Waterfalls of Big Sur

Oct 18, 2024

Waterfalls are part of what sparked my initial interest in photography.

The Milky Way turned that spark into an obsession. Big Sur is where I turned photography into a focused artistic practice.

As I began focusing on Big Sur as a primary location to photograph, finding and capturing the waterfalls became a continual process of discovery and adventure.

There are many many waterfalls in Big Sur.

Some years ago, I found Leor Pantilat's blog and his project documenting waterfalls in Big Sur, and I knew that many years would be required to realize my goals. The creeks and rivers of Big Sur contain many waterfalls. Some are not accessible when I’d like to witness them most. Others require technical gear and support to reach. And many are hidden, their locations guarded, unshared.

Much time is required to discover locations and to determine the best time and season to return to create photographs I am content with.

And so I explored and continue to explore. There’s always a drainage I want to explore again and another ten I want to visit.

Each year is different and the annual rainfall makes some areas uninteresting and others perfect and fascinating.

There are a few major creeks in Big Sur and careful study of maps will reveal them and there are six rivers, all filled with tributaries, cascades, canyons, narrows and the most perfect pools.

Bigsurtrailmap.net is one great place to go which marks many waterfalls, though most waterfalls are unmarked. Topographical maps are helpful at times as are friends you might meet in the backcountry.

Traveling along these freshwaters can be tricky. Off-trail exploring is required in the forest and wilderness areas to see many of the cascades.

Bringing along camera gear makes for a fun physical challenge. I prefer a full kit with a broad range of focal lengths and a sturdy tripod. Many locations require the photographer to be prepared for full immersion and sometimes a swim, dry bags, and the right shoes are critical.

Timing is everything with waterfalls.

Too early, and it can be dangerous and not necessarily more beautiful. Too late, and there may not be enough water to make for a good photo.

I enjoy the riparian landscapes of Big Sur a whole lot. There are plenty of other things to explore and photograph and get to know over time. But these spaces are special and challenging to know deeply.

And so the adventure continues…

Here’s some of what I’ve found so far:

While I share some names of the falls, some I don’t. But they are all in Big Sur.

Soberanes Creek Falls