Address: Highway 1 Julia Pfeiffer State Park Big Sur, Ca. 93920
Mc Way Falls is the most photographed falls in California and is picturesque during sunset. It’s an 80-foot tall waterfall that flows year-round from the McWay Creek located on the coast of Big Sur. It’s one of the tidefalls in California and the only other one is Alamere Falls in Marin. The Cove to the waterfalls is not accessible on foot due to hazardous steep rock on its descent. In 1961, the McWay Falls was designated a park reserve and was donated to the government.
It took us about 3 hours (153 miles) drive from San Francisco to get to McWay Falls via US 101 South, SR 156, and Hwy 1. The drive was very beautiful, scenic, winding, and relaxing once we got to hwy 1 which is also called Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). We arrived at McWay Falls around 10:30 am and found out that Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park parking lot was already full. We were lucky to find an open parking spot along Hwy 1 and saved us $10 for the parking fee. You can either pay $10 to park inside the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which has easier access to the McWay Falls trail or park along hwy 1 and walk down towards the trail which is a little bit dangerous or safety issue.
From the Ranger Station or entrance, there was a public restroom on site, and across it was a stair that leads to the Mc Way Falls trail. The wide dirt trail to the McWay Falls is about 0.6 miles (out and back) from the State Park parking lot and it took us about a 15 minutes walk. From the stairs, we passed through a short tunnel beneath highway 1 and made a right turn that led us to the waterfalls viewpoint or overlook. There was also a fenced area that is off-limits to visitors due to safety concerns. (soil erosions)
There were a lot of tourists/people at the viewpoint area and we all took turns for a photo opportunity. The view of the waterfall is mesmerizing with the crystal clear blue-green color of the water overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Be careful and watch your step when in the area for safety. The McWay Falls is a good place to see or a quick stop when you are driving through the Big Sur area.
Tips: When parking on hwy 1 watch out for oncoming cars as you don’t have enough space on the side of the road and try to park your car properly or correct orientation. It’s easy to get side-swiped when getting out of your car or walking on the side of the road. McWay Falls is after Partington Cove if you are coming from the North. The $10 parking fee for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is also good for the other parks along Big Sur. Partington Cove is also a good place to visit while in the area.
Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about McWay Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.