Updated July 2026
McWay Falls
An 80-foot tidefall that plunges from a granite cliff directly onto the sand of a cove on the Big Sur coast, viewed from a short paved overlook trail.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (California State Parks) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
McWay Falls drops about 80 feet. That makes it the 261st-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 62% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The McWay Waterfall Trail (Overlook Trail) reaches it about 0.6 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 60 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Big Sur. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (California State Parks) for closures and current conditions.
Year-round. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More California waterfalls
- Alamere Falls · 40 ft
- Bassi Falls · 109 ft
- Berry Creek Falls · 70 ft
- Big Falls · 500 ft
- Bridalveil Fall · 617 ft
- Burney Falls · 129 ft
- Carlon Falls · 35 ft
- Cascade Falls · 200 ft
Sources
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