down you wouldn't be able to do without ropes and gear. Even still, the view from the path is gorgeous and it's worth your time to stop here.

The walk was like 5 min from the parking lot i am a bit bummed i thought it was some big waterfall but it is cool to see and we took pics anyway

After reading so much about the Big Sur area and McWay Falls, we made it a top priority to visit as part of our California trip. We got to the falls around 5 p.m. on a weekday, and the lighting was perfect for our pictures. Also the traffic was not too bad. Unfortunately, we were not able to hike the trail because it was closed for restoration, but we were still able to get an incredible picture from the road.

Short walk from the parking lot to the lookout point that even kids can do it. No dogs allowed on the trail which is a bummer but good thing we checked and didn't bring our pup with us. The view is gorgeous! Even from this distance.

Very short and easy walk (with only a few stairs at the trail's beginning). The flat dirt trail leads you through a tunnel under highway 1 curving around to the right a short distance to a truly beautiful view. One of the few waterfalls that end directly into the ocean. I've been a few times since living here in California and it never gets old ... and any time of day it's breath taking!

Love! Lifelong local and just finally made it here. Park in the lot, pay $10, walk 5 minutes and you're there! This is one of only 2 waterfalls that falls directly into the ocean - the other is in Humboldt county. Truly beautiful.

Beautiful waterfall! Must visit if you are driving on PCH. This is one of the must stops if you are doing a road trip going up to Big Sur. The views are stunning! Park at the top and take a sketchy path down.

Spectacular view of the waterfall from the road side. Limited parking on the side of the highway.

What's up: I had heard about the waterfall that empties into the ocean before. When I found out that it was not too far away from where we were staying in Big Sur, we decided to stop by on our way back home. Parking: $10 per car. Since we had camp reservations for Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground, our parking fee was waived. They have a small lot on the left not too far from the restrooms and a larger lot towards the right. Environment: After parking, follow the signs and head to the tunnel that takes you under the road and to the other side of the highway. There were lots of signs warning of unstable cliffs and road closures but you'll be able to get to the point where you can see the waterfall spilling into the ocean; it's a lovely sight to see. Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. It's definitely worth a stop just to see the beauty of the surrounding area. We didn't do too much other than take pics of the waterfall and the ocean, but there were hiking trails nearby that you can take.

Is this a great view point? Well i'll never know because I brought my 3lb dog with me and dogs are not allowed even tho I'd be carrying him in a sling the entire time. Not every dog owner is irresponsible enough to let their dog roam around and defecate every where. We pay state taxes to enjoy these parks and view points - it's nature and the outdoors, why can't I bring my dog, he deserves to enjoy just like everyone. Start being open to allowing well behaved dogs at these places and realize that these are not pets for most people, they are our family members and deserve to be included. I would absolutely miss out on these experiences rather than not having my dog at my side to experience it with me.

No way McWay! You are a vision! Finally got to see this picturesque (and very popular) waterfall IRL, and it's as beautiful and magical as every photo I've ever seen on Instagram. It's true that this is one of the most photographed spots in Big Sur (along with Bixby Bridge), and rightfully so. I mean it's not everyday that you see a waterfall on a beach, and the fact that the beach is off limits to humans makes it that much more magical, pure and pristine. It's Mother Nature in all her untouched glory! My hubby and I were lucky enough to visit on a random Tuesday in late Feb (well not that random, it was my birthday!), so there were no crowds and no parking issues. I'm sure it helped that we're still in a global pandemic too, so there were literally 4 other people at McWay Falls when we arrived. Unfortunately the bridge/walkway that extends out to give you a better view of the beach/falls was closed and fenced off, so you could only walk out to a certain point. Once you turn into the main parking lot at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park sign, there's a little box where you can self-pay the $10 fee (money goes toward maintaining this amazing park for everyone to enjoy). Since there was no way to get change and since there were only a few cars around, we ended up parking on the side of Hwy 1 right outside the parking lot entrance. Right behind that self-pay parking station is the trail head that leads to McWay Falls. It's a short, 5-min hike or so and BAM! Mother Nature showing off with her waterfall, trees, beautiful beach, crashing waves...you get the picture! This place is an iconic spot in Big Sur for a reason!

