The path to Burney Falls at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is back open for visitors. Here's how to enjoy it safely.
Burney Falls is back: how can you experience California's "8th Wonder" responsibly?
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But now, these trails are once again accessible and prepared for (responsible) exploration – leading you directly to what many consider one of the nation's most breathtaking waterfalls.
Situated approximately a 5-hour drive north of San Francisco, visitors can explore the park's extensive 5 miles of trails. Several of these paths guide adventurers directly to and around the magnificent 129-foot Burney Falls, which the park's official website describes as "not the highest or largest waterfall in the state, but possibly the most beautiful."
The park's official site further explains that the water nourishing the falls originates from its subterranean springs, steadily increasing in volume as it flows towards Lake Britton, ultimately contributing to the "majestic falls."
Without question, the spring months represent the peak viewing period for the falls, primarily due to increased spring rains and melting snow. This influx of water dramatically enhances its flow, cascading over moss and ferns, before plunging into a crystal-clear pool at its base, creating an undeniably picture-perfect scene.
The sheer beauty of the scene led to visitor numbers surging from 250,000 to over 350,000 annually in recent years, according to Active NorCal. This excessive usage, however, caused the infrastructure of both the 1.1-mile Burney Fall Loop Trail and the 2.6-mile Burney Creek Trail to deteriorate, resulting in potentially hazardous conditions for visitors.
California State Parks responded swiftly, closing the trails for the majority of 2024 as part of an $835,000 initiative to repair both. This project was coordinated with Caltrans' multi-million-dollar Highway 89 improvement project, which also happens to be the main access route to the park and its trails.
And precisely as the parks department had estimated, everything at the park is now fully operational again, just in time for the highly anticipated spring and summer season. However, California State Parks is issuing a warning: "McArthur Burney Falls State Park experiences extremely high visitation beginning in April and continuing through October. Most weekends all summer, the park will fill to capacity, and entrance into the park is subject to closure due to limited parking availability."
It further advised that prospective visitors should anticipate traffic delays "for up to an hour prior to entering the park due to the increased visitation experienced at this park."
Still, if you're inclined towards an early-morning excursion, or meticulously plan your visit, the effort could prove entirely worthwhile. After all, its captivating beauty prompted former President Teddy Roosevelt to famously nickname it "the 8th wonder of the world." Just remember to strictly adhere to the Leave No Trace Principles to preserve this location in its pristine state for future generations.
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