Burney Falls - California Waterfalls; McArthur Burney Falls State Park, Burney-hike/trail/map/directions

Burney Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in northern California and is very gorgeous. The best part about this waterfall, however, is that it flows year-round, one of the very few waterfalls in California that has good flow throughout the year. So if you are in California and are anxious to see a waterfall and it is the middle of the winter, then Burney Falls is the one to see when all the others have long since stopped flowing.

It flows year round because the source of Burney Creek is from underground springs, located about a half mile or so above the falls. Indeed, if you look closely, you will see that much of the falls comes right out of the middle of the face of the cliff. These springs start from snow melt on Burney Mountain, and flow underground until they reach Burney Creek above the falls. If you travel up Burney Creek 3/4 of a mile, you will see it is dry in late summer. It is boggling, but fascinating.

You have a few options at Burney Falls. You can drive up and park at the falls overlook after paying your $8 fee. You must at least, however, take a walk down to the base of the falls for a close-up view of this tremendous waterfall. The recommended trail is a 2.4 mile (loop) hike along the Headwaters Trail following Burney Creek away from the waterfall. This joins up with the Pacific Crest Trail going back downstream towards the falls. This trail then joins up with the Falls Loop Trail which leads to an overlook of the waterfall. The Falls Loop Trail continues along near the base of the waterfall, with many great viewpoints, then goes back up to the parking lot.

The official height of Burney Falls is listed at 129 ft. high. However, I question that height. My measurement of the waterfall was only 99 ft. high, and I do not think I was too far off in my readings. Once again, I wonder who measured the waterfalls height and how?

9 Miles N Burney CA (Elev. 3054 ft)

Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Calm wind. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday
Showers. High near 49. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday Night
Showers. Low around 39. West southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers before 11am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 71.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 76.
Wednesday Night
Clear, with a low around 44.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 79.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 46.