McWay Falls
Big Sur, California
Description
Added by Stephen Bellrichard
This waterfall is one of the most recognizable images of Big Sur. It's a short (just over a half mile roundtrip) walk to get views of this 80 foot waterfall. Get your camera ready!
McWay Falls is one of the most iconic waterfalls in BIg Sur and can be seen from Highway 1. The trail to the falls is located in Julia Pfeiffer. For all of you history buffs, Mcway Falls is named after Christopher McWay, an early settler and farmer from New York who ventured west in the late 1800s.
To get there, from the parking lot, walk back towards Highway 1 and look for the sign to the Waterfall Trail. If you're parked in the additional parking lot, walk back toward the lot entrance. You'll head down some steps, follow a wide path and then pass through a tunnel under the highway. Along the path, there are several points to take in the falls. Depending on the time of year and day you go, they may be packed with photographers, so be patient.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Reviews
We happened to be there on a very foggy day and couldn’t see much of the falls. Still a fun, quick hike and worth doing.
3.0
Súper easy walk! The waterfall is far away but beautiful nonetheless. Be careful cue they’re giving out tickets for people w dogs!
4.0
Parked on a turnout a little farther down and walked to McWay Falls. It's an amazing view even on a cloudy day
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Hike the Waters Ridge Trail
Hike the Ewoldsen Trail
Explore The Hidden Rock Caves At Partington Cove
Hike to Big Sur's Tin House
Partington Cove Trail
Explore the Big Sur River Gorge
Community
© 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy