Burney Falls

4.8(1.7K)google

4.7(362)yelp

Per Vehicle $10USD(Located inside McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. Fee covers standard vehicle day-use and parking ($9 for senior vehicles). Walking in is free.)

NatureHiking

Overview

Burney Falls is a waterfall on Burney Creek, within McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, in Shasta County, California. The water comes from underground springs above and at the falls, which are 129 feet (39 m) high, and provides an almost constant flow rate of 379,000,000 liters (83,000,000 imp gal; 100,000,000 U.S. gal) per day, even during the dry summer months. Burney Creek is a tributary of the Pit River which has its mouth on the Lake Britton reservoir to the north.

Practical Info

Burney Falls, California 96013, USA

Suggested Duration1.5-3 hours

Best TimeLate spring to early summer (April to June) is the prime window, when snowmelt fuels the 129-foot waterfall into a roaring, brilliant turquoise display. Photographically, hitting the trail before 8:00 AM or after 5:00 PM is best; the softer, angled light filtering through the pines highlights the intricate curtain of wall-springs without harsh midday shadows.

Getting ThereLocated within McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, driving is the only viable option. From Redding, drive northeast on CA-299 E for 55 miles, then turn north onto CA-89 N near the town of Burney; follow it for 6 miles to the park gate on your right. The falls are located just 200 meters from the main paved lot. Be aware that during busy summer hours, lots fill fast and entry metering is enforced.

Travel Tips

Heavy social-media exposure triggers total parking lot gridlock at McArthur-Burney Falls before 08:00 AM on summer weekends, prompting state rangers to close the Highway 299 access gates entirely; capture early staging slots by rolling past the kiosk before 07:00 AM weekdays.

Photo Tips

Best Light• 【Time Windows & Photography】Avoid the high-contrast blinding midday light from 11:30 AM to 02:30 PM, which overexposes the delicate groundwater stream veils into flat glare fields; wait for the post-04:00 PM canyon shading phase to execute long-exposure captures of the emerald plunge pool.

Gear

The 129-foot spring-fed water cascade creates an isolated sub-alpine basin canyon microclimate, plunging air temperatures by 10°C relative to the parking lot while pushing thick water mist; deploy waterproof lens housing and high-traction hydro-boots to manage slick mossy shales.

Reviews

Positive

Dubbed the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' by Teddy Roosevelt; the 39m wall cascades into a misty, surreal sapphire pool.
Unique for its endless subterranean springs weeping directly out of volcanic rock walls, forging a multi-tiered screen of water.
The loop trail is flat, gentle, and very brief; walking it offers natural negative-ion mist that cools your skin comfortably.
The state park hosts pristine picnic zones and accessible restrooms; the falls are just a few minutes' walk from the parking lot.

Heads up

Extreme popularity matched with tight overlooks means weekend crowds are terrifying, forcing tight squeezing just to snap photos.
The dedicated parking lots are tiny; on busy days, gates close before 10 AM, causing massive car queues outside on the state highway.
The trail leading down to the pool base has frequently closed long-term for landslide repair, restricting views to the upper ledge.
As a single-point attraction, outside the waterfall itself and its short trail, the park lacks deep variety to fill a whole day.