Day Trip to Big Sur, CA: McWay Falls & Purple Sands of Pfeiffer Beach

The popular McWay Falls and Pfeiffer Beach, famous for its purple sand, are iconic instagram favorites along PCH, both of which are must-see locations for sightseeing and are prime spots to chill out at after a hike!

MCWAY FALLS: This waterfall is for sightseeing only. The start of the trail to view McWay Falls is located inside Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is east to spot off of PCH (CA-1). There is no access onto the actual beach where the falls are cascading onto the sandy shore.

• Short hike, on mostly flat ground, leads to a viewpoint that captures varying angles of the falls.
• The length of this trail is about 0.64 of a mile.
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is also a popular campground that gets crowded very quickly. Make your reservations ahead of time.
• There are additional hiking trails within Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP, roughly 2 miles roundtrip, depending on the trail. From my experience, I found that the trails immediately near the campgrounds are not flat, but an upward trek through a redwood forest - this particular trail ascends to higher elevation and have steep inclines throughout. Remember to stay hydrated, know your limit as to how much you can handle on a hike, and to pace yourself - if you are one to get easily winded. For more info on these trails, check out: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27864

PFEIFFER BEACH: This beach is known for its purple sand and for a unique outcrop of rock known as "Keyhole Rock," among other interesting rock formations! This is an ideal spot to chill out, get in the water, lay down on the sand and relax, soak in the peacefulness of the ocean breeze, or even partake in some beach yoga!

• Pfeiffer beach is panoramic-worthy, secluded and does not get crowded. The parking lot is small, but I did not have any problems finding parking mid-day during the start of summer in June.
• The sand gets its deep purple/plum color from the minerals that compose it. The purple sand is not always abundant and easy to find. It depends on the time of day and season. You can still see small patches of purple sand if you really look for it.
• Waves crashing into the door-shaped opening, centrally located on Keyhole rock is definitely a cool sight to witness! I recommend using time-lapse if your phone has this particular video feature.