McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park.
We visited for a long weekend, just to relax and enjoy nature. I lived in the park when I was in high school and thought it would be fun to return.
Burney Basin Days is always the 4th of July weekend in Burney, so on our first morning we took our lawn chairs and headed to town to enjoy the small-town parade. After that, we wandered into a couple of stores, then found the craft fair that is part of Burney Basin Days. There were several local vendors displaying their wares. And each year Burney Basin Days features a great fireworks show on the football field of the high school. It was quite a surprise to find over 6,000 people there when we arrived (a record) in a town of just over 3,000.
In the park
We walked the falls trail one morning – a beautiful hike, with the temperature cooling at least 20 degrees as we got close to the bottom of the falls – nature’s air conditioner! As it was warm the whole time we were camping, the cooling was a nice break. Burney Falls, which is 129′ tall, flows from Burney Creek and underground springs. During the summer, Burney Creek dries up not far above the falls, and all of the water comes totally from the underground streams. There is a nice hike up the creek to the headwaters pool, not a long hike but a pretty one along the creek.
Another day we took a drive around Lake Britton on Clark Creek Road, and a side trip down to Pit 3 powerhouse.
The Pit River has Powerhouses located down the Pit River – a beautiful river and a beautiful drive. The Pit is known for its fly fishing. It is also one of California’s most significant hydroelectric rivers, with dams and powerhouses located on the river.
And another day we headed up towards the towns of Fall River and
McArthur. Almost everything was closed as it was the Fourth of July, but we stopped and enjoyed the views of Hat Creek, Fall River, and another portion of the Pit River.
If we had had more time, I think fishing would have definitely been on the agenda for John.
Take the time to spend a few days in the area – there is so much to see and do.
Burney, California is located in Shasta County in the northern part of the state. The town of Burney sits at the base of an extinct volcano called Burney Mountain. The peak is 7,863 ft tall. The town is named after Samuel Burney, who was a pioneer settler in the area.
Burney Falls is one of the main attractions in the town. The falls are located on Burney Creek and are about 129 feet high. The waterfalls are fed by underground springs and have a flow rate of about 100 gallons per minute. The falls were originally discovered by Native Americans, who believed that they had therapeutic powers.
Burney Falls was called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” by President Theodore Roosevelt and was later declared a National Natural Landmark in 1954. Today, Burney Falls is a popular destination for hikers, picnickers, and nature lovers.
If you have not yet visited this area, we urge you to make the trip – you will be glad you did!
