Partington Cove

Named after John Partington, who built the hundred foot tunnel to navigable water here straight through a rock promontory, Partington Cove has seen uses both legal and illegal. Originally built to haul bark used in tanning to waiting ships, the tunnel also saw use by hooch smugglers during prohibition. Now, however, the adjacent creek and cove see more use from visitors escaping the tourist crush at McWay Falls immediately to the south, because as with so much of Big Sur it’s not apparent how lovely Partington Cove is until you actually arrive at the water, which along with the long walk down tend to keep it pleasantly uncrowded.