Highway 1 through Big Sur is already one of the most jaw dropping drives in America, but when you add waterfalls into the mix, it turns into something next level.
On this road trip, you will pull over again and again to see waterfalls that tumble off cliffs, spill through redwood forests, and even crash onto a beach beside the Pacific Ocean.
Some are just steps from the highway, while others make you work a little with short hikes through tunnels, over creeks, and beneath towering trees.
If you’re ready for salty ocean air, then this Big Sur waterfall adventure is about to be your new favorite California drive.
1. Salmon Creek Falls
Salmon Creek Falls is a 120-foot waterfall crashing down a rocky cliff right off Highway 1 in southern Big Sur, less than 10 minutes from Ragged Point, and you can literally hear it from the road.
The short 0.3 mile round trip trail starts at a small roadside pullout and follows Salmon Creek along a path before leading you straight to the base of the lower tier.
The route is a bit rocky in some parts so be prepared for some light scrambling over boulders but overall the trail is still rated as easy.
The waterfall drops down a steep rock face in a single main plunge into a cool pool that feels amazing on a hot summer day.
It flows year round thanks to Salmon Creek’s steady water source, which means even in late summer you still get a solid curtain of water, making this one of the easiest and most rewarding waterfall stops on your Big Sur road trip.
2. Limekiln Falls
Limekiln Falls takes things to a whole new level inside Limekiln State Park, located just 30 minutes up Highway 1 from Salmon Creek Falls.
This 100 foot waterfall pours down a mossy rock wall deep in a redwood canyon.
You can access it via the 1.5 mile round trip Limekiln Falls Trail winds through towering coast redwoods that can reach over 150 feet tall.
The path crosses Limekiln Creek several times on wooden bridges, and when you reach the end, you’re standing right in front of a tall, narrow ribbon of water that crashes into a rocky pool surrounded by bright green ferns.
The park gets its name from four historic lime kilns built in the 1880s that still stand near the trailhead, so you get waterfall views, massive trees, and real Gold Rush era history all in one easy stop.
3. McWay Falls
Next, you’re about to see one of the most famous views in all of Big Sur at McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, roughly 20 minutes from Limekiln Falls.
This 80 foot waterfall spills straight off a granite cliff onto a tiny sandy cove along the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the few waterfalls in California that drops directly onto a beach.
The Overlook Trail is an easy 0.5 mile round trip walk from the parking lot, and within minutes you’re staring at turquoise water, sea stacks just offshore, and waves rolling in below the falls.
You can’t hike down to the beach, but honestly the cliffside viewpoint is magic, especially at sunset when the light hits the water just right.
Please note that at the time of writing, the primary trail leading to the viewpoint of McWay Falls is closed due to retaining wall repairs but you can get a great view of the falls from the highway.
4. Partington Cove
After soaking in those postcard views at McWay Falls, it’s time to stretch your legs on the short but adventurous hike down to Partington Cove, just a few minutes drive from McWay Falls along Highway 1.
The trail is just 1 mile round trip, but it drops nearly 300 feet in elevation as you follow an old dirt road built in the 1870s to haul tanbark oak out of the canyon.
Halfway down, you’ll walk through a 60-foot long hand-carved tunnel that pops you out onto a narrow ocean cove framed by steep cliffs and crashing Pacific waves.
Keep your eyes peeled for the small but mighty waterfall along the trail.
At the bottom, a wooden bridge leads you to a rocky shoreline where you can watch swells slam into the dark rocks and feel completely tucked away from the highway above, like you just found one of Big Sur’s best kept secrets.
5. Pfeiffer Falls
Pfeiffer Falls pulls you back into the forest with a shady redwood hike in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, about 20 minutes from Partington Cove.
The Pfeiffer Falls Trail is a 2-mile round trip that climbs about 450 feet in elevation, crossing Pfeiffer Redwood Creek on a sturdy footbridge before weaving through redwoods that soar well over 100 feet tall.
At the end, the 60 foot Pfeiffer Falls spills down a narrow rock chute into a small fern lined basin, and in spring the water flow is strong enough that you can hear it echoing through the canyon before you see it.
This stop is tucked into the woods and the mix of towering trees, cool shade, and a quick but steady uphill climb makes it a fun change of pace on your Big Sur waterfall road trip.
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