julia pfeiffer burns state park

The only reason I rate this as very good is because of the views. The Big Sur area is beautiful! I've been to many places and this is probably the most beautiful area I've ever seen in my life. As for the State Park specifically, it was ok. There are great views as you walk the trail but the waterfall is not really worth it. It isn't that big but it is pretty. If you are in the area, and want to spend the money, go for it. However, I would go to Pfeiffer Beach instead and just enjoy the views as you drive in the area. Not really worth the money.

I wanted to take a 5 mile hike during my trip to Big Sur and after doing some research, it seemed the Ewoldsen was our best bet. Moderate 6 mile hike through the redwoods with glorious ocean views here and there. So my husband and I packed our water and headed to the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Well, I would call this hike more of a challenging moderate hike since pretty much the first 3 miles is uphill. Added to this are the narrow trails and steep drop offs at times. However, totally worth it! The most beautiful scenery ever and given that you are in the middle of a redwood forest you are protected from the sun most of the time. Bring a camera!

This trail was the most challenging my husband and I did so far, but well worth it. The trail is steep, and we stopped a few times to catch our breath, but we didn't give up and we are so glad we didn't. The view from the top is breathtaking; vibrant colors and smell of trees, plants and flowers were all around us. I would not recommend taking children on this trail; it is steep and slippery at times.

One of the most scenic places on earth and i don't exaggerate. To see a waterfall hitting the shores of beautiful blue waters is uncommon. To make things greater, we hiked down to the waterfall only to find out we could have been fined, but it was worth it and i would have done it again. Go at your own risk. Spectacular. A few chairs in that area, picnic spots in the main parking area only.

Peaceful forest. Take the long hikes, you will end up with beautiful views from higher elevation. It is no Yosemite and the coast is really what you come to Big Sur for so don't have your expectations too high.

This park is quiet, beautiful and convivial.We had a volunteer ambassador, Sharon, who made sure all was well.She took care of everything, including an annoying drummer.The river runs through it, and at least after recent rains,creates a serene sound.Bathrooms are kept clean and the showers, with dual nozzles one overhead, another lower down, give you a very comforting five minute shower for a dollar.Riveside sites are $15 more.Stay in a site without poison oak if you are allergic.Slept like a baby here.

Visited Julia Pfeiffer Burns Park in February 2015. Parked in the main lot and took the very short walk to the overlook for McWay Falls. Stunning scenery, insanely blue water, and of course the waterfall cascading down onto the beach. Great photo opportunities here. We took the wooden walkway all the way to the end for great views all around. On the way back to the parking area, apparently if you continue past the wooden stairs and keep walking, you can get a view of the falls from a less common angle from what you see in all the photos. Wish I had known that when I was there! Back to the parking lot we went to the entrance to the Ewoldsen Trail. There are restroom facilities right by the parking lot (the mens room was pretty gross). The ewoldsen trail entrance was right in the parking lot. Incredible and scenic moderate to strenuous at times hike, with an elevation gain of 1600 feet. The hike took us a total of about 3 and a half hours. The trail starts in dense redwood forest, then quickly makes its way up the mountain, culminating in lookout point. We spent about 30 minutes up at the lookout for incredible views of the Pacific below (was actually a thick blanket of fog over the ocean at the time, which made for a really cool and unique view). Had lunch at the top, took some photos, then took the nice walk back down to the entrance. If you are in decent shape, definitely try and complete the full hike - the culmination at the top makes all the uphill walking totally worthwhile!

I ended a long day of hiking with a walk around the arch to see the beach, waterfall, and ruins of Julia's home. It was a highlight of my day and im very glad i did it. The sun setting on the beach looked dreamy and magical and i strongly recommend catching it and taking pictures. Time it around sunset time, and have a snack on one of the benches there. You would do yourself a favor. You can either enter the trail from the park (you might have to pay depends on the day/time) or you can park on the highway and walk down the trail for free.

