It looks like a tropical island; clear water falling over the cliff into the sea, cool, clean, and picturesque. McWay Falls might be one of the most sought-after photos of California’s central coast. Just seeing the iconic photo feels like a vacation or a splash of cold water on a hot day. 

The journey to the waterfall begins in Monterey. The storied city by the non-bay has been both a mystery and destination for over 200 years. Vizcaino founded the city in 1770 under the Spanish empire. His description to the king and queen, possibly a little embellished to make him look good, is located at the very unsheltered southern end of Monterey Bay. The Portola Expedition walked past it twice and didn’t find it due to the flowery language Vizcaino used to describe the bay that housed the small presidio and town. Today, it is home to a world famous aquarium, some great seaside dining, and a chance to kayak with sea otters, get close to seals and sea lions, and take a three hour whale watching cruise that will result in viewing at least a couple species of dolphins, humpback whales and perhaps 3 other whale species. If you follow this blog you know I’m a whale paparazzi so I know wherein I speak.

Begin by driving south from Monterey on California’s famous Highway 1. You will go past Carmel and the famous 9-mile drive, and after a while over the world-famous Bixby Bridge, built during the Great Depression. At 260 feet above Bixby Canyon, the arched bridge causes traffic jams all by itself as people from around the world stop to take a picture. Another 45 minutes or so south will take you to Big Sur and Julia Pfeiffer State Park. The short road to McWay falls is just south of the park entrance.  If you decide to go, I recommend you take a day and enjoy the beach and the redwood forest at Pfeiffer SP.

There is plenty of day hiking for you and the kids, if you have them, and a small gift shop for the obligatory t-shirt or other memorable trinket to prove you were having a good time. It’s also good insurance if you don’t get the photo. Oops! I slipped back to the film days when you never knew until the roll of film was developed. Today, with your digital camera, you’ll know if you got the shot before you leave the scene. Your challenge will be to get a unique picture that doesn’t’ look like you bought a postcard. You will walk a short way to the overlook photo spot, no drive ups here, and there is no beach access. There is a small incline on the pathway, but it isn’t difficult. The best time of day for a great photo is during the golden hour so have your fun during the day and then arrive about two hours before sunset.

I encourage you to move around and take more than one photo. It is almost inevitable that you will take “the postcard shot”, but there is a pretty good chance that really isn’t the one you want. Bragging rights when you mount that image on your wall on quality poster sized photo or fine art paper, and find the money to mount it into a proper frame to hang on the right wall, demand a shot that is just a little unique. This isn’t the time for a phone photo unless you only want to view it with electricity on a screen. You’ll need the best camera you own to get a wall size printable image.

While you can continue south on Highway 1, the trip to San Simeon and Morro Bay is very long and not highway fast. If you waited until the golden hour for your photo, the drive will be wasted by the darkness. Return to Monterey for the night and blast down CA 101 the next day for a more pleasant trip home, especially if you have kids. One of these is on my wall in a 20”x24” frame.  I think CPQ printers outside of Nashville printed it for me. It is matted and framed in a natural wood frame.  I never get tired of it.

Do you have a McWay Falls story? I’d love to hear it.