My visit to the Iconic McWay Falls in Big Sur
I have driven the Pacific Coast Highway in the Big Sur region many times over the years but only recently dedicated a full day to exploring the Big Sur drive attractions.
The most iconic landmark in Big Sur is undoubtedly McWay Falls (another is Bixby Bridge, of course). The breathtaking 80-foot waterfall cascading directly onto the most perfect beach cove defines the rugged beauty of Big Sur.
Let’s dive into the details of my visit to McWay Falls with tips about parking, the trail, and the facilities to help you make the most of your visit.
How to get to McWay Falls?
McWay Falls is located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park along Highway 1 in Big Sur. From Carmel-by-the-Sea, it’s about a 40-mile drive south, taking roughly an hour without stops.
The scenic drive along Highway 1 offers stunning coastal views, so I recommend allowing extra time to enjoy the drive. Most vista points are on the ocean side, so they are best explored on the way to McWay Falls.
We started from Carmel around 9 PM and reached McWay Falls around 1 PM. But we explored a lot of attractions along the way, such as Garrapata State Park, Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and more.
โก๏ธ Check my detailed write-up here about our Big Sur drive.
Parking at the Falls trailhead
The entrance to the falls parking lot is on the mountain side of the road. So while going South it is on your left. This is the Google Maps location of the parking lot.
There is a medium-sized parking lot at the trailhead. Across the bridge, on the opposite side of the main parking lot, there is another parking lot with more spaces. So make sure to check both sides as it’s not very obvious that there is more parking on the other side.
This is a very popular attraction, so parking can usually be full. However, the turnaround time is quick, as it does not take more than 15 minutes to view the Falls. We waited for around 5 minutes and were able to get a spot as someone was leaving.
Entrance Fee
There is a $10 entrance fee per vehicle at the McWay Falls trailhead. There was no ranger present when we visited, but there was a self-serve kiosk, and we deposited $10 cash in an envelope at the kiosk. Make sure to carry cash as there was no way to pay by card.
If you have the California Explorer annual pass, then this entrance fee is covered in that.
The Trail to McWay Falls
- Trail Length – 0.5-mile round trip
- Elevation – mostly flat, with some steps going down at the trailhead
- Time needed – 15 minutes
- Accessible – No, because of the initial steps
- Dogs Allowed – No
The trail to McWay Falls is a very easy half-mile roundtrip walk that is doable by most people.
There were some steps at the start of the trailhead, so I don’t think this is an accessible trail, as I didn’t see a ramp path to go down.
After going down the steps, the initial part of the trail was a flat sandy trail. This part was covered with beautiful yellow wildflowers on both sides when we visited in mid-July.
We then went through a short tunnel to cross under the highway to go to the ocean side.
After the tunnel, a short sandy path took us to the overlook area.
From the overlook area, we saw McWay Falls falling onto the perfect sandy beach cove. The beauty of the falls in real life matches all the pictures I had seen before. It is really postcard-perfect.
There is no access path to the beach, and the overlook area is as close as you can get. I think this was best as it gave everyone great pictures of the secluded waterfall and beach without having other folks in your picture.
If you are curious like me, the water in McWay Falls comes from McWay Creek, which flows through the mountains above.
Facilities
Apart from the parking lot, there are restrooms here with running water.
There was no park staff on site when we visited on a Saturday in July.
There was no gift shop or food stand here. So make sure to carry water and snacks with you.
Where to stay for McWay Falls
We usually stay overnight in Monterey or Carmel when visiting Big Sur. Big Sur itself has limited places to stay but there are a few. Below are some accommodations that I recommend:
Big Sur Lodge – If you want to stay overnight in Big Sur, Big Sur Lodge is right outside Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and seems like a great place to stay overnight to explore the hiking trails.
Hyatt Carmel Highlands – A luxury resort at the start of the Big Sur scenic drive, this is the perfect spot for a special occasion if budget allows. Maybe one day, we’ll treat ourselves to a stay here!
Carmel River Inn – We stayed here during a weekend getaway to Carmel. It’s a mid-range hotel, and I recommend booking one of their newer cottages. While the amenities were basic, the location was right at the start of Big Sur.
Final Takeaways: Visiting McWay Falls in Big Sur
McWay Falls is definitely worth seeing on your Big Sur Road trip, even with the entrance fee. It is an iconic landmark of Big Sur.
I thought the waterfall falling onto the crescent shaped beach was a memorable sight to see. The beach being closed off to people made it even more perfect.
What else is nearby
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