Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

The protected area spans 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) of coastal land with redwood forests in shaded canyons, oak woodlands on gentle slopes, and chaparral vegetation on exposed ridges between the Pacific and inland elevations. Trails lead to viewpoints above the ocean, while restricted access protects various habitats from overuse.

The California State Parks Department established the reserve in 1962 after Lathrop Brown donated land in honor of Julia Pfeiffer Burns, a rancher and pioneer who lived in the area from the 1870s onward. Subsequent land acquisitions expanded the original boundaries and enabled protection of additional watersheds and coastal sections from development.

The Esselen, indigenous inhabitants of this coastal region, gathered food and materials here for centuries before European settlers claimed the land and displaced traditional native ways of life. The protected area now preserves ecosystems vital to numerous plant and animal species and serves scientific research and environmental education along the California coast.

The two environmental campsites near McWay Cove require reservations that often fill six months ahead. The Overlay Trail remains closed due to landslide risk, but the McWay Falls Overlook Trail is accessible and provides waterfall views from the clifftop. Parking along Highway 1 is limited, especially on weekends during summer months.

McWay Falls plunges 80 feet (24 meters) directly into the Pacific and ranks among California's few permanent coastal waterfalls. Before a 1983 landslide, the water flowed onto the beach, but since then it meets the ocean directly and creates a distinctive spray at high tide.

Location: Monterey County

Inception: 1962

Website: https://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578

GPS coordinates: 36.16806,-121.67000

Latest update: November 27, 2025 21:04