A waterfall hike just off California's Hwy. 1

The Pfeiffer Falls Trail is a short, mostly gentle trek in a California state park that’s just right for hikers with Parkinson’s who might need a movement break while road-tripping along the coast.

But they’d have to like – or at least tolerate – lots of stairs. More on that later. (Jump to trail stats.)

The park surrounds the famous Pacific Coast Highway, which winds along more than 600 miles of California coastline and offers breathtaking views of the ocean and amazing bridges.

Ocean coastal cliffs as seen from the top.

A huge concrete bridge is seen from a car in the distance.

As of early 2026, getting to this park is significantly easier than it had been for three years, when parts of the PCH, or Highway 1, were shut down for repairs.

The portion through the Big Sur area, one of the prettiest and best-known stretches, was closed due to mudslides in 2023. It hindered access to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, where the waterfall trail and others meander up and down and through a redwood forest.

Parkinson’s hiking tip

Lengthy car trips can be difficult for people with Parkinson’s, who often deal with stiff muscles and rigidity. Stretch breaks every one to two hours are helpful. Even better is finding a short hike that’s not too far off your course. While in the car, do some seated exercises like calf raises or foot flexes to ward off cramps.

The Unshakable Husband and I took a short “bleisure” trip to Monterey, California. Bleisure is one of those combo words that people who have too much time on their hands come up with; in this case it’s a mix of business and leisure. I joined him for the weekend when he was done with the business part.

We took Highway 1 south on a nearly cloudless February day, enjoying the beauty and stopping at the Bixby Bridge to take some photos.

A huge, tall concrete bridge spans over a deep valley.

A woman holds a drone controller while flying it on the coast.

When we entered the state park, just south of Big Sur, we picked the first parking lot we saw – the gift store’s. Turned out the trailhead was right by it, and we had 90 minutes of free parking.

We quickly found the trail, which is a loop. We decided to go counterclockwise.

A female hiker walks along a path amid redwood trees.

Seems it would be hard to get lost. There was good signage and a clear path.

A wooden sign says "Pfeifer Falls" with an arrow pointing.

We trekked up and down. When we were close to the falls, we trekked only up – nearly 100 steps! Not all at once, though. There were some breaks in between.

A staircase made of dirt and wood is shown going up.

Parkinson’s hiking tip

Remember to bring at least one hiking pole for this hike, especially for going down. But if you forget, there are good railings to steady yourself.

After the stair slog, we reached the waterfall. It was too early in the season to be real gushy, but it was tall and stood out from the greenery around it.

A woman stands at a wooden fence looking at a waterfall.

We continued with the loop and headed back. I discovered that going this route had fewer staircases but more downhill dirt to navigate. This is where two poles would be helpful.

A male hiker takes a first step onto a downward staircase.

A trail going down shows a steep decline and rocks in the dirt.

Parkinson’s hiking tip

If stairs are easier for you to manage going down, rather than a rocky path that gets steep at times, go back down the way you came.

We took in the mottled sunshine while passing by redwoods that stood as pillars on each side of us.

A man stands between two gigantic trunks on a trail.

The trail flattened out, and after less than an hour of hiking, we were back to the car.

A female hiker walks along a path shaded by big trees.

Where have you found a good hike while on a road trip? Answer in the comments.

Hike info

PD difficulty level (see chart): Moderate
Distance: 1.9-mile loop (or out and back)
Elevation gain: 426 feet
Trailhead location: across the street from the gift shop
Cell phone service: none on trail
Bathrooms: at gift shop
Emergency medical support: Big Sur Health Center is about 2 miles north of the park entrance.
Costs: $10 per car for a day pass