McWay Falls

The 80- foot long waterfall is the second tidefall of the Californian Pacific region along with the afore-mentioned Alamere Falls. Tucked within the pleats of the rugged and mountainous region of Big Sur in the Central California Coast, McWay Falls is enclosed within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The waterfalls and the park are named after the pioneer homesteader Christopher McWay and Julia Pfeiffer, a close friend of the Browns- the owners of the SaddleRock Ranch.

The ocean-bound waterfall has a reputation for raving sunset and sunrise views and leaves no stone unturned in entertaining the visitors with its magnificent cove and the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Accessible from Highway 1 and the park’s entrance, McWay Falls Overlook trail is just two miles farther to the Partington Cove Trail on the north. The trail leads to a house in stone foundation which was built in 1940 by Lathrop Brown and Helene Hooper Brown and was later donated to California State Parks. The natural cove at the end of the trail is inaccessible due to prior frequent landslides.
Towards the ocean is found a signposted Pelton Wheel which was a small hydroelectric facility currently housing a small turbine. The wheel was put on display as a museum exhibit artefact.