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)

This Afternoon
Showers likely, mainly after 5pm. Patchy fog after 2pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers likely, mainly after 5am. Patchy fog between 11pm and 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday
Showers, mainly before 3pm. Patchy fog before 2pm. High near 44. West southwest wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Friday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers before 10pm. Areas of frost after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday
Areas of frost between 10am and noon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Calm wind.
Saturday Night
Widespread frost, mainly after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Sunday
Widespread frost, mainly before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Sunday Night
Widespread frost, mainly after 3am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Monday
Widespread frost, mainly before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 49.
Monday Night
Widespread frost, mainly after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 28.
Tuesday
Widespread frost. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 46.
Tuesday Night
Widespread frost. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 26.
Wednesday
Widespread frost. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 50.