A perfect place to go to get that stereotypical Big Sur landscape-- the beautiful cypress trees, huge craggy rocks, and gorgeous surf. The "hike" to the lookout is very easy, not at all strenuous compared to a lot of hikes around the area. I highly recommend really stopping here, taking in the views and the breeze, instead of just checking it off your list and moving on as many seemed to do.
They were just dried up, do not expect to see the falls year around or during a drought. Hope to see them another time.
Love this panorama.Its such a rare site, in draught stricken Californa, a gorgeous waterfall to the sea. Lovely.Just a .64 walk from parking lot to vista, by all means do this.
Beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails! I drove up the PCH from LA to Big Sur and the drive itself was breath taking! This was worth the drive! If you are coming from the LA area I recommend staying at an INN or Hotel... I went with a group of friends and we stayed in a hotel in Monterey. NOTE: You can not walk down to see the McWay falls... if you try to sneak down there they will give you a fine. However they have created a path that has a breathtaking view and great for pictures!
We found this fairly easily. Right across the Hwy 1 from Julie Pfeiffer Burns State Park. There were tons of vehicles parked along both sides of Hwy 1. There is a trail, with easy access. There are a few steps, but it's a fairly easy trail (we are older, out of shape and inexperienced in much hiking). I saw several people in flip flops. I had sandals on, but a sturdy shoe would have been much better. When you get to the point that you can see the waterfall, it seems so far away that it isn't superbly impressive. But don't quit! Keep on that trail to the end (not far) for a beautiful (non-waterfall) view! Some of our favorite pictures taken on our drive down Hwy 1 were at this location, so make sure you have your camera! I think we were there in early afternoon and the lighting wasn't the best for the waterfall itself.
I went this past February on a sunny Sunday. It was beautiful and I could not believe the vibrant blues from the water. It's a small waterfall but beautiful! Some tips:1) This is a short walk, not a hike. That's how easy it is (and I'm out of shape). 2) If you find a parking spot on Hwy 1 walk on the west side of the road (the water side) not the east side of the road (the park entrance side). Walk south from the Julia Pfeiffer Park sign and find the wooden stairs down to the path. 3) If no spots on the Hwy are available, drive into the park, pay $10 and then take the path from there. The ranger can point you in the right direction or just follow the crowd of people. There are signs too.I paid the $10 afterall the money goes to maintaining our National Parks.
A mate and I stopped off the highway for the short trek to McWAy Falls and were so glad we did. Its only about 1-2km walk to the falls. Such a lovely view and a nice easy walk to reach them. Its a great photo of the falls dropping down to meet the ocean in a beautiful little cove. Very selfie worthy : )
You can pay across the street at state park, or find available parking on road for free. Very cool and easy walk to beautiful views.
Beautiful scenery! Amazing views of the coastline, not to mention the vibrancy of colors surrounding the place.Try going in the morning, when there are less people. This way you can enjoy a relaxing and unobstructed view!
McWay Falls is one of the most beautiful water falls in Big Sur. it's easy to hike to and it's free. You cannot go directly to the falls but view it from above on a path.The colr of the water is awesome.