Happenin’
Places › California › McArthur-Burney Falls
McArthur-Burney Falls

Photo: Prayitno / Thank you for (9 millions +) views from Los Angeles, USA / CC BY 2.0 · source

🌊 Lakes & rivers

McArthur-Burney Falls

Burney, CA · Shasta County, Northern California

About

McArthur-Burney Falls does not rely on a single plunge. Burney Creek pours 129 feet over a volcanic cliff, and the rock face itself leaks, with dozens of springs seeping straight through the porous basalt to add a lacework of secondary streams beside the main curtain. Because underground springs feed it, the flow stays near 100 million gallons a day year-round, and the water holds around 42 degrees even in August. Theodore Roosevelt reportedly called it the "Eighth Wonder of the World," and it became a National Natural Landmark in 1954. The Falls Loop Trail runs about one mile from the overlook down to the pool and back, an easy walk with a short climb out. Know before you go: day use is 10 dollars per vehicle, and from mid-May through late September a parking reservation is required Friday through Sunday and on holidays, so book ahead for summer weekends.

Highlights

129 ft spring-fed fan over basalt cliff~100 million gallons/day, year-round flowWater holds near 42 degrees F all yearNational Natural Landmark (1954)Falls Loop Trail ~1 mile, easy$10/vehicle; summer weekend reservation required

Getting there

Related places

Everglades National Park Lakes & rivers

Everglades National Park

Homestead, FL · The Everglades

Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of subtropical wilderness at the southern tip of Florida, the largest such ecosystem in North America. It is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to manatees, wading birds, and the elusive Florida panther. Visitors can walk the famed Anhinga Trail, paddle mangrove waterways, or take an airboat-free ranger tour through the 'River of Grass.'

Dry Tortugas National Park Lakes & rivers

Dry Tortugas National Park

Key West, FL · Florida Keys

Located almost 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas National Park is a remote cluster of seven small islands reachable only by ferry or seaplane. Its centerpiece is Fort Jefferson, one of the nation's largest 19th-century masonry forts, surrounded by crystal-clear waters renowned for snorkeling, coral reefs, and shipwrecks. The park is also a haven for nesting seabirds and migratory birds.

Myakka River State Park Lakes & rivers

Myakka River State Park

Sarasota, FL · Tampa Bay

One of Florida's oldest and largest state parks, Myakka spreads 37,000 acres of wetlands, prairies, and hammocks along the slow Myakka River east of Sarasota. Climb the canopy walkway, the first public treetop trail in North America, suspended 25 feet up with a tower above the oaks, then board one of the giant airboats for an alligator-lined cruise on Upper Myakka Lake. Winter brings cooler air and crowds of wading birds.

Part of these collections

Curated guides that feature McArthur-Burney Falls.

Best Waterfalls in the US15 places

Best Waterfalls in the US

From Niagara's border-spanning roar to a turquoise plunge deep in the Grand Canyon, these are the waterfalls worth building a trip around. Fifteen of the country's best, roadside giants and earn-it hikes alike, from the Columbia Gorge and the Sierra to the Finger Lakes and the Cumberland Plateau.