McWay Falls Beach in Big Sur, California, takes its name from Christopher McWay, a pioneer who settled in the area in the late 1800s. The beach became part of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in 1962, named after a respected pioneer ranch woman who lived in the area for nearly a century. The iconic 80-foot waterfall that cascades directly onto the beach (or into the ocean during high tide) is one of only two year-round coastal waterfalls in California. Access to the beach itself has been prohibited since the 1980s due to dangerous conditions and environmental protection, but the overlook trail provides stunning views of this natural wonder.
Visitors experience the beach exclusively from the McWay Falls Overlook Trail, a short 0.6-mile round-trip paved path through a tunnel under Highway 1 that leads to viewing platforms. The trail offers photographic opportunities of the waterfall, the turquoise cove, and the rocky coastline framed by cypress and redwood trees. Wildlife watching includes spotting California sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and migrating gray whales from December through April. The state park also features additional hiking trails through coastal redwood groves and access to other viewpoints along the dramatic Big Sur coastline. Underwater, the protected cove sustains kelp forests and diverse marine life, though diving and swimming are prohibited.
Nepenthe Restaurant offers ambrosia burgers, wood-fired pizza, and chocolate mousse cake from its clifftop terrace with panoramic ocean views. Deetjen's Big Sur Inn serves hearty breakfasts with eggs Benedict, sourdough pancakes, and Norwegian gravlax in a historic log cabin setting. The Sur House at Ventana Big Sur presents California cuisine with locally sourced ingredients including grilled salmon, filet mignon, and Meyer lemon tart on an ocean-view terrace. Big Sur Bakery features wood-fired pizzas, grilled ribeye, and seasonal fruit galettes in a rustic cottage atmosphere. Rocky Point Restaurant delivers seafood cioppino, fish tacos, and bread pudding with sweeping coastal vistas from its outdoor deck.
