description McWay Cove Overview
McWay Cove is a coastal inlet located within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park along the Big Sur coastline in California. It is best known for McWay Falls, an approximately 80-foot waterfall that flows year-round directly onto the pristine, inaccessible sandy beach below. The beach itself became sandy only relatively recently after a 1983 landslide and subsequent highway reconstruction altered the coastline, adding sediment to the cove. Because the steep terrain prevents direct foot access to the beach, the cove and its waterfall are primarily viewed from an overlook on the Waterfall Trail.
insights Ranking position
McWay Cove ranks #1 of 223 in the Cove ranking, ahead of Kynance Cove.
help McWay Cove FAQ
Where exactly is McWay Cove located?
McWay Cove is situated within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park along the famous Big Sur coastline in California. It is a coastal inlet directly facing the Pacific Ocean.
Can you walk down to the beach at McWay Cove?
No, the sandy beach below the waterfall is strictly inaccessible to the public due to severe trail erosion and conservation efforts. Visitors must view the cove from an overlook trail situated on the cliffs high above.
What is the famous waterfall at McWay Cove called?
The cove is best known for McWay Falls, an approximately 80-foot waterfall that flows year-round. It is highly notable because it drops directly onto the pristine, untouched sandy beach below.
Does McWay Falls drop directly into the ocean?
While it currently flows directly onto the beach, the waterfall actually used to drop straight into the ocean before a massive landslide in 1983. That landslide extended the beach outward, meaning the water now lands on the sand except during the highest tides.
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