This is one of the most picturesque waterfalls you will ever come across. You've probably seen photos on someone's screensaver or even come across it online and you are immediately mesmerized by its beauty. It certainly is one those "must stop" areas when traveling on Highway 1 (PCH for SoCal folks) whether you are driving up north or down south along the coast. McWay is an 80 foot waterfall in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur. The water comes from nearby McWay Creek and flows year round into the Pacific Ocean creating a spout that some people may describe as a unicorn's piss. In all seriousness, it's a gorgeous, serene, relaxing place and has been the backdrop of many amazing photos. You can't hike down the beach though as it's not permitted. Even if you try, you're bound to get arrested by the numerous Park Rangers on site. There's a path on the bottom of the road which you can also access through tunnel from the park. There are several lookout points along the path, and it's quite an easy and picturesque walk. In case you're wondering, the falls is named after Christopher McWay, an early settler and farmer who came to the area in the 1870s with his son. Also named after him is McWay Canyon and McWay Creek. He must've been an early Mandalorian as this is McWay. To get here, it's about 37 miles south of Carmel and you can park on the side of the road if the parking lot is full inside Julia Pfeiffer State Park. Have some patience as it's a very popular area so expect some slow downs and traffic in this area. Bring your camera, a good attitude, and please don't leave your trash and masks on the ground. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 76

Waterfall plunging into the Pacific We made a brief stop to see this beautiful sight of an 80-foot-tall waterfall cascading from the cliff into the beach below. McWay Falls is located in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and is probably the most well-known stops in all of Big Sur, at least in my opinion. Just like Alamere Falls at the Point Reyes National Seashore, it is a tidefall. I was delighted to see that it wasn't crowded at the viewing point during our stop. You can also drive into the park, pay the fee, and follow a trail to get a closer view but we didn't do that since we were trying to gauge our time to try to hit more bookmarked landmarks we'd like to see. Also, the beach is not open to the public. The falls took us no effort to see. There is some parking on the side and a walkway that took us to the viewing area. The views from the cliffs outside of the park offer a gorgeous scenery. The public were not allowed to go down to the waterfall area and, personally, I prefer it that way so it can remain pristine and beautiful to the eyes. Plus, there are no people in my photos... yass! postcard perfect! It falls year round and during high tide, the falls is a tidefall. This was our 4th stop and was well worth it but don't make a day of it here. Review #1688

No thank you.. As of right now this is a tourist trap. Trust me on this, save your time and money and skip this place and just enjoy the amazing pictures on the internet. There's only one partial trail open here and it's very crowded. The view isn't that great anyway. Simply put, it's not worth the $10 day use fee.. Your best bet (when driving southward down the 1) is to pull over on the side of the road for free. Keep in mind there isn't a lot of parking off the street. Save that money for the Pfeiffer State Beach and their purple sand...

There are much more spectacular waterfalls. There must be much more popular waterfalls. There is probably waterfalls that are more visited. That being said this waterfall should make it on anyone's travel bucket list. It is small but incredibly gorgeous, we're lucky enough to come here when it wasn't at all crowded so that's cool

This is a perfect FIRST stop on your road trip to Big Sur from LA. It's a great short walk (not even a hike) with a pretty view. Granted you can't see it up close & personal or the fact that it's blocked off makes it limited. It's literally a 10 minute walk towards the view. No uphills or struggle at all. I've seen old people & kids go through this. Even though there are signs of no dogs, I've seen a few bring their dogs on leash. PARKING & ENTRANCE: we didn't want to pay the fee to park (even tho there wasn't anyone "manning" the station) so we parked right outside the entrance on the side of the road. You can't miss the entrance sign & there are always cars parked on the side. If you want to explore more of the park (on the left hand side of the hike), then it'd be good to park inside. We only stopped for a short while to enjoy this falls. Although it was pretty far, for the time it took to hike this, it was worth the stop. Be mindful of the weather, it can cloudy and block the entire view or it can be clear and sunny which will make the experience better. Either way, a good stop!

