Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Status Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park reopened on October 16, 2026, after the Timber Fire. State Parks says the Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View trails remain closed until further notice (notice dated Oct 9, 2026; park page checked Oct 28, 2026).
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park reopened on October 16, 2026, after the Timber Fire. State Parks says the Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View trails remain closed until further notice (notice dated Oct 9, 2026; park page checked Oct 28, 2026). Entering a closed area can bring a citation. What the status labels mean
Pfeiffer Falls is a 60-foot waterfall reached through a redwood gorge in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The park reopened on October 16, 2026, after the Timber Fire, but State Parks says the Pfeiffer Falls Trail stays closed until further notice. The Timber Fire closure is the trail's third long closure since 2008.
About Pfeiffer Falls
Pfeiffer Redwood Creek drops about 60 feet at Pfeiffer Falls, according to California State Parks news releases from 2021 and 2025. You reach the falls through a redwood-filled gorge in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, in Monterey County.
Pfeiffer Falls is not McWay Falls. McWay is in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which State Parks places 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on Highway 1.
Closures since 2008
The trail has been closed for most of the time since 2008. In 2008, the Basin Complex Fire burned 162,818 acres and destroyed access to the falls. State Parks rebuilt the trail with Save the Redwoods League at a cost of nearly $2 million.
The rebuild was delayed by the Soberanes Fire, landslides and a long Highway 1 closure. When the trail reopened on June 18, 2021, it had a new 70-foot pedestrian bridge over the Pfeiffer Redwood Creek ravine. The route was also moved out of the streambed.
The bridge didn't last long. In a January 2023 storm, a redwood fell on it and closed the trail again. The California Conservation Corps helped with repairs, replacing 15 feet of the bridge, and State Parks announced the reopening on September 15, 2025.
Less than a year later, the 2026 Timber Fire burned about 517 acres inside the park. The park itself reopened on October 16, 2026, but the falls trail did not.
Getting there and parking
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is 26 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, near mile marker 47.2, according to State Parks. Day use costs $10 per vehicle. State Parks says special rates may apply on peak days, holidays and weekends, and that prices can change without notice.
The park is open 8am to sunset, with parking in the day-use lots. Check Caltrans QuickMap for Highway 1 conditions before you drive, since closures and traffic control on this stretch change often.
Trailhead and parking
The trail starts inside the park, but State Parks publishes no trailhead or lot details for it. Ask at the entrance kiosk which day-use lot is closest once the trail reopens.
State Parks' October 2026 notice lists these areas as open again: day use, the campground, Buzzards Roost, River Path, Nature Trail, Redwood Grove Boardwalk and Big Sur Lodge.
For campers, State Parks lists a maximum trailer length of 27 feet and a maximum camper or motorhome length of 32 feet.
Pfeiffer Beach is separate
State Parks says the park itself has no beach or ocean access. Pfeiffer Beach is a separate site about 1 mile south of the park entrance, not part of the state park, with its own fee.
Map and nearby falls
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Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View loop
The Pfeiffer Falls Trail is closed until further notice, State Parks says; when open, it forms a 1.5-mile loop with the Valley View Trail.
When the trail is open
The Pfeiffer Falls Trail is a 0.75-mile segment through a redwood gorge that crosses the 70-foot bridge. It joins the Valley View Trail to form a 1.5-mile loop, per State Parks.
State Parks gives no separate round-trip distance to the falls, and it publishes no elevation gain, difficulty rating or hiking time. We also could not confirm official wheelchair or restroom details for this trail.
Current closure
The Pfeiffer Falls and Valley View trails both remain closed until further notice, State Parks says. The Oak Grove, Mt. Manuel, Big Sur River Gorge and Pine Ridge trails are closed too.
Dogs are not allowed on the Pfeiffer Falls Trail even when it's open. State Parks allows dogs only on Warden's Path and River Path, in the day-use parking lots and in the campground.
When to visit
Until State Parks reopens the trail, there is no season to plan around. The October 2026 notice lists the closure as "until further notice" and gives no reopening date.
Past reopenings were announced in State Parks news releases, in June 2021 and September 2025. Check the park's news releases and the park page before you make the drive. We could not confirm an official best season for water flow.
For another coastal waterfall hike, Alamere Falls at Point Reyes had no NPS alert as of October 28, 2026. Be aware that it's a 13.2-mile round trip with a low-tide beach walk.
| Height | 60 ftNote: about 60 ft per California State Parks news releases from 2021 and 2025 |
|---|---|
| Trail | Pfeiffer Falls Trail is 0.75 mi and forms a 1.5-mi loop with the Valley View Trail (State Parks). Both trails are closed until further notice after the 2026 Timber Fire. |
| Entry fee | $10 per vehicle for day use; State Parks says special rates may apply on peak days, holidays and weekends, and prices may change without notice |
| Permit / reservation | No permit; $10 vehicle day-use fee |
| Parking | Park day-use lots off Highway 1 ($10) |
| Hours / season | 8am to sunset (State Parks) |
| Dogs | Not on the Pfeiffer Falls Trail. Dogs are allowed only on Warden's Path and River Path, in day-use lots and in the campground |
| Swimming | No official swimming rule found |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Managed by | California State Parks, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park |
Safety and swimming
Do not enter closed trails. State Parks says entry to closed areas is prohibited and violators will be subject to citation. Stay on routes the park lists as open.
We could not find an official swimming rule for Pfeiffer Redwood Creek at the falls. When the trail reopens, stay on the trail and the bridge, and expect wet rock near the water.
Highway 1 conditions can change after storms and fires. Check road status before you set out, and use the park's lots rather than stopping on the shoulder.
Where to stay near Pfeiffer Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Big Sur.
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Photos
Pfeiffer Falls FAQ
Is Pfeiffer Falls Trail open?
No. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park reopened on October 16, 2026, after the Timber Fire. The Pfeiffer Falls Trail and the connecting Valley View Trail remain closed until further notice, and entering a closed area can bring a citation.
Why has Pfeiffer Falls been closed so often?
The 2008 Basin Complex Fire closed it until June 2021. A redwood fell on its bridge in a January 2023 storm, closing it until September 2025. The 2026 Timber Fire closed it again.
How long is the Pfeiffer Falls hike?
The Pfeiffer Falls Trail is 0.75 miles. When both trails are open, it forms a 1.5-mile loop with the Valley View Trail, State Parks says.
How tall is Pfeiffer Falls?
About 60 feet, according to California State Parks.
Is Pfeiffer Falls the same as McWay Falls?
No. McWay Falls is in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which State Parks places 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park on Highway 1. Pfeiffer Falls is inland, in a redwood gorge.
How much does it cost to visit Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park?
Day use is $10 per vehicle. State Parks says special rates may apply on peak days, holidays and weekends. The park is open 8am to sunset.
Are dogs allowed on the Pfeiffer Falls trail?
No. In Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, dogs are allowed only on Warden's Path and River Path, in day-use parking lots and in the campground.
Nearby waterfalls
More waterfalls to explore
Sources
- California State Parks: Pfeiffer Big Sur SP (reopening and trail closure notice dated Oct 9, 2026; checked Oct 28, 2026)
- California State Parks: Pfeiffer Big Sur SP to Reopen Oct. 16 Following Timber Fire
- California State Parks: Reopening of Pfeiffer Falls Trail (Sept 2025)
- California State Parks: Fully Renovated Pfeiffer Falls Trail to Reopen June 18 (2021)
- OpenStreetMap: Pfeiffer Falls map location
- California State Parks: Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP (12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur SP)
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with California State Parks, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.