McWay Falls Cove (Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park)

Set in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park this beautiful little horseshoe shaped cove is surrounded by high, tree-lined cliffs. Perhaps the beach’s most notable feature though is McWay Falls, a waterfall that vertically plunges 80 feet directly into the aqua-blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The cove here is one of the undisputed highlights of Big Sur and only a short trip from California’s legendary coastal highway, Route 1.
There is one possible negative though; this stunning beach is a bit of a tease as it is pretty much inaccessible by foot. You can gaze out over the cove and waterfall from an observation platform but the climb down is hazardous to say the least. However, this adds to the unspoiled character of this section of coast where it genuinely feels like nature is still in charge.