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Outdoors Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP, Big Sur

McWay Falls

An outdoor spot in Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP, Big Sur, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 30 minutes. Best time to go: Afternoon.

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McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP, Big Sur
Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · license

Why go

80-foot waterfall dropping onto a cove beach, reached by a short flat path.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Big Sur, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 outdoor spots and 2 sights. The closest of our other picks is Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Restaurant, 6.0 mi away as the crow flies. At about 30 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
Price
$
Time needed
30 min
Best time
Afternoon

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Big Sur, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Restaurant

    Candlelit dinners and hearty breakfasts in a 1930s redwood inn tucked into Castro Canyon.

    Food · 6.0 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Henry Miller Memorial Library

    Bookstore and arts space in the redwoods honoring the writer.

    Sight · 6.3 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Nepenthe

    Clifftop restaurant since 1949 with long coastal views from the terrace.

    Food · 6.6 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

    Redwood groves along the Big Sur River with trails to Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View.

    Outdoors · 8.1 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Pfeiffer Beach

    Purple-streaked sand and Keyhole Arch at the end of narrow Sycamore Canyon Road.

    Outdoors · 9.8 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Big Sur River Inn

    Roadside inn where you can sit in chairs set in the river with a drink.

    Drinks · 11 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

McWay Falls is a stop on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Big Sur

McWay Falls is our only outdoors pick in Big Sur; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Big Sur guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Big Sur run from 58°F in January to 69°F in September; December is usually the wettest month. For McWay Falls itself, we suggest: Afternoon.

Modelled monthly averages for Big Sur from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Big Sur weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for McWay Falls, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
McWay Falls, California 93920, USA
Coordinates
36.15783, -121.67216
Destination
Big Sur, California

McWay Falls: quick answers

How much time do you need at McWay Falls?

Plan on about 30 minutes at McWay Falls. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit McWay Falls?

Our pick: Afternoon. Insider tip: Park inside Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP rather than on the highway shoulder.

Where is McWay Falls?

McWay Falls is at McWay Falls, California 93920, USA, in Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include McWay Falls?

McWay Falls appears on Pacific Coast Highway, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add McWay Falls to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Big Sur.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.