McArthur-Burney Falls State Park (California)

**2024 closure: Closure of trails in McArthur-Burney State Park and construction on the highway leading to the park will make visiting difficult. Check current conditions before heading out!**

Burney Falls in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is often called the most beautiful waterfall in California. It’s hard to argue with that – the falls have a unique charm, consisting of many individual streams gracefully descending a broad cliff. Mosses interwoven with the cascades and the basin of vibrant turquoise water below make the falls especially appealing. 

Although the falls are heavily visited, in this guide to Burney Falls I’ll provide information that will help you plan a stress-free trip. The falls are located near many other waterfalls and attractions in the Shasta area, and I’ll provide recommendations on how to plan your itinerary.

For more places to explore in California, browse my California destination guides.

Burney Falls Facts and History

Burney Falls stands at an imposing 129 feet tall. The falls consist of individual cascades that emerge at different places in the cliff face, in addition to water falling from the stream above. 

The stream that feeds the falls originates from rain and snow. The water soaks into the ground’s porous basalt layers, forming a large underground reservoir. The stream emerges from underground just before Burney Falls. 

Ancient volcanic activity and erosion are responsible for the area’s unique features. When hiking around the park, you’ll see this in the form of basalt columns and interesting rock formations.

Burney Falls History

In the early 20th century, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) began purchasing the land near Burney Falls. Local residents feared that PG&E would build a dam that would destroy the falls. We are able to enjoy the park today thanks to Frank and Scott McArthur, who purchased the land surrounding the falls and deeded it to the state. 

The land was declared a state park in 1926. PG&E eventually dammed the nearby Pit River to generate hydroelectric power, creating the Lake Britton reservoir that is also used for recreational activities.

Trip Planning Information

Burney Falls Trail Map and Things to Do

Check current conditions before visiting. Trails are sometimes closed for reconstruction.

The highlight of a visit to Burney Falls is walking to the base of the falls (~0.5 miles round trip). The path is paved and not strenuous.

To see the falls from both sides, hike the loop trail (1.1 mi). You’ll walk through the deep gorge cut by the stream and get an up-close view of unique basalt formations. The trail is mostly shaded.

Trail Map for Burney Falls Hike (Loop Trail)

For a longer Burney Falls hike, add a visit to the headwaters onto the loop trail (2.7 mi total). Alternatively, from the falls continue walking along the creek to arrive at the shore of Lake Britton (2.8 mi total). If you like fishing, the area around Burney Creek is a great place to find trout.

Swimming at Burney Falls is not advised since the water temperature is an icy 42°F year-round. If you’d like to spend a day on the water, head to Lake Britton. At the Burney Creek pier on the lake you can rent a variety of boats, kayaks, and paddleboards. Alternatively, check out some of the beaches and picnic areas on the shore of Britton lake.

Before leaving McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, check out the historic log cabin right next to the parking lot.

Useful Tips

• Limited phone service. Expect limited to no phone service at Burney Falls State Park. Download Google Maps of the area and hiking trail GPS information in advance.
• Leave no trace. This is a heavily trafficked area; let’s make sure it stays beautiful.

How Long to Visit

Allow at least 30 minutes to walk to the base of the falls and back up. Stay for 1 – 2 hours if you want to do some small hikes in the area.

Burney Falls Weather and When to Go

**2024 closure: Trails to the waterfall will be closed throughout the 2024 summer season. You can get a glimpse of the falls from the parking lot, but it’s worth planning your visit around when the main trail will be open. There will also be construction on Highway 89 during summer 2024, which will create delays in the area**

You can visit the falls year-round. Water flow will be highest in winter and spring. 

The weather can get very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. I visited Burney Falls in November; the temperature was comfortably cool, and the trail was ice-free.

Visiting Burney Falls in winter may require special equipment due to snow and ice on the trails. Contact the park ranger office for an update on current conditions. Chains may be required to drive through this area in winter.

Burney Falls State Park Information

The Burney Falls entrance fee is $10. You’ll pay the ranger at the entry kiosk, or at self service machines in the parking lot (in the off season). You can pay with card or cash; bring exact change if using cash with the self service machines. You may be able to borrow a California State Parks pass for free from your local library. Burney Falls reservations are not required.

Burney Falls opening hours are 8 AM – 8:30 PM daily.

To an extent, Burney Falls is dog friendly in that dogs are allowed in the parking lot. However dogs are not allowed on the trails and cannot be left unattended in vehicles.

Burney Falls Directions

The Falls are located along Highway 89 in Northern California, with the closest cities being Burney (15 min), Mount Shasta (1 hr), and Redding (1 hr 15 min). It’s a 5 hour drive from the Bay Area.

The road to the parking lot at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is paved. The parking area has restrooms, a large picnic area, a visitor center, and a general store. In the Burney Falls parking lot, trailers, camperhomes, and RVs may not exceed 32 ft.

Arrive in the morning and visit on a weekday if you can. The falls are very popular with visitors, especially from April to October. The parking lot fills up quickly, and delays of up to 1 hour can occur along Highway 89 at the park entrance. It is illegal to park along Highway 89 for a mile in either direction of the park.

What to Bring

• Trail Map. Download and use detailed hiking maps offline.
• Good Walking Shoes. Women’s, Men’s.
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito spray
• Water, Picnic, Snacks. There’s a general store but no restaurant in the park.

Where to Stay

Burney Falls Camping

Campsites and cabins in the McArthur – Burney Falls Park are open seasonally, and you can reserve them up to 6 months in advance. Spots tend to go quickly, so reserve ahead of time! Campsites at Burney Falls are typically first come, first served between Labor Day and mid-May. 

Additional nearby campsites include Northshore and Dusty campgrounds.

Burney Falls Cabins

You can reserve cabins within McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. For additional options, look into cabins at PSEA Camp Britton and PSEA Camp Shasta.

Burney Falls Hotels

Hotels in Burney: Shasta Pines Motel & Suites, Green Gables Motel & Suites

Hotels in McCloud: McCloud River Bed and Breakfast

Hotels in Mount Shasta: Cold Creek Inn, Mount Shasta Ranch Bed and Breakfast, Mount Shasta Resort, Strawberry Valley Inn, Inn At Mount Shasta, Mossbrae Hotel

Hotels in Redding: Hope Inn, Americana Modern Hotel, Home2 Suites By Hilton, Sheraton, Fairfield Inn & Suites

Burney Falls Things to Do Nearby

Burney Falls Map of Nearby Attractions

There’s plenty of things to do near Burney Falls. I’ve listed some of my favorites below, along with their driving times. If you’d like some itinerary suggestions, check out my guide to the Mt. Shasta area.

• McCloud Falls (40 min)
• Lassen National Park (45 min)
• Hedge Creek Falls (1 hr)
• Mossbrae Falls (1 hr)
• Mount Shasta city & Sacramento River headwaters (1 h)
• Lake Siskiyou (1 hr)
• Castle Crags State Park (1 hr 10 min)
• Ney Springs and Faery Falls (1 hr 10 min)
• Castle Lake and Heart Lake (1 hr 15 min)
• Mt. Shasta Bunny Flat trailhead (1 hr 15 min)
• Lake Shasta Caverns (1 hr 30 min)
• Pluto’s Cave (1 hr 30 min)
• Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (3 hr)

Thanks for reading, and I hope this guide to Burney Falls State Park was helpful. What’s the most beautiful waterfall you’ve visited? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.

For more places to explore in California, browse my California destination guides.

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