I really loved this place because it's incredibly beautiful and much bigger than I expected. The trail that goes around it was fantastic to walk on. If you're in the Shasta area, you must visit this lovely state park. You'll be surrounded by the constant, soothing sound of flowing water, creating a profoundly tranquil ambiance throughout the area.

Drove in from Redding at about 11am. Very light traffic being a weekday. We had a quick lunch at the town outside. Did the fall loop trail at a leisurely pace, Easy hike with great great views of the falls. The record snow/rains from last winter has blessed us with lots of water. Did a little 100 feet detour to get a photo-op on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). All together it took us about 3 hrs. We then drove about 35 miles to the Mccloud river/falls as well.

Burney Falls is arguably one of the most stunning sights in the state of California, and is understandably the centerpiece of McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. However, many visitors pass up the Burney Falls Loop Trail, a 1.1 mi/1.8 km loop with about 300 ft/91 m of elevation gain. My wife and I hiked this trail in late April of 2023. The trail begins at the Burney Falls overlook; from there the trail winds down several switchbacks to the base of Burney Falls, where you get a magnificent view of these amazing falls. This is the point