The trail to Burney Falls, in McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park located in Northern California, has been reopened for visitors. Here’s a guide to seeing it responsibly.
The National Park Service announced a record. 331.9 million visits In 2024, showing how much we all crave spending time outdoors with Mother Nature. Mother Nature can be a bit of a love affair for us. The same goes for the other way around. After a record number of visitors, one site in McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park (Northern California) was forced to shut down several trails in order to repair them for nine months.
But now, the trails are back and ready for (responsible) action—and will lead you to arguably one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the nation.
The park is located about five hours north of San Francisco. Travelers can explore its five miles of trails. Several of them lead to the Burney Falls at 129 feet, which, according to the park website, “isn’t the highest or biggest waterfall in the State, but perhaps the most beautiful.”
The park’s website explains, in addition, that the water used to create the waterfalls comes from the underground springs. It flows to Lake Britton and “gets larger along the route to the majestic Falls.”
Spring rains and melting snow are the main reasons why waterfalls peak in spring. The spring rains and snow melt help push water down the face of the falls, flowing over moss, ferns, and into a clear pool at its base.
According to the latest statistics, visitors have risen from 250,000 to more than 350,000 per year in recent years. Active NorCal. The 1.1-mile distance was caused by excessive usage. Burney Fall Loop Trail Then, there is the 2.6-mile Burney Creek Trail Infrastructure failures can create a dangerous environment for tourists.
California State Parks took immediate action and closed the trails until 2024. $835,000 project Both can be repaired. This also works in conjunction with Caltrans’ multi-million-dollar Highway 89 improvement projectThis is the main access route to the park and its trails.
Just as predicted by the parks department, everything has been restored to normal at the park in time for the spring/summer season. However, California State Parks Warning: “McArthur burney falls state park experiences high levels of visitation starting in April and continuing until October.” The park will be full most weekends during the summer. Due to parking shortages, it may close the entrance to the park.
Visitors should be prepared for traffic delays of up to an hour before entering the park, due to increased visitor numbers.
If you are up for an early morning adventure or can time your trip right, the effort could be well worth it. It’s a sight so beautiful that Teddy Roosevelt himself praised it. nicknamed it “the eighth Wonder of the World.” Please follow the guidelines. Leave No Trace Principles Keep this place as clean as you found.
