Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

The park is currently Open with restrictions in services and/or facilities.

Please check the hours of operation.

Park Hours

8am to Sunset

Contact Information

(831) 667-1112

Are dogs allowed?

Reservation Availability

No upcoming camping/lodging reservations at this time.

About Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Known primarily for McWay Falls, an 80-foot high waterfall that spills onto a scenic beach, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park also includes towering redwoods in its interior. Also notable is Partington Cove, site of a former tanbark shipping port, that can be reached by walking through a tunnel blasted through rock.

View the park accessibility information

Maps and Park Directions

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

Brochures

View other park publications including infosheets, brochures, campground maps and more.

News and Events

Upcoming Events

No upcoming events are listed for this park.

All events for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Passes Information

This park accepts the following passes:

List of all California State Park passes

Activities and Facilities

EV Information

Overnight Facilities

Remote Camping

Other Facilities

Parking
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available

Day-Use Activities & Facilities

Picnic Areas
Exhibits and Programs
Interpretive Exhibits
Nature & Wildlife Viewing

Trail Use

Hiking Trails

Services and Rentals

Wildlife Sanctuary and Educational Programs

Ventana Wildlife Society (opens in new tab)

Julia Pfeiffer Burns day use now open!

The day use areas, restrooms, and the Partington Cove trail are all now open to the public.

Limekiln State Park day use areas have also reopened to the public.

Please note that all backcountry trails East of Highway 1 will remain closed indefinitely due to the ongoing fires and repair work.

Entry to closed areas is prohibited and violators will be subject to citation.

Both the Timber fire and the Plaskett fire remain active in the area. Please check current road conditions and closures before traveling and obey all posted closures, barriers, and directions from emergency personnel.

For current highway closures and conditions visit CalTrans - Road Conditions Map

About Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

* * * CLOSED AREAS ***
THERE IS NO BEACH OR OCEAN ACCESS at McWAY FALLS

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 waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The higher elevation trails east of Highway 1 (currently closed) offer panoramic views of the sanctuary and miles of rugged coastline.

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