If you are driving along Highway 1 through Big Sur, you absolutely must stop here. The waterfall on the beach is a classic view, and the walk uphill in the other direction takes you into a grove of redwoods. From the parking lot, the walk is an easy 1/2 mile to either destination -- though the redwoods are more uphill, while the beach is slightly downhill.

Long at the top of my bucket list was a drive down or up the Pacific Coast Highway. Finally, I was going out to LA for other reasons and decided now the time had come. I was on the West Coast for two weeks. Everything fell my way, including off-season rates and a heat wave that meant it was sunny and in low 70s every day, so my impressions were further enhanced by my magical good luck. I am starting my reviews with this park. Suddenly I found myself standing on a cliff looking out at the Pacific where whales were spouting and breaching. In the foreground, a waterfall poured into a bright turquoise bay surrounded by Cypress, redwoods, and other trees native to this part of the world, and close by bright flowers bloomed everywhere. Am I managing to convey at all how breathtaking, literally breathtaking, it is? I don't think I, or any of the writers who have lived in Big Sur, have ever found adequate words, because the beauty is dramatic--both grand and intimate--huge scale and small scale enchantment. Everything is simultaneously active and still--waves crashing over rocks against an ancient quiet. Big Sur reminds you of your small, fragile place in the great scheme.

This has to be one of them most breathtaking spots on the west coast. The view of the falls is just beautiful!

This is not the first time me and my family have visited Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and the McWay Falls which is testimony in itself as to how beautiful it is.Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is located 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on California's Pacific Coast Highway 1. A main feature of the park is McWay Falls, which drops over a cliff of 80 feet (24 m) into the Pacific Ocean. The park gets its name from Julia Pfeiffer Burns, a respected resident and rancher in the Big Sur region in the early 20th century, who lived in the area for much of her life until her death in 1928. The Browns who owned this land in this area dedicated the property to her memory in their 1961 bequest to the State of California.The trail that overlooks the stunning McWay Cove and Falls is not that long and yet has fabulous flora and fauna. We saw a snake on our walk to the cove as well as beautiful flowers and plants. You MUST stay on the trail and access to the beach is strictly prohibited as it is dangerous. The Ranger told us there have been many deaths over the years when people have tried to descend the cliff to the beach and if caught you will get a ticket with a very heavy fine. Lets respect this wonderful place of natural beauty and preserve it for future generations to enjoy.

That little waterfall was the high point of my trip. Knowing the fact that this little beach can disappear any moment because of a land slide made it even more precious for me.

I believe overuse of ranking is not working here. There is no use to argue whether Bixby Bridge area, Pfeiffer Beach, or McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park should rank first. Of course, you should go to all if time permits and for me, driving south on highway 1 and stopping at various point is the real treat. This part of scenic drive is as beautiful as anywhere in the world.After all, last two are part of state parks and I do not want to compare "apples" to "oranges" but there is a reason why state parks are not upgraded to "Federal/National Parks." Is this place amazing as Grand Canyon or Yosemite, may be not.As for this place,1) Easy 1/2 mile walk from parking place to viewpoint. Limited staff here and you will need to put money in envelope after filling up form. But bad thing is, if you plan to visit other state park on highway 1 on the same day, you have no receipt and will need to pay again. So, if possible, visit other bigger state parks, get a receipt and taped over your window and come here.2) Big Sur and southern part of this scenic drive is more beautiful and dramatic, may be bacause of higher elevations and winding roads. I definitely prefer Big Sur, San Simeon, Cambria area over touristy and hellish traffic Carmel, Monterrey area. Less tourists, food is better and less expensive in this area. Of course Carmel is closer to San Francisco bay area.

A small but beautiful roadside park off Hwy i.I think some folks miss the falls,go thru the tunnel under Hwy 1,follow the trail to the right and check out the beautiful pacific ocean and McWay falls.The waterfall is seen on many postcards,beautiful.The whale calves swim in close by,in season,to escape the Orca!s (killer whales)that wait in packs for them a little further out,in deeper water.Well worth a stop and visit.