Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Park Closure Notice

March 20, 2019: Due to severe storm damage to the park's entrance station and restroom, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park will be closed until further notice. The McWay waterfall can still be seen from the pullout just north of the park entrance on Highway 1 near mile marker 36.2. Please check the website periodically for updates.

For more details, please visit our press release: https://www.parks.ca.gov/NewsRelease/876.

Phone Number

(831) 667-1112

Park Hours

Open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

Driving Directions to Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP

The park is 37 miles south of Carmel on Hwy 1, and 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur SP on Hwy 1.

View on Map

Camping and Lodging

Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.

Online Reservations

Upcoming Park Events

No events scheduled at this moment.

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
Environmental Campsites

TRAIL USE
Hiking Trails

DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Picnic Areas
Exhibits and Programs
Interpretive Exhibits
Nature & Wildlife Viewing

OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Parking
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available

ALERTS IN EFFECT!

Click here for up-to-date closures and conditions for the Big Sur area.

About Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

* * * CLOSED AREAS ***
THERE IS NO BEACH OR OCEAN ACCESS IN THIS PARK

Cliff areas beyond the fenced boundaries, including the BEACH, SADDLE ROCK and MCWAY FALLS area are completely off limits. Trespassing into these closed areas is a serious offense, resulting in a citation and arrest. The areas are extremely hazardous. Failure to respect the boundaries has resulted in complex rescue operations and tragic loss of lives. Please stay on the trail and out of these closed areas.

This state park is named after Julia Pfeiffer Burns, a well respected pioneer woman in the Big Sur country. The park stretches from the Big Sur coastline into nearby 3,000-foot ridges. It features redwood, tan oak, madrone, chaparral, and an 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the ocean from the Overlook Trail. A panoramic view of the ocean and miles of rugged coastline is available from the higher elevations along the trails east of Highway 1.

Weather
CHECK CURRENT WEATHER
The weather can be changeable. Layered clothing is advised. In winter, overnight temperatures can range in the 30s-5os (Fahrenheit). Winter daytime temperatures can be low 50s-70s. In summer, overnight temperatures can range in the 50s-70s, with daytime temperatures typicallys in the 70s-80s. Summer mornings bring fog, which usually burns off by midday.

Location
Near mile marker 35.8 on Highway 1, the park is 37 miles south of Carmel.
GOOGLE MAP

Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP

Photograph courtesy of Sharon Pieniak