Yes the view is great but I came to warn people about the parking. It's a log jam. All the cars got stuck for 20 minutes. The bridge only fits one car. One big ass van can ruin everyone's day.

Beautiful bay! The falls are nice too, but the bay is the star of this show. It's a short walk from the parking area to the overlook. Be sure to pay the $10 entrance fee. Not only will your funds help preserve and maintain the beautiful natural resources, but your entrance fee pays for a day pass at other state parks in the area.

Long winding road often leads to beautiful destination. Big Sur has plenty of them and the most picturesque of them all is the McWay Falls. It is an 80-foot-tall waterfall on the coast of Big Sur in central CA that flows 365 days from McWay Creek in JPBurns State Park. The hike to the falls was fairly easy. I am glad that I was able to see it in person and able to cross it off on my bucket list. It's so gorgeous and romantic. Getting inside the park has a nominal fee of ten bucks. Plenty of parking spots. Overall, I am ebullient that I was able to visit this wonderful natural falls. And I HIGHLY recommend this fall.

Undisturbed It's so close, yet so far. Part of the allure is the fact that you cannot get to the falls. It's actually illegal and if you're caught you can expect to be fined a nice chunk of change. Please respect the one rule and allow the natural untouched beauty to remain just so. You'll find this beautiful waterfall at the Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park. You may park inside of the park or get lucky with a spot along the highway. The short trail has been closed for sometime now due to erosion but you can still see the falls from the road. On a beautiful sunny day the waterfall literally sparkles as if it has glitter flowing through it. This spot is what poets write about. You really shouldn't miss this place. It's as beautiful as it gets. Also, as most of you already might know, Big Sur once again just recently experienced another landslide that took out a large portion of highway one. This area might disappear for good one day. See it before it's gone forever...

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.

When in Big Sur, one must stop by here for the gorgeous view! We came on a weekend where there were random bouts of rain, so by the time we arrived there, the sky was pretty cloudy and they closed the path for you to hike below (due to the recent rain). But that's okay, since we were able to snag a free parking spot along the shoulder like what pretty much everybody else was doing. The view is really nice. I highly recommend coming out here. Though my advice to you is to download Google maps onto your phone because you will not get service during your drive up here.

Holy nuts. McWay Falls is just as beautiful as when I saw it the first time 5+ years ago. It's so picturesque...like a postcard. Here are my tips to get there below: 1. You will likely lose reception on the way to McWay Falls, so leave the GPS tab open on your phone. Don't swipe the tab away or you're not getting reception back. While your phone might still say "No Service", your GPS should still work (I have an iPhone). This will help guide you to McWay Falls, which I feel like is the last attraction on Highway 1, anyway before the mudslide. 2. The correct park to get to McWay Falls is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, NOT Pfeiffer Burns State Park. You will first pass Nepenthe (restaurant with amazing views of the mountains), Pfeiffer Burns State Park (has the purple sand beach - haven't been, but will return), Bixby Bridge (awesome views of the bridge, mountain, and ocean - great photo op!), Andrew Molera State Park (I need to come here and check this place out next time), and THEN you will finally see Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park at the very end. 3. You can park along the highway if you don't want to pay or if parking is full. Otherwise, once you see the sign for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, go in and park. There is self-pay where you put money into an envelope and into a box. I chose to park along the highway. I was only there for about 30 minutes anyway. 4. Once you are in the parking lot, locate the restroom. Right across from the restroom, you will see a sign that says "McWay Falls". Take that path and it will lead you down the stairs towards the easiest hike you will ever take in your life. It's about a flat five minute walk to a tunnel. 5. Walk through the tunnel, make a right and McWay Falls will be right there! Enjoy the beauty of California and gasp like I did at its beauty. A lot of the walkway going pass McWay Falls is closed off. There was a gate and people squeezed through at their own risk to get better views of McWay Falls. I would bring any visiting friend here! Heck, I would bring anyone here.

