McWay Falls drops 80 feet directly onto a secluded beach in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, making it one of the only tidefall waterfalls in California. The falls and turquoise cove are visible from a paved overlook trail — you cannot access the beach itself — which keeps the scene pristine and forces every photographer to shoot from the same general vantage.
Best Time to Shoot
The falls face roughly southwest, so afternoon light hits the water directly. Golden hour in summer is dramatic: the low sun illuminates the falls and the white sand cove turns gold. Winter afternoons give longer golden hour windows and fewer visitors. Morning works well under overcast or fog conditions where you want smooth water without harsh shadows. For practitioners, see our breakdown of noise vs detail trade-off at high ISO. For practitioners, see our breakdown of shutter and image stabilization. For practitioners, see our breakdown of f/2.8 low-light aperture.
How to Get There
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is on Highway 1, about 37 miles south of Carmel. Day use fee is $10 per vehicle. The overlook trail is 0.7 miles round trip on pavement. No climbing to the cove — the beach is a protected preserve. The parking lot is small; arrive by 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m. on weekends.
Camera Settings
For silky water, shoot at 1/4 to 2 seconds using a polarizer plus a 3-stop ND at f/16, ISO 100. The cove’s teal color pops with a polarizer removing surface reflection. On bright afternoons, a 6-stop ND keeps shutter speeds smooth. Bracket for the cove foreground vs the bright cliff top.
Recommended Gear for This Spot
Common Mistakes
- Trying to reach the beach: it is illegal and rangers do cite visitors.
- Shooting at midday in summer — the falls are backlit and the sand blows out.
- Not using a polarizer: without it the cove looks flat blue instead of the teal-green it actually is.
- Ignoring the arch framing: the trail passes a rock arch above the cove that makes a compelling foreground element.
A Big Sur photo tour pairs McWay Falls with Bixby Bridge and Pfeiffer Beach in one guided session timed for the afternoon light. Browse McWay Falls photography tours to find options that fit your schedule.
For more location guides like this, see the Landscape Photography Guide on Shut Your Aperture. Browse all spots on the USA CA photo spots hub.
What to Pack
A focused landscape kit handles every shot at McWay Falls without breaking your back. Here is the working photographer's pack list — every link goes to B&H Photo Video (our primary supplier) or Amazon (for accessories and same-day delivery in the US).
| What & Why | B&H | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
Wide-angle zoom (14-35mm range) The single most important lens for sweeping vistas. Pair with a circular polarizer for skies and water. | Shop B&H → | Shop Amazon → |
Sturdy travel tripod Carbon fiber, packs to 15 inches, holds steady in wind off the coast. Essential for blue-hour and long-exposure work. | Shop B&H → | Shop Amazon → |
Circular polarizer (77mm or 82mm) Cuts haze, deepens sky, reveals texture in water. Non-negotiable for landscape work. | Shop B&H → | Shop Amazon → |
10-stop ND filter For 30-second exposures that turn moving water and clouds into silk. | Shop B&H → | Shop Amazon → |
Extra batteries (3 minimum) Cold weather and long exposures eat batteries. Carry triple what you think you need. | Shop B&H → | Shop Amazon → |
Fast SD/CFexpress cards V90 or CFexpress depending on your body. Two cards minimum so a failure mid-trip is recoverable. | Shop B&H → | Shop Amazon → |
Microfiber lens cloths Salt spray, mist, and dust will ruin every shot if you don't carry a cloth. | Shop B&H → | Shop Amazon → |
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