UPDATE: Burney Falls will be CLOSED from April 1, 2024, through Summer 2024 and possibly the Fall for trail and slope restoration.
Closed Areas: Falls Loop Trail and Burney Creek Trail
Open Areas: A Viewing area at the top of the falls with restricted views of the waterfall, campgrounds, general store, marina, visitor center, and day-use areas.
Waterfall Access: There will be no access to the fall’s pool area or waterfall.
Other things to consider: Caltrans will be doing major roadwork on Highway 89 during the same time period, resulting in road closures and heavy traffic.
If you’re traveling through Northern California, Burney Falls is a spot to add to your list of things to see!
I have visited twice now, and it’s incredible. I grew up in Northern California and have family in Redding, making it a little easier to see.
Last time we were in Redding, I decided to take my husband and son to visit for the first time, and they loved it. My husband said it was a “highlight of our trip!” When we arrived, my son was grumpy because he wanted to go to the hotel pool instead. Once he saw the waterfall, he quickly changed his tune and said, “Wow, this is the coolest place!”
Where is Burney Falls located?
This impressive waterfall is located at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Burney, California, approximately 1.5 hours from Redding, California.
If you’re navigating there from Redding, you have two options. You can take the CA-299 E or CA-44 E to CA-89 E, and since our hotel was one exit away from CA-299 E, we took that route.
The drive there is beautiful and not prone to traffic, even though most of the trip was on a two-lane highway.
When to arrive
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset. We intended to be there when the park opened but dragged our feet and didn’t arrive until 10 a.m. on a Saturday.
When we neared the park, a line of 6 or 7 cars was waiting to turn in, and the line was not moving. It was hard to tell what was going on, how much further it was to get into the park, and some cars making U-turns to get out of line, so that didn’t look promising.
My husband walked into the park and found it was only another few hundred feet to get to the check-in booth, so my son and I entered the park while my husband waited in line. After that, it took about a half hour for him to enter and find a parking spot.
We left the park around 12:30 p.m., and boy, were we glad we didn’t arrive later than 10 a.m. Cars trying to turn in were backed up for about a mile along CA-89, which included the poor drivers trying to drive to a different destination along the highway. Yikes! Luckily, there was no traffic getting out of the park and heading back to Redding.
I recommend arriving by 9:30 a.m. when visiting on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. Otherwise, it should be okay to arrive later on a weekday.
Before you head to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, read through their website for more advice and updates. They advise not to park on the side of CA-89, and if the park is full, try again after 4 p.m. If this happens, I suggest going into the cute little town of Burney to grab lunch and explore.
Exploring Burney Falls
The path down to the base of Burney Falls
There’s a long zig-zag paved path to the base of the waterfall. It’s an easy 5-10 minute walk down, and there are viewpoints along the way to take pictures.
If you have tiny ones with you, we saw some people with strollers. I would probably opt to bring a carrier if you continue past the base of the falls, but a stroller is doable on the path.
The air is a little misty as you go down, and the temperature drops – probably 10-20 degrees. I wished I had brought a light hoodie, but I was okay without it. As soon as we moved out of the shade, I was fine. I’d wear layers if you’re visiting early in the morning.
There were a lot of people, but it never felt crowded. We could find spaces to take pictures, and everyone was friendly about taking photos for one another.
Burney Falls Loop
The Burney Falls Loop is an easy one-mile trail to walk around that took us about a half hour to complete.
After leaving the waterfall base, the trail changes from paved to dirt. There are lots of rocks, and if your kids are anything like my son, they’ll be all over them!
From there, you’ll see beautiful views of the waterfall from different angles, lots of trees, and the creek.
When you near the end of the trail, you’ll cross a long bridge with great views of Burney Creek.
At the end of the trail are a few more picture-perfect views of the waterfall.
Things to explore nearby
Gift Store
After our short hike, we headed to the gift store. There are lots of cute T-shirts and other trinkets to buy. They also have ice cream, sandwiches, drinks, and snacks.
The restrooms are also located near the gift store.
Lake Britton
Lake Britton is close to Burney Falls and is perfect for boating, fishing, and swimming.
Important things to know
No dogs are allowed on trails or day-use areas. They are allowed in the parking lot and campgrounds.
The day-use park pass is $10 per vehicle.
Do not park on the side of CA-89.
There’s no swimming at the base of the waterfall, so head to Lake Britton afterward to go for a dip.
Collect a gem!
This hidden gem is a perfect addition to anyone’s collection of incredible things to see in their lifetime. If you’re driving somewhere along Interstate 5, take the little detour to visit Burney Falls!
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me or email holly@howtoholly.com.
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