Located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, McWay Falls is just a 25-minute drive from Big Sur Village. Visit the Penton Wheel House, a power plant that once supplied energy to the old houses and blacksmith workshop in the area. Walk the short Canyon Trails to Canyon Falls. Take the 5-mile-long (8-kilometre) Ewoldsen Trail through a redwood forest to a scenic picnic area. Return to the start of the trail, where it connects with inland hiking paths. Spot sea otters, seals and birds such as oystercatchers and pelicans. Between December and April, it’s often possible to see migrating grey whales. Sit on one of the benches and gaze out over the Pacific Ocean’s deep blue water. One panel has photos of the waterfalls’ appearance prior to the landslide. Find interpretive panels with information and historical facts about the house. From here view the remains of a one-time residence now called Waterfall House. Watch as the water spills out of a rock face and splashes onto the isolated and inaccessible beach.Ĭontinue to the end of the trail. Follow the Waterfall Overlook Trail around the cliffs above McWay Cove to a waterfall-facing viewpoint. The falls’ water supply comes from McWay Creek, which runs down from the framing mountains.Įnjoy views of the waterfall and dramatic coastline from the lookout points scattered along a series of walking trails. McWay Falls originally flowed straight into the Pacific Ocean but a landslide in 1983 dropped rocks into the water and thus created the beach. It stands about 80 feet (24 metres) tall in the heart of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. McWay Falls is a picturesque waterfall that cascades directly from a cliff onto the sandy shore of McWay Beach. Out of all the trails I explored during my trip in Big Sur, this one easily had the most foot traffic.Walk to this pretty waterfall, stand at viewpoints with superb coastal views and spot varied wildlife in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. At the same time, I did go during Labor Day weekend so I’m sure it’s far busier than usual. There are a lot of people on this trail though so if you’re like me and enjoy a little breathing space and quiet while hiking look elsewhere. The view is amazing and great for photos. As far as I know, you are not allowed to hike down to the falls. This was a pretty easy hike I’d say to a view of the McWay Falls. Brown gave the ranch to the state for use as a state park dedicated to the memory of Julia Pfeiffer Burns. Brown became acquainted with Julia Pfeiffer Burns, the daughter of a Big Sur pioneer family. When the Browns began to acquire their Big Sur acreage in 1924, Mrs. The terrace is all that remains of Waterfall House, the residence of Lathrop and Helen Hooper Brown. While you’re in the area, make sure to hike to the Limekilns nearby! McWay Falls House Special-use permits allow experienced scuba divers to explore the reserve. The rocky shoreline is the access to the underwater park. Many sea and shore birds – Sleek black cormorants, seagulls, brown pelicans, and black oystercatchers also make an appearance.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. Sea otters can sometimes be seen in the cove, and harbor seals and California sea lions are occasional visitors. In March and April, they can be seen returning north to their summer feeding grounds in the North Pacific. Many whales pass close to shore at this point, and occasionally one will come into the mouth of the cove. 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. There is another more secretive waterfall in Big Sur that we found that also flows into the ocean. waterfall is supposedly one of only 8 waterfalls in the US that flows directly into the ocean, but I truly doubt this fact. The panoramic views give you a great idea of how gorgeous Big Sur truly is. McWay Falls is one of the most beautiful and photographed waterfalls at least in the U.S. **Check out our list of all hidden gems in Big Sur!**
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