Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park — McWay Falls, California
McWay Falls is an incredibly scenic waterfall. McWay Creek drops 84 ft.
off a cliff onto the beach nestled in a pretty little cove. The overlook
view of the cove where the waterfall drops, is stunning to say the
least. Unfortunately, you cannot get down onto the scenic beach
(legally), as the cliffs are too crumbly and dangerous to descend (and
if you try it, be prepared to receive a very hefty fine). I think,
though, if it were possible to get down to the beach, this waterfall
would lose something of its grandeur and mystique. The view is stunning,
and the waterfall is alluring and out of reach. It adds to the beauty
in my opinion.
The great thing about McWay Falls is that it flows year-round. The
waterfall is fed from underground springs on McWay Creek, and the
waterfall thus has constant flow throughout the year (though of course,
the flow is stronger in the spring).
The path continues past the waterfall a short distance to some ruins of
an old stone "waterfall house", owned by Lathrop and Helen Hooper Brown
in the 1940s. Not much is left of the house, but it is an interesting
site. The park was named after Browns friend, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, who
was a pioneer and cattle ranch owner in the Big Sur area. There is also
an awesome view of the Big Sur coastline in the other direction. The
entire Big Sur coastline is outstanding. The best photo opportunities of
McWay Falls and the coastline are at sunset. I highly recommend being
at McWay Falls at sunset, though it is a popular place for other
photographers and sunset gawkers.
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