Don't go chasing waterfalls...well too late. This waterfall is worth chasing. Located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, there's a $10 admission, which it is self pay (although I feel like a lot of people don't really pay). It's a pretty simple "hike" to the viewing area where you can capture those same breath taking views you see all over the internet. Although the trail is abruptly blocked off, some of the hikers scaled the fence to get better views. Not encouraging it, but do so at your own risk if you're that kind of person. It's personally one of the best nature spots I have ever visited and pictures don't do it justice compared to listening to the falls crash onto the beach and watching the ocean waves crash onto the shore. There's a bench along the trail where I ended up having a "romantic" picnic with the awesome view. It's romantic up until the crowd shows up with their phones out.

Drove 5 hours to see this, based on our daughter's request. Surprised at how small the falls was. The trail is closed since it looks like a part of it broke, so you can't go down to the beach. So everyone crowds around the fence. 5 min easy hike to the trail. Hard to find parking, and the turn around is strange. Outhouses were overflowing. Nice falls, but probably wouldn't drive 5 hours just to see it. Maybe just two or three :)

It's unfortunate you can't go down to the beach but you can see the falls from afar which is quite lovely.

It's a beautiful waterfall, but it's just so far away! Even after walking to the viewpoint at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, the waterfall seemed insanely distant. Pfeiffer State Beach is closed to the public and offers the only legal entry way to the waterfall. Not sure if it's always been like this, but after seeing the falls in the distance, it makes you want to get even closer. And, don't even think about trying to hike down there illegally. There are police and workers on site ready to fine you for trespassing. I'm so used to being right up under waterfalls, so close that I could touch them if I wanted to. But this waterfall... it's merely just a tease! If your planning on visiting Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park just to see the waterfall, don't waste $10 on it! You can park on the side of the road and you'll be almost just as close, and for free! The $10 is worth it if you're planning on actually hiking at the park, and it can actually be used at other state parks that are near by on that same day. If you do plan on visiting the view point at Julia Pfeiffer Burns, try and get there early because the parking fills up. This is a heavily trafficked park, so you'll be fighting to get that tiny view of the falls. There are tons of people waiting to take a picture at the viewpoint, so just be patient. The hike... well, really the "walk" to the viewpoint is only about a quarter mile. The views of the beach are breathtaking and the falls make for a gorgeous picture! I just wish I could have been closer to the falls so that I could fully experience its' charm.

Stunning View!!!! I was driving the pacific high LA to SF. McWay Falls is a must stop. The sightseeings are one of the best of the West Coast. I wish I could swim there! There is not a lot of space available next to the road, but I could leave the car for a minute and enjoy the magnificient views.

this is a stop on my 1 day big sur PCH road trip! i made a y0utube video with tips and info you need to know about all 5 stops & 2 restaurants, so you can be prepared! search "Nikko Gandia Travels" or find a link to my y0utube on my profile. all stops have free parking options and are easily accessible to most and can be explored rather quickly.

Great short walk to see such a beautiful view. There weren't too many people, and the trail to the falls was very clean. Parking was also available, which was amazing for a weekend

What more can be said that hasn't already been said? If you love nature and natural beauty, then this is a fantastic spot that you'll never regret having visited. As others have said, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (the park where the falls, beach and trails are located) has been closed recently. The trail was damaged. It is still open, but you really can't see the falls from the trail until it is reopened. Visit the official park website for more information. Still, you can stop and park on the side of the road and still get a wonderful view of McWay Falls. It is worth the drive!

Ok. So the rave about this spot lead me to long to go to it. We drove about three hours. We stopped as we drove to see the Bixby bridge and hike in sea otter state game refuge. The drive was astonishing. The view points are what you should be stoping on. There are so many points to stop and take in the beauty. Spoiler alert: this is a beautiful place but not like the hype. Park on the street. No need to pay the $10 fee and park inside. It's not something you'll stay long for so in my opinion it would be a waste of money. We parked outside like many others. We saw the fall from above by the highway. Then we walked into the actual park and walked through a little tunnel to see the falls a little bit closer. The view was prettier from the highway. You cannot get too close it's completely blocked. You cannot go on the beach there is no way down and no access.

