McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park is the second oldest state park in the California State Parks system, located approximately 6 miles north of Burney, California. The park offers camping, fishing, watersports, hiking and horseback riding facilities.
The park is within the Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau natural region, with forest and five miles of streamside and lake shoreline, including a portion of Lake Britton.
The park's centerpiece is the 129-foot Burney Falls, which is not the highest or largest waterfall in the state, but possibly the most beautiful. Additional water comes from springs, joining to create a mist-filled basin. Burney Creek originates from the park's underground springs and flows to Lake Britton, getting larger along the way to the majestic falls.
The park's landscape was created by volcanic activity as well as erosion from weather and streams. This volcanic region is surrounded by mountain peaks and is covered by black volcanic rock, or basalt. Created over a million years ago, the layered, porous basalt retains rainwater and snow melt, which forms a large underground reservoir.
Within the park, the water emerges as springs at and above Burney Falls, where it flows at 100 million gallons every day.
Burney Falls was named after pioneer settler Samuel Burney who lived in the area in the 1850s. The McArthurs were pioneer settlers who arrived in the late 1800s. Descendants were responsible for saving the waterfall and nearby land from development. They bought the property and gave it to the state as a gift in the 1920s.
Located between Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak in Northern California, McArthur-Burney Falls State Park is known for the 129-foot high namesake falls that tumbles down into peaceful Burney Creek. From the visitor center, just cross the street and take the 500-foot paved level trail to the right, for an excellent view of Burney Falls. There is also an additional parking lot with accessible parking located down the street from the visitor center. A general store and accessible family restrooms are located nearby. And don’t miss the restored Civilian Conservation Corps cabin that features ramp access, and is located next to the general store. If you’d like to stop for a picnic, there are covered accessible picnic tables on a cement pad in front of the visitor center, as well as a number of accessible tables on hard-packed dirt between the visitor center and the general store.
Dogs allowed only in parking lot, paved roadway, campgrounds. Dogs not allowed on trails or day-use areas.
