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)

Today
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. West southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. West southwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. West wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night
Areas of frost after 3am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 34. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Saturday
Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 66.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 67.
Monday Night
Clear, with a low around 37.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 70.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.