McArthur-Burney Falls State Park: Discover Outdoor Adventures

One of the most beautiful parks in California, McArthur-Burney Falls, is located at the foot of the Cascade Mountains, just east of the Shasta National Forest. It is the second oldest park in the California state park system and contains one of the area’s most spectacular natural wonders: Burney Falls. There is more to experience here than just the falls for vacationers. The park boasts 910 acres of forest and five miles of streamside and lake shoreline, including a portion of Lake Britton.

Start at the Visitors Center

The visitor center and ranger station are located just beyond the south entrance to the park. Here, you can find maps of trails, camping, fishing, and boating areas, as well as information about the park’s flora and fauna. Fees: $10 per vehicle for day use (seniors: $9), payable by cash or card at the entrance kiosk or automatic payment machine. During the off-season, when the kiosk is closed, payment can be made automatically. Note: All paths that take you to the falls start at the visitor center.

Beautiful Burney Falls

The park’s major attraction is the 129-foot Burney Falls, fed by Burney Creek and considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the United States, as well as the most beautiful in California. Because of their geological formations and position, the falls appear like a continuous wall of streaming water. Water is also added to the falls from naturally occurring underground springs. When the water from the springs meets the sea from the creek, a mist-filled basin is created, making the falls even more spectacular. One hundred million gallons of water flow through the falls every day.

McArthur-Burney Falls Hiking

Five miles of hiking trails loop through the park’s evergreen forests. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the park, and the park store can be used as a general delivery mailing address for hikers. There is also a trail that leads hikers to Pioneer Cemetery. Additionally, three main trails are available: the Headwaters Loop Trail, the Falls Loop Trail, and the Burney Creek Trail.

The main trail is the Falls Loop Trail (3/4 miles), which starts at the Burney Falls overlook. From there, it goes down to the bottom of the falls and descends downstream to the Rainbow Footbridge. It then crosses Burney Creek and takes hikers back uphill to the other side of the ravine. Finally, it returns across the creek via the Fisherman’s Bridge. The shortest hike within the park is a ½ mile hike, and the longest is 3 miles.
A dedicated hike/bike trail within the park, along with a portion of the Pioneer Trail hiking route, allows dogs on leashes.

McArthur-Burney Falls Camping

The park offers both campsites and cabin accommodations. The main campground is equipped to accommodate large recreational vehicles (RVs). None of them have utilities, but there are numerous public facilities.
In all, there are 121 campsites. For those who prefer not to use tents or don’t have an RV, the park offers 24 one- and two-bedroom cabins, all located within walking distance of the main trail and falls.
The cabins do not have electricity or private restroom facilities, but they are conveniently located near public restrooms.

Water Activities McArthur-Burney Falls

A large portion (9 miles long and 1 mile wide) of Lake Britton is found within the park, offering boating, fishing, and a variety of water sports opportunities. Small motorboats, kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and paddleboats are available for rental. Fishing areas can be found at both Lake Britton and Burney Creek, which are planted with catchable-size trout throughout the summer season and feature a fish cleaning station.
Fishing licenses are required for anyone over 16 years old and can be purchased at the park store. There is a small swimming beach on Lake Britton, with limited parking.

Recreation and Facilities

Near the entrance to the park, just beyond the visitors’ center, there is a store selling provisions, camping supplies, and helpful information about the park. Attached to the store is a small restaurant that serves ready-made breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Four picnic areas are scattered throughout the park, with the largest a few yards beyond the visitors’ center. In the center of the camp, not far from the main trail, there is a designated campfire area, the only field area where fires are permitted.

Where is McArthur-Burney Falls State Park

Burney Falls is located in Northern California’s Shasta County. The park is northeast of Redding, six miles north of Highway 299 on Highway 89, and 11 miles East of Burney. Travel time from and to Redding, California, is approximately 50 minutes (less than an hour).

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