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.

I mean it's one of the most sought out places to see in the CA coast! It's literally beautiful! The water is sooo blue and you can see the rocks. It gets crowded but everyone moves pretty fast so you can definitely get pictures at the lookout point. The waterfall is so pretty because the water eventually goes into the ocean. Truly one of my favorite places in the world

This has been on my bucket list for quite some time and we finally decided to make the drive down to see this tranquil cove. We were staying in Monterey and the drive took approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. We found a spot on the side of the road to pull over and get out to enjoy the view. The Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park was closed and the path down to get closer to the falls was also closed which was a bit disappointing. The view form the lookout point gave you a decent view of the falls. I recommend coming on a weekday to avoid the crowds. We found no trouble snagging a parking spot and having our space to take photos on a Friday day.

Absolutely a breathtaking view! We were driving the coast highway south from Carmel to Morro Bay and decided to seek out McWay Falls. We thought we would see it by entering the state park right there, but noticed the no dogs sign as we turned in. So we pulled off to the side of the road across the street and got out to see what we could see. Wow! There we had a gorgeous view of McWay Falls. Within minutes several other cars had pulled into the little turn out there for a glimpse of nature's beauty. If you're driving the coast highway, it's a must stop kind of place.

McWay Falls is one of the scenic views off Highway 1 in Big Sur. There is ample parking on roadside and the falls are within walking distance. It is a must stop point if you are looking for some awesome photography inspiration or just to soak in the blissful ocean view. The Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is close by for another attraction to visit.

It was a gorgeous day. We just finished a fairly strenuous hike (Ewoldsen Trail Loop + Overlook), but since we were already going down and we planned on seeing this waterfall, we headed toward the trail through the tunnel and what a great view of the ocean, but don't stop there...go towards the right and you'll see an initial crowd of people. Take a photo there, but again don't stop, there's a better view further down and even across the bridge of the waterfall. Only thing is that it's not super impressive but on a day like today where the sun was shining, the water was just gorgeous. I'm sure on a day after a storm, the waterfall would be fantastic. Don't just stop at taking views of the waterfall, go to the very very end to the view on the right of the ocean. The trail itself is very short and you can easily access it through the trail in the main paid parking lot or if you park on the side of Highway 1 like we did, just go south and you'll find stairs down or if you don't want to walk too far, there's a dirt short cut that's slightly steep, but gets you down to the trail. Just make sure when you park on Highway 1 that you're behind the white line as you might get ticketed which will be much more expensive than the $10 parking in the actual park so...just follow the rules and you can park for free. Also you won't get service out here so just unplug from your phone and enjoy some nature!

This place is right off Highway 1! You will know where to stop when you see the sign for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. There are two options for getting to the falls. 1. You can park at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and pay $10.00. Or 2. You can park on the side of the road across from the falls and walk down the stairs to the falls from the street. We decided to pay the money to park at the State Park. We couldn't find any street parking and plus we had to use the bathroom so we didn't mind paying the fee. Also the money benefits CA State Parks which is awesome anyways! The hike down to the falls isn't really a full on "hike". It's more of a walk down a trail with some gravel and dirt here. There is no major incline but I would recommend to still be careful and wear tennis shoes. The walk down was pretty quick. Once we arrived at the falls we were so excited! It was so beautiful and the water was so blue. Even on a cloudy day it was still such an incredible thing to see. I'm so glad we came here to take a rest break and enjoy the beautiful falls!

McWay Falls is possibly the most beautiful place I've seen in Big Sur. This is saying something, as Big Sur tops my list of the most scenic places in America. The coastline around McWay Falls is as good as it gets on Hwy 1 - deep, turquoise waters and softly crashing waves contrasting with stunning cliffs. What makes this spot even more magical is the waterfall that ends right on the beach. The waterfall is not visible from the road, so you pull over and look beyond the fence. Alas there is no apparent way to hike down to the beach itself, only part way. It's memorizingly stunning, so close and yet just out of reach. I think it's part of the allure - a quiet beauty, undisturbed by humans.

