McWay Falls viewpoint (roadside for now)
Open 8 a.m. to sunset, $10 per vehicle, but the McWay Falls overlook trail is closed into 2026 for a retaining-wall repair, so the 80-foot fall is roadside-view only with reduced parking.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
The Big Sur state park famous for McWay Falls, an 80-foot waterfall dropping to a cove beach, viewed from a short trail off Highway 1 about 37 miles south of Carmel.
Area Big Sur coast Category Experiences Last checked
When to pick it
Travelers who want the signature waterfall view and understand the trail limitation.
Big Sur coast
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is most useful when you want a place that belongs clearly in the California sequence instead of an undifferentiated listing.
Editorial Read
Should Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park be in this trip?
Use this section to decide whether the place fits the day you are planning, not just whether the name is familiar.
McWay Falls viewpoint (roadside for now)
Travelers who want the signature waterfall view and understand the trail limitation.
When to skip it
Skip it when another part of California would make the day simpler, calmer, or more honest.
How it works best
Use it with one or two compatible decisions around it instead of stacking every famous stop into the same day.
What to check first
Use the official site, booking path, or contact page before relying on anything time-sensitive.
Guide context
Where it appears in the guide
These links keep the page connected to the wider California planning context.
Driving Highway 1: Monterey, Big Sur, and the coast south to Santa Barbara
McWay Falls viewpoint (roadside for now)
Open 8 a.m. to sunset, $10 per vehicle, but the McWay Falls overlook trail is closed into 2026 for a retaining-wall repair, so the 80-foot fall is roadside-view only with reduced parking.
Best for: Travelers who want the signature waterfall view and understand the trail limitation.
Visit Details
Core facts before you go
Use these facts as a starting point, then confirm anything that affects a booking, arrival, or availability directly with the official source.
What to know
Confirm current hours, admission or booking rules, and access on the official site before building Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park into your day.Public facts here are checked against the official source; verify anything time-sensitive before you go.
Tags
mcway-fallsstate-parkwaterfallhighway-1big-sur
Keep Navigating
Use the guide and district links when you need more context. Send a correction when a public fact has changed.
Sources
Checked references
This listing is backed by checked, real-world sources.