McWay Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

McWay Falls is a waterfall in Monterey County, California, about 25 miles south of Carmel Valley Village. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Monterey County, CA

Nearest town

Carmel Valley Village (25 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.6 from 646 reviews

Crowds

Popular

Access

Short hike likely

Coordinates

36.15857, -121.67162

USGS topo

Partington Ridge quad

Getting there

McWay Falls sits about 25 miles south of Carmel Valley Village in Monterey County. Navigate to the coordinates 36.15857, -121.67162, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away. Visitors reach it on foot by trail. Check the current trail map for distance and elevation before you go.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the McWay Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

California's falls are spread across national parks, national forests, state parks and county or regional open space, with a few on tribal land. In Yosemite and other heavily visited parks, the National Park Service has used vehicle reservation systems during busy periods in recent years, so checking current entry requirements before travel is wise. Many trailheads in Southern California fill early on weekends. The most serious hazards are swift, cold snowmelt and slick granite: people regularly die after slipping into rivers above waterfalls in the Sierra, especially in late spring. In the southern mountains and deserts, sudden storms can produce flash floods in narrow canyons, and summer heat makes midday hiking risky. Wildfire closures can also affect forest access in late summer and autumn.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to McWay Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of California. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 36.15857, -121.67162 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Camera and a small tripod. Visitors have shared 2,073 photos of it; a tripod lets you shoot silky water in low light.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Timing depends on elevation. Low-elevation coastal and Southern California falls peak during and just after winter storms, typically January through April, and often fade by June. Sierra Nevada falls follow the snowpack: in Yosemite, flows usually build in April, peak in May and June, and decline through July, with some falls dry by late summer in an average year. Big snow years extend the season; drought years shorten it sharply. Spring-fed falls in Shasta and Siskiyou counties are the exception and are worthwhile in any season. High Sierra roads such as the Tioga Road and those to the eastern trailheads usually remain closed into late spring, and summer weekends bring heavy crowds to Yosemite Valley and other well-known sites. 646 Google reviews make it a well-known stop. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

McWay Falls holds a 4.6-star average across 646 Google reviews, and 75% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the most reviewed waterfall in Monterey County. Visitors have shared 2,073 photos.

Unique, 80-foot-tall waterfall flowing onto a small beach, with a short hiking trail.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

McWay Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on June 13, 2000, and it appears on the USGS Partington Ridge 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: McWay Canyon (valley, under 0.1 mi), McWay Creek (stream, under 0.1 mi), Saddle Rock (summit, 0.1 mi), and Anderson Creek (stream, 0.5 mi).

Coast Ranges and Southern California Mountains. Along the coast and in the southern mountains, falls are smaller and highly seasonal. McWay Falls in Big Sur drops onto a cove beach and is viewed from an overlook, while Alamere Falls in Point Reyes spills off a coastal bluff onto the sand. The Santa Cruz Mountains around Boulder Creek hold redwood-shaded cascades. In Southern California, Sturtevant Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains and Bonita Falls in Lytle Creek are local favorites, and Tahquitz Falls lies in a canyon above Palm Springs. Most of these creeks depend on winter storms, and many dwindle to a trickle by early summer.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

McWay Falls about 25 miles south of Carmel Valley Village is rated 4.6 out of 5 by 646 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full McWay Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.