Here's the way to get to Pfeiffer Beach:

http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/cab...h_pfeiffer.htm

The waterfall is at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which is further south.

http://www.pelicannetwork.net/jpb.statepark.htm

If you are driving southward, the entrance to the park will be on your left hand side.

Once inside, there will be a small parking lot past the kiosk and on the left. After you park your car, look across the road that you just came on, you'll see a small flight of stairs. Go down the stairs and turn to the right. Just follow this path, it'll take you to the viewpoint. Very easy walk, the path is wheelchair accessible.

Have a great time!

Hi Shanghainese and easytraveler! You both look wonderful in your gtg photo!

Just wanted to comment on the path to the falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns for wheelchair users. It IS v easy, w/ little elevation gain as you'll see when you reach the viewpoint. But even tho I was told by a Big Sur park ranger that it was wheelchair-accessible, it wasn't. I pushed my mom up and down this trail on the same day I pushed her up and down trails at Point Lobos, and those trails were magnificently accessible. I was so impressed w/ the Calif state park system.

At JPB I didn't find a ranger at the parking lot, so don't know if there was an accessible way down to the path, but fortunately my mother cd still walk a little so she climbed down the 26 steps while I carried her wheelchair. The path was narrow and eroded in places on the downhill side (this was 2 years ago). That made for a dangerously tilted, jarring ride where my whole focus became keeping mom from plummeting over the side. Since the path was tilted that way, the wheels of the chair were constantly turning toward the ravine below, and this was much narrower than Point Lobos. I cdn't believe the park ranger considered this accessible.

For anybody w/ a wheelchair or w/ someone in a wheelchair, I'd suggest a quick foray a hundred yards or so down the path to ck its condition first. The waterfall is v pretty and in a magical setting.

Thanks a bunch, you two are terrific with the info!

mari808: wow! what a story! Admittedly I've never taken anyone in a wheelchair at JPB, so it's good to know that the path needs to be improved! We do have volunteer groups here in California that help with maintaining the trails, so I'll get this info to them.

There IS a way down to the trail without the stairs. If you are at the bottom of the stairs and turn to the LEFT, the trail will eventually end up on roadside. That's the way for wheelcairs to go down. I haven't been that way for many years now, so can't remember exactly how it curves.

Glad to know you found the trail at Point Lobos negotiable! It's so beautiful out there!

One day, we'll all get to meet across the Pacific! Mels came, saw, and conquered! Hope you can do the same soon!

S'hainese: you're not planning on taking anyone in a wheelchair, are you?

Hi ET, nice to meet you! I actually printed out a hiking thread you posted a couple years back, or maybe it was a day trip down the coast. Anyway, the part abt the doggie beach in Carmel was so charming that sis and BIL made it a point to visit when they were there. Nice writing!

Re travel, Melissa tends to head east to mainland and Europe; lately I've only been heading west to Asia. Why not come to our Hnl GTG 9/22?