How to Get a Env Site 2 Permit
One of exactly two hike-in campsites in a cypress grove above the Big Sur coastline - a quarter mile from the lot, and booked out six months ahead.
Check Env Site 2 permit availability$30 per night ($28 for seniors 62+; 50% off with a Disabled Discount Pass; free with a Distinguished Veterans Pass)
Permit Cost
1-3 nights
Duration
0.3 miles
Distance
easy
Difficulty
About Env Site 2
Environmental Campsite #2 is one of only two hike-in campsites at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Both sit on the west side of Highway 1 south of McWay Cove, a little over a quarter mile from the parking lot in a cypress grove with ocean and coastline views. They are hike-in only - no vehicle access. The site has a picnic table, a fire ring and a storage cabinet, with pit toilets nearby. There is no water at the site; the only running water is across Highway 1 near the restrooms, so you carry in everything you drink and cook with. Maximum four people per site. Check-in is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is noon. The fee is $30 a night, discounted to $28 for seniors 62 and over, half price with a Disabled Discount Pass and free with a Distinguished Veterans Pass. Reservations run through ReserveCalifornia up to six months in advance, and California State Parks says these sites are extremely popular year round and usually fill up six months in advance - which makes a cancellation watch the realistic path in.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns has two environmental campsites and nothing else. Two. That is the entire overnight inventory of the park that holds McWay Falls, which makes this one of the smallest and most contested campgrounds in the California state park system. There is no way to work around it - you either hold one of the two, or you do not sleep here.
The Experience
You carry your gear a little over a quarter mile from the parking lot into a cypress grove, and then the coastline just opens - ocean and headlands with nothing between you and the water. There is a storage cabinet, a fire ring and a table, pit toilets a short walk away, and no water at all. You carry every drop in. At night it is surf and wind and nothing else on Highway 1.
Both sites sit on the west side of Highway 1, south of McWay Cove, and there is no vehicle access - you park in the day-use lot with a valid pass and walk. The carry is a little over a quarter mile into a cypress grove with views out over the ocean and up the coastline. The only running water is back across Highway 1 near the restrooms, so plan the water haul as the real work of the trip. Note before you plan the rest of the day: the Waterfall Overlook Trail to view McWay Falls is closed for a long-term retaining wall repair project expected to continue into 2026, and the Canyon Trail is closed from 2020 Dolan Fire damage and later winter debris flows. What is open is the Ewoldsen Trail (5 miles round trip, west loop only), Partington Cove (1 mile round trip through a tunnel to a historic loading dock overlook), the Tan Bark Trail (3.2 miles one way) and Tin House Road (2.3 miles one way).
What to Expect
Two environmental campsites in the whole park - this is one of them
A hike-in of a little over a quarter mile from the parking lot, with no vehicle access
A cypress grove setting with views over the ocean and the coastline
A picnic table, fire ring, storage cabinet and trash cans; pit toilets nearby
No water at the site - the only running water is across Highway 1 near the restrooms
A hard cap of four people per site
McWay Falls' Overlook Trail closed for retaining wall repairs expected to continue into 2026
Get Env Site 2 Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
Maximum 4 people per site
Hike-in only - no vehicle access to the campsites
Vehicles must be registered and display a valid parking pass; camping or sleeping inside a vehicle in the parking lot or on the highway is not allowed
Fires are allowed only in the provided metal rings, and gathering firewood in the park is prohibited
All fireworks are prohibited
Except for service animals, pets are not permitted in campsites or on trails; pets in the parking area must be attended on a six-foot maximum leash
Check-in is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 noon
McWay Falls and the beach at McWay Cove are off-limits to visitors
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •All your water, carried in - there is none at the site
- •Purchased firewood; the nearest source is the Pfeiffer Big Sur entrance kiosk 11 miles north at $12 a bundle
- •A pack or duffel you can carry a quarter mile over uneven ground, more than once
- •A windproof shell and warm layers - this is an exposed coastal grove
- •A headlamp for the walk between the site and the toilets
- •A camp stove; the fire ring is not a reliable cooking plan in fire season
Hazards & Safety
Sleeper waves and unstable cliff edges - park guidance is that tidal conditions change quickly and cliff overlooks are dangerous
No water source at the site; running out is the most likely problem you will have
Fire and debris-flow damage has closed trails east of Highway 1, and repairs are ongoing
Highway 1 landslides can cut access from either direction with little notice
Poison oak along the coastal scrub between the lot and the sites
Best Time to Visit
Fall gives you the clearest coast, with the summer fog gone and the winter rains not yet started. Park temperatures range from the mid-80s at higher elevations inland down to the mid-40s, with heavy winter rains and frequent coastal fog. Whatever season you want, start watching six months out - State Parks says these two sites usually fill six months ahead.
Pro Tips
Set your watch to the six-month mark. State Parks says these two sites usually fill six months in advance, so the opening moment is the only clean shot.
Watch both sites, not just one. There are exactly two, and a cancellation on either gets you the same night.
Fill every container at the restrooms across Highway 1 before you start walking. That is the only running water anywhere near the site.
Buy firewood at Pfeiffer Big Sur 11 miles north before you drive down - collecting wood here is prohibited.
Plan two carries, not one. A quarter mile with water plus gear is more than one trip for most parties of four.
Do not plan the trip around McWay Falls views - the Overlook Trail is closed into 2026. Partington Cove, a mile round trip, is the reliable coastal walk.
Winter is the only season with real availability, and also the season Highway 1 is most likely to close. Check road conditions the day before.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Env Site 2 permit?
+
Env Site 2 permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Env Site 2?
+
Fall gives you the clearest coast, with the summer fog gone and the winter rains not yet started. Park temperatures range from the mid-80s at higher elevations inland down to the mid-40s, with heavy winter rains and frequent coastal fog. Whatever season you want, start watching six months out - State Parks says these two sites usually fill six months ahead.
How difficult is Env Site 2?
+
Campers happy to carry gear and every drop of water a quarter mile for one of the best coastal campsites in California. The walk is short; the self-sufficiency is the real requirement.
What gear do I need for Env Site 2?
+
Essential gear includes: All your water, carried in - there is none at the site, Purchased firewood; the nearest source is the Pfeiffer Big Sur entrance kiosk 11 miles north at $12 a bundle, A pack or duffel you can carry a quarter mile over uneven ground, more than once, A windproof shell and warm layers - this is an exposed coastal grove, A headlamp for the walk between the site and the toilets. Additional specialized gear may be required based on conditions.
Don't Miss Your Env Site 2 Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Env Site 2 availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
