Reservation9/10
Environmental Campsite #2 cancellations
Secluded hike-in campsite near McWay Falls....
Environmental Campsite #1 Permit
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park · California
One date at a time
Secluded hike-in campsite near McWay Falls.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Env Site 1 were gone within 10 minutes.
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Env Site 1 Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelExtremely High9/10
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
Cost$30 per night ($28 for seniors 62+; 50% off with a Disabled Discount Pass; free with a Distinguished Veterans Pass)
Max Group Size4 people
Env Site 1 Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Env Site 1 in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Env Site 1 is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 9/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Env Site 1 runs year-round.
- The Env Site 1 route covers 0.3 miles, rated easy.
- Cancelled Env Site 1 permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level9/10
LocationBig Sur Coast, CA
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.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
0.3 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-3 nights
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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78°
47°
Sun
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70°
44°
Mon
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81°
43°
Tue
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87°
47°
Wed
☀️
89°
50°
Thu
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91°
52°
Fri
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90°
54°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: May through OctoberShoulder: November through March
Conditions
Green hillsides and strong creek flow, with fog starting to build on the coast.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Wildflowers on the coastal terraces
- +Cooler carrying weather
- +Whale migration offshore
Challenges
- !Winter storm damage often has trails closed into spring
- !Six-month bookings for spring dates are gone immediately
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand2/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
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.
Recommended Experience
Basic self-supported camping. If you have packed water for a night out before, you are fine.
Not Recommended For
Anyone who needs water at their site, a vehicle beside the tent, or a group larger than four. There is no flexibility on any of the three.
About This Permit
Environmental Campsite #1 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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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).
The Feeling
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.
Trailhead Information
Environmental Campground parking, Highway 1
Day-use parking on Highway 1 south of McWay Cove; the sites are a little over a quarter mile on foot from here, on the west side of the highway.
Restrooms
Water on site
Parking
Vehicles must be registered and display a valid parking pass. Sleeping in a vehicle in the lot or on the highway is not allowed.
Getting There
11 miles south of Big Sur on Highway 1; day use is $10 per vehicle.
Nearest Services
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, 11 miles north on Highway 1, sells firewood at the entrance kiosk.
Notes
The only running water is across Highway 1 near the restrooms - fill here before you carry in.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Env Site 1
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
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Key Landmarks
Environmental campsite trailhead
Day-use parking on Highway 1; the walk to the sites is a little over a quarter mile with no vehicle access
The cypress grove
Where both sites sit, with views over the ocean and up the coastline
McWay Falls
80-foot waterfall spilling onto the beach at McWay Cove - the Overlook Trail is closed for retaining wall repairs into 2026, and there is no beach or ocean access at the falls
Partington Cove
1-mile round trip down an old wagon road and through a tunnel to a historic loading dock overlook
Ewoldsen Trail
5 miles round trip through redwoods; the west loop is open and the east half remains closed
Env Site 1 FAQ
How many campsites does Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park have?
Two. Both are environmental campsites on the west side of Highway 1 south of McWay Cove, hike-in only with no vehicle access. That is the park's entire overnight inventory.
How far is the hike to the Julia Pfeiffer Burns environmental campsites?
A little over a quarter mile from the parking lot, into a cypress grove with views of the ocean and the coastline.
Is there water at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns environmental campsites?
No. Campers must carry in their own water. The only running water is across Highway 1 near the restrooms.
How much does a Julia Pfeiffer Burns environmental campsite cost?
$30 a night. Seniors 62 and over pay $28, Disabled Discount Pass holders get 50% off, and Distinguished Veterans Pass holders camp free.
How far in advance can I reserve a Julia Pfeiffer Burns campsite?
Six months, through ReserveCalifornia. California State Parks says these sites are extremely popular year round and usually fill up six months in advance.
How many people can stay at a Julia Pfeiffer Burns environmental campsite?
Four. Check-in is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 noon.
Can I see McWay Falls while camping at Julia Pfeiffer Burns?
Not from the Overlook Trail right now - it is closed for a long-term retaining wall repair project expected to continue into 2026. McWay Falls and the beach at McWay Cove are off-limits to visitors regardless; there is no beach or ocean access at the falls.
Can I bring a dog to the Julia Pfeiffer Burns campsites?
No. 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.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Questions
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Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset straight off the grove - the sites face west over open ocean, so you are shooting into the sun going down rather than behind a ridge.
Best Light
Clear fall afternoons, when the marine layer has pulled back far enough to show the headlands running south.
Beat the Crowds
The day-use lot empties at sunset and you are one of two parties left in the park - the whole coastline is effectively yours after dark. Shoot Partington Cove early, before the Highway 1 traffic builds.
Classic Shots
- 📍Cypress silhouettes against the ocean from the campsite
- 📍The coastline running south from the grove at last light
- 📍Partington Cove's tunnel framing the water at the far end
- 📍Redwoods on the open west loop of the Ewoldsen Trail
- 📍Fog spilling over the Santa Lucia ridgeline above Highway 1
Can't Get a Env Site 1 Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Environmental Campsite #2
Same AreaThe park's only other environmental campsite, in the same cypress grove.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Identical setup and identical difficulty to book - but it is a second shot at the same night.
Limekiln Campground
Same AreaSmall campground in a redwood canyon further south on the Big Sur coast, with beach access.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
You can drive to your site and there is water, but availability depends on Highway 1 conditions.
Andrew Molera Trail Camp
Similar ExperienceWalk-in trail camp at Andrew Molera State Park, 16 miles north on Highway 1.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Another short carry to a coastal camp, with far more sites and far better odds.
Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground
Easier Alternative189 drive-in sites along the Big Sur River, 11 miles north.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Hot showers, running water and a car at your site - but it is a busy valley campground, not a cliff-top grove.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Env Site 1 trip
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