McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, California
Height
129 ft source checked
Hike
1.3 mi
Entry fee
$10.00
GPS
41.01072, -121.65276
What makes Burney Falls special
Height is the headline. At 129 ft, Burney Falls ranks #23 of the 30 falls whose height has passed our source check, and you feel that scale long before you see the whole drop.
Burney Falls sits inside McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, so the walk in comes with the park around it: marked trails, signed junctions and, usually, other things worth a stop on the same day.
The draw here is the moment the sound reaches you before the water does. People plan whole days around falls like Burney Falls: a walk through the woods, cold spray at the base, and a quiet spot to sit for a while.
Geology and background
What makes it special
A 129-foot fall on Burney Creek, fed by springs that push out 100 million gallons of water a day through a basalt cliff. A 1.3-mile loop trail circles the falls, and the park sits in pine forest north of Redding.
Plan your visit
Getting there and parking
Address: 24898 Highway 89, Burney; 6 miles north of Highway 299 on Highway 89.
Parking: Designated parking only; parking on Highway 89 within 1 mile is illegal (citation/tow); vehicles over 32 ft not admitted.
Prices and passes
Reservations: Day-use reservations required Fri-Sun and holidays 15 May-27 Sep 2026; no same-day reservations.
Fee: $10 per vehicle plus $1 processing under the reservation pilot; camping $35/night.
Facilities
Accessibility: Falls Overlook parking/restrooms/picnic, accessible Visitor Center, Headwaters Trail accessible 0.71 miles each way; Burney Creek accessible route to the overlook may be partly closed (erosion).
Waterfalls mark a change in the ground beneath a stream: a fault, a glacier-cut valley wall, or a band of hard rock the water cannot wear down as quickly as what lies below it.
Water flow and seasons
No stream gauge is linked to Burney Falls yet, so recent rain is your best guide. The weather panel on this page adds up the last three days of rain at the fall.
Flow tends to peak in spring with snowmelt and seasonal rain, and again for a day or two after a big storm. By late summer smaller falls can drop to a thin ribbon.
The trail and the viewpoint
The listed hike to Burney Falls is about 1.3 miles. Trail lengths in our data can mean one way or round trip depending on the source, so confirm on the trailhead sign.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
Facilities depend on McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park: larger parks usually have a signed trailhead, restrooms and a parking area, while smaller reserves may have none of these.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
An entry fee of $10.00 is listed. Fees change, and some parks charge per vehicle rather than per person, so confirm before you go.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Burney Falls
Burney Falls is in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, California. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (41.01072, -121.65276) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our California waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Burney Falls in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Weekday mornings are the quietest. On summer weekends, popular falls can fill their parking by mid-morning, and the viewpoint becomes a queue.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
For a 1.3 mile hike, allow roughly 1.2 to 1.9 hours, including time at the falls. Add more if the trail is steep, muddy or busy.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Burney Falls
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Burney Falls on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Burney Falls, California located?
Burney Falls is in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, California. Its GPS coordinates are 41.01072, -121.65276.
What kind of waterfall is Burney Falls, California?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Burney Falls?
It is 129 ft tall, a height that passed our source check.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
A fee of $10.00 is listed. Most falls are open dawn to dusk, but check the managing agency for gates and seasonal closures.
Is Burney Falls good for families?
With a listed hike of about 1.3 miles, it can suit families. Keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
No gauge is linked, so use the last three days of rain in the weather panel: more rain usually means more water.
The bottom line
Burney Falls is a 129 ft waterfall worth building a day around. Check the flow before you go, start early to beat the crowds, and stay well back from the edge.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
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