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)

Overnight
Showers. Low around 35. North northeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday
Showers. High near 46. Light north northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Thursday Night
Showers. Steady temperature around 44. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 7 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Friday
Showers. High near 49. South southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Friday Night
Showers. Low around 33. Southwest wind around 7 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Saturday
Showers. High near 43. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night
A chance of rain showers before 10pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday
Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all rain after 1pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.
Sunday Night
Rain showers likely before 4am, then rain and snow showers likely. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Monday
Rain and snow showers likely before 7am, then rain showers. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.
Monday Night
Showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Tuesday
Showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.
Tuesday Night
Rain and snow showers likely. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.