Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: See the Famous McWay Falls!

You’ve probably seen it, maybe on Instagram or TikTok, but the Famous McWay Falls is calling your name! Head on over to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and you’ll get to see this incredible waterfall.

McWay Falls can be seen from a small overlook right off of Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway).  And while that’s as far as most people go, there is so much more to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

So let’s check out everything you need to know about Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park! 

Important Links 

• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park website
• Best Trails in the Park – AllTrails 
• State Park Brochure
• Camping Checklist Freebie – A Useful Camping Checklist!
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Be Prepared on the Trails
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!
• Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

Location

Let’s start with where exactly Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is located.  This little park is right along the California coast, right on the PCH, between San Francisco and Los Angeles.  

More specifically, the park is about 3 hours south of San Francisco, CA, 5 hours north of Los Angeles, CA and about 4 hours west of Fresno, CA.  This makes the park a perfect stop for anyone doing a California road trip!

Fees

• Day Use – General Entry Fee: $10
• Day Use – Senior Citizen (62+): $9

California does offer several different state park passes. A few of these passes will give you access to the park, and many other state parks, for free.  If you plan on visiting many of the parks, you’ll want to head to the California State Parks Pass Website and look into the pass that’s perfect for you!

*NOTE: Vehicles over 22 feet in length are not permitted in the parking lot at this park. 

Hours

Daily Hours: 8am – Sunset

If the entry kiosk is closed, guests are expected to self-pay at the kiosks in the parking lot. 

*NOTE: Vehicles over 22 feet in length are not permitted in the parking lot at this park. 

Parking 

Parking in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is inadequate for everyone who wants to visit here. There are a few spots right after the entrance.  But the main lot is the McWay Beach Parking Lot.  The parking is very limited, so get there early or plan on having to park just off of the highway.

*NOTE: Vehicles over 22 feet in length are not permitted in the parking lot at this park. (Yes, I am reminding you of these several times.)

Just outside of the park there is parking along Route 1 (PCH) near the McWay Falls Overlook and at the Partington Cove Trailhead.  You are legally allowed to park on the side of Highway 1, but your vehicle must be COMPLETELY off the road.  

Please use caution when walking along the road as this area has many blind corners and speeding drivers.

Dogs

One final piece of need-to-know information is that dogs are not allowed in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.  Service animals are an obvious exception, but besides that, do not bring your dog here.

Alright, let’s get to the famous waterfall!

McWay Falls

The highlight of this park, and a must-stop location if you are roadtripping the PCH, is the viewing area for McWay Falls.  The best place to view these falls is just outside of the park, right along Route 1.  Essentially, you’ll be looking to park near here.

*Quick Tip: This area can get insane with tourists parking along the highway.  Go as early as you can, or on a weekday, to have a less crowded experience.

McWay Falls Overlook Trail

Unfortunately, the trail to the overlook, and the best views of the waterfall, has been closed for several years now due to a mud slide. My husband and I visited in April of 2026 and the trail was being worked on.  They have yet to announce an opening date.

Fortunately, you can still see this magnificent waterfall right from above that trail.  We parked up the road from McWay Falls, walked down (carefully) along the PCH, and were able to view the waterfall with ease.  It’s truly stunning!

Can You Access the Beach by McWay Falls.  

No, you can not access that beach.  Even when this overlook trail reopens, you are NOT able to access the beach or cove area.  It is illegal to access this beach via hiking, climbing and even boating/kayaking.  

This beach is very dangerous and many people have died here due to the changing tides.  

But if you are really in the mood to hike, there are 3 other great trails within the park that are worth checking out.  

Hiking

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is most famous for McWay Falls, but this park also protects large amounts of Redwoods and a lush forest too.  Within the park there are 4 total trails, so let’s take a look at each one.

1. McWay Falls Overlook Trail (easy) – this trail technically starts in the park, and is 0.4 miles long.  It’s an easy out and back trail where you’ll get the best views of McWay Falls.  This trail is currently closed (2026) but is being repaired.
2. Partington Cove Trail (moderate) – this trail is 1.2 miles long, is an out-and-back trail and has ~330 feet of elevation gain. You’ll park at the trailhead right off of Route 1, and head down to the cove.  There is no swimming at this cove, but it’s a great way to get close to the water.
3. Ewoldsen Trail (hard) – this 5.4 mile trail is classified as a hard out-and-back trail.  This trail has over 1,500 feet of elevation gain, but will give you sweeping views of the coast.  
4. Tinbark Trail and Tin House Loop (hard) – and finally we have the hardest trail in the park. This 6.7 mile trail has over 2,000 feet of elevation gain and is certainly a challenge.  You’ll be hiking among the Redwoods, Partington Creek, and have sweeping views of the coast and the PCH.

If you’re not up for hiking, and just want a great place to have some lunch, or a snack, let’s check out the 2 picnic areas.

Picnicking

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has 2 established picnic areas.  At both you’ll find charcoal grills available for use and picnic tables.  The first is near the Ewoldsen Trail, and the other requires a short walk on the Ewoldsen Trail.

But if you’re looking for more of an adventure, there is a camping option, but it’s a challenge to snag!

Camping 

In Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park there are only 2, yes TWO, campsites that can be booked. You can book either of those sites here. 

The sites are primitive, tent only and EXTREMELY hard to reserve.  You can try to reserve them up to 6 months in advance, but you better be fast.  And even a little lucky.

As of 2026, the sites cost $30 per night.  These sites are just feet from the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and they require you to park within the park and hike to your assigned spot.  

Other Camping Option

If you’re looking for other camping options in the Big Sur area, you can always check out Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.  Boasting nearly 200 campsites, you can camp here in a tent, campervan, travel trailer, or even a motorhome.  

Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground is about 9 miles away from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Making this a great homebase for exploring much of the Big Sur area.

Things to do in the area

Speaking of the Big Sur area, there are a few other awesome state parks you should check out!

Starting with an awesome option is the Morro Bay State Park, just outside of Morro Bay, CA.  This park offers a campground, close proximity to Morro Bay, and there’s a nearby otter viewing area.

Further north there is Garrapata State Park and Point Lobos State Reserve.  Both offer incredible views of the coast and some great hiking trails.

If you’re willing to drive a little further, you can even take a day and head over to Pinnacles National Park.  Here you can explore California’s newest national park, do some hiking, climbing, or even enjoy their incredible campground.  You might even get to see a California Condor here.

All in all, there is so much to do in this area of California, you won’t be bored when visiting Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and the surrounding areas.  

Conclusion

While Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is famous for its incredible McWay Falls, there’s so much more to this park!  Whether you want to simply see the falls, or hike for hours in the woods, here’s everything you need to know.

As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions and I’ll do my best to help!

-Happy Hiking!