More beautiful than the pictures! It is relatively the same but being able to hear the waves and feel the breeze is an experience in itself. Driving there is kind of nerve-wrecking because of the narrow roads and sharp turns but I would suggest coming at least once. There is plentiful parking in a lot or on the side of the road

This was so disappointing. I was camping up in Big Sur and thought I would check out these falls. When i first get parking was closed, so I had to park far away. Not a big deal, there parking was probably full, there's only so much they can do about that, right? Wrong. Once I make to the parking lot, it is empty! They have tons of people visiting the falls and only 2 cars in the lot! Then there's the bathrooms. They had about 5 port-a potties, and they were the most discussing thing i've ever seen. All five of them were filled to the top! There was literally a mound in them that was above the toilet seat. I have never seen something like this before. , . At this point I am already upset, but since I am here I am still going to go on the hike to see them. After about 7 minutes of walking, I see that the trail is closed. There is just a cluster of people at this end of the trail trying to take pictures of the falls from afar. I have never been so disappointed, and to be honest, i'm glad the parking was closed, because I would have been more upset if I had paid the 10 dollars for parking. (Note: as i was leaving they started letting cars in there "full" parking lot).

Love it here. Not too much of a walk, my favorite! the views here are great. When we went it wasn't packed which was also a plus. Quick detour on your PH trip.

You have to pay $10 CASH to park, the trail was only .2 miles because it's CLOSED and the park rangers were extremely rude and not helpful. You can use the pass at other parks, but if you come specifically to see the fall (like we did and drove hours for), it's far away and not worth the $10.

First things first .. the whole setup (naturally but of course) is absolutely gorgeous .. very scenic and beautiful. But .. my bad but I think from that way up the waterfall is kinda timid .. again .. I am truly in for a "pretty scenic setting" part but the waterfall is yeah a bit of a baby .. may be from the beach, right down there, you might get a clearer picture .. but from the road .. that way up; well no. :D May be I have been to Palouse falls a bit too much to compare or something. :P . jokes apart I wish we could have gone right to the beach and things would have been 5 stars for sure. So, it was a foggy evening, the drive was very mystic .. the fog kept flowing in. It was fun except we could not get the view we would have liked .. But 100% Mc Way falls is something I would want to return to .. go right to the beach (if possible) and just may be touch it :)

Beautiful small place. We went from Los Angeles to San Francisco. parking cost $ 10, there is a toilet. the park is small. walk to the waterfall less than 10 minutes. there is a small balcony overlooking the bay and the waterfall. you cannot go down to it.

Not nearly as great as I wanted it to be. The majority of the Park was closed for safety reasons and the trail to see the falls was also closed after a certain point. It was an easy walk, took a few pictures, otherwise there isn't anything else to see. I wouldn't travel out of my way to specifically to see this place, but since I was already on the highway, I decided to stop.

Very Instagram worthy photos are conceived here. The "hike" is a joke. Think of it more of a leisure walk, compare to the ewoldsen trail. Depending on the time of day, the McWay Falls trail would be a good cool down or warm up for either before or after accomplishing the big ewoldsen monster. Since it was already around 3pm, we decided to check out this beauty first before starting the bigger hike. It was a sunny day so the view was quite breathtaking. On the other hand, the actual waterfall sadly was not. It was more of a background noise in the picture because it was very tiny! The colors of the ocean was very beautiful and not like your usual boring blue. For parking, there's a parking lot where you pay $10. On a very crowded day, like a Saturday for example, you may have to resort to parking alongside highway 1. It's very dangerous so be careful as you'll most likely have to park on a hill. Also, be sure your car is to the right of the white solid line. We saw a park ranger giving out parking tickets like he was Santa Claus! The view was nice and all, but the drive was not. It will take me quite some time to come back to this place aha.