Partington Cove
CA-1,
Big Sur, California
93920
Just north of McWay Falls along the Pacific Coast Highway, is the slightly lesser known Partington Cove. In my opinion Partington Cove might just be the most beautiful location all along the Big Sur Coastline and it is a must stop on any trip traveling from San Luis Obispo to Monterey.
The trail is a little over a mile round trip where you'll descend down to the ocean about three hundred feet, following what use to be a wagon road formerly used to get bark and wood down to the ocean in order to ship it from the area. The trail goes back and forth as it descends, offering amazing views, and at some point before you get to the ocean, it will split off, with the path to the left heading to the cove portion of Partington Cove, while the right or more straight path heads down to a small, isolated, rocky beach.
The path off to the left first crosses a creek on a narrow wooden bridge and eventually reaches a sixty foot tunnel dug straight through the mountainside. The wooden tunnel is seven feet wide and about 6 and a 1/2 feet tall. John Partington, for who the area is named after, back in the 1880s, was shipping wood and oak from the nearby tanbark forests located up in the mountains. Ships would sail into the cove to pick up the wood, and in order to more easily get to the cove, Partington dug out and constructed the sixty foot long tunnel through the mountain. After exiting the over 130 year old tunnel, you'll walk to the right of the cove before reaching the end of the trail. A blocky wooden bench is located here offering an excellent spot to look out at the ocean, otherwise the rest of the area is a rocky outjutting giving beautiful views.
Heading back, and proceeding down the other part of the trail takes you to a rock and boulder strewn beach, where the ocean smashes into the rocky coastline. Partington Cove meets the ocean to the left of the rocky beach.
After taking in your fill of amazing coastline, you'll sadly have to trek all the way back up to the road. Partington Cove is technically part of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, but is accessible through a gate before the dirt road that leads down to the coast. This gate can be found about two miles north of McWay Falls. The gate is on the west side of Route 1, and has a "No Parking" sign posted on it. Shortly after the gate is a sign announcing that you're at Partington Cove. There is limited parking along the shoulder on Route 1. There is no cost to visit Partington Cove. Technically, dogs are not allowed, although I did see several on the trail. Dogs will have a very hard time, probably, at the end of both parts of the trail where all the rocks are present. Swimming and entering the water are not advised due to the currents and rocks.
Overall, the trail down to Partington Cove is filled with breath-taking views, is relatively short, and although the steep incline during the return hike might slightly wear a few people out, it is well worth the effort. Your kids may complain on the way back up the hill though, just because they can. This is a must stop on your adventure along the Pacific Coast Highway.
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First Created: 2021-07-03
Last Edited: 2021-07-14
