Julia Pfeiffer Burns Beach

Monterey County

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Monterey County, California
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Monterey County, California

Julia Pfeiffer Burns Beach

Monterey County


Julia Pfeiffer Burns
State Park

Julia Pfeiffer State Park is best known for McWay Falls, which can be viewed from an accessible observation point at the end of a quarter mile long trail from the parking lot. Stunning McWay Falls plunges 80 feet from the hillside into the ocean.

Less well known at the park are miles of trails climbing nearly 3,000 feet above the rugged shoreline and rewarding hikers with breathtaking vistas of the area. The entire park contains about 4 square miles of forest and coastland.

The park has two walk-in environmental campsites near the falls which are in high demand. Both McWay Fall and the beach at McWay Cove are off limits. Scuba diving is allowed at Partington Cove with a permit.



Park Entry Fees

There is no ranger on duty at the park. Big Sur Station, several miles north on Highway 1, serves as a resource for visitors to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The $10 entrance fee is paid at a self-pay station located alongside the road soon after you enter the park. State Park entrance fees are good that same day for any other state park with the same or less entrance fee, e.g. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park or Molera State Park.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Monterey County, CA

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Early Residents

Julia Pfeiffer Burns was only a baby when her family arrived in Big Sur in 1869. She worked on her parents' farm until 1915 when she married John Burns and moved to Burns Creek. Up the coast Christopher McWay homesteaded the land that today is the heart of the park. The land was later purchased by the Brown family. In 1961 Helen Hooper Brown donated the property to the state for a park, indicating that it should be named in honor of pioneer Julia Pfeiffer Burns.

Flora and Fauna

Old-growth and second-growth coast redwoods extend down the Big Sur coast to within 100 yards of the rocky shore. Seabird colonies nest along the coast or close off-shore. The park provides habitat for endangered birds such as bald eagles, California brown pelicans, and California condors. Along the coast sea otters are often spotted among the kelp forests.

Among the larger mammals sighted on rare occasions inland are raccoons, bobcats, mountain lions, and even skunks.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park map, Big Sur,  CA



Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Information

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is located along Highway 1, 37 miles south of Carmel and 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The most popular activities are the park are viewing McWay Falls from the viewpoint at the end of a short trail, hiking the many park trails, picnicking, and even scuba diving.

trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Monterey County, CA

Accessibility

Accessible features in the park include the parking lot, some restrooms, and the Overlook Trail leading to the McWay Falls viewpoint.



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Ocean Safety

California State Parks and Recreation cautions that "large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly." Learn more about ocean safety at CA State Parks: Ocean Safety