Hike to Burney Falls in the Mt. Shasta Region of California

Mt. Shasta, CaliforniaThere are so many outstanding natural attractions to explore and enjoy at Mt. Shasta, you will have to do some planning to decide on where to go and what you will do. Mt. Shasta is a massive attraction, and you can see it for more than 100 miles from highways from Shasta to Siskiyou counties. The Mt. Shasta region includes several state parks, plus Lassen Volcanic National Park, the California Coastal range and Trinity Alps. It's a huge region with a variety of opportunities to hike, camp, go mountain climbing, view wildlife and much more.

If you have a particular affinity for one outdoor activity or sport, you can rely on your interests to guide you in selecting an area of the Mt. Shasta region to explore. I enjoy hiking to natural attractions, so on my visit to Northern California I opted to tour some of the Mt. Shasta region's scenic waterfalls.

Once you plan where you want to spend time in the Mt. Shasta area, it's easy to pick a place to stay if you don't happen to be planning to camp. Redding was an excellent option for accommodations for my tour of McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. At the end of an exhilarating day hiking to and around the Falls, my hotel was just minutes away in Redding.

Hiking to Burney Falls
Geologically speaking, Burney Falls is situated on the south end of the Cascade Range on the edge of the Modoc Plateau. Snowmelt from Mt. Shasta is a major source for the falls, and if you want to see peak water flow, visit in late spring or early summer. Although I didn't plan my travel to Burney Falls with peak flow in mind, I happened to visit in mid-June. The cascades were spectacular.

Don't worry if you're not an experienced or overly fit hiker - Burney Falls is easy to reach. Once you enter the State Park from Highway 89, you will see the Falls Trail to the west of the Park entrance. There is a camp store here where interpretive pamphlets are available. I found this small guide helpful on my visit.

The Falls Trail is paved for a few hundred yards, and it includes 24 stops along the way that will introduce you to the Burney Creek Gorge. If you are interested in the geology or botanical features of the area, you should take your time along your hike to the Falls. The one mile interpretive trail and pamphlet are interesting and informative - yet you will feel the draw of the Falls in the distance all along the way. If you savor anticipation, take your time - but good luck if you're visiting with kids.

You'll notice during your visit to Burney Falls that many people stop their hike right at the base of the falls. Misty spray from the falls is cool and refreshing, especially if you hurried along on your hike. You will feel the cooler temperature, smell and of course hear the water cascading at Burney Falls before you see it, your first glimpse will still catch you off guard. Staring up at the 129 feet cascading falls is a remarkable experience.

Burney Falls, CaliforniaWatching the water cascade at Burney Falls is mesmerizing, and it is worthwhile to take your time to enjoy the experience. The longer you gaze at the pounding water, the more features you will notice about the cascade. Not only does water cascade down over the basalt formation, it also flows straight out from holes in the volcanic rock face of the Fall's cliff. You can see this and other features of the Falls on closer inspection.

Beyond the Base of Burney Falls
I choose to stop and savor my first view of the Falls, then follow Falls Trail further up the Gorge for different views. If you hike the Headwaters Trail upstream, you'll cross the Pacific Crest Trail footbridge and access an incredible view of the Falls from above. If this 3.5-mile hike one way is a bit too strenuous, travel as far as you like, or hike along your choice of other trail options.

I left my fishing pole behind, but you can fish for trout in accordance with Park regulations in Burney Creek. Although I brought my bathing suit along anticipating a refreshing swim, this was out of the question. The spring and snow-fed waters were far too cool in June for swimming.

Burney Falls is an ideal place for a picnic, and it is of course a great place to take photos. Hiking at your leisure, you can also spot birds and squirrels along the way. Although I anticipated spending no more than two hours at Burney Falls, most of a day passed very quickly before I even realized it. Take your time relaxing in some of the incredible natural attractions in the Mt. Shasta region, and you'll be rewarded with a truly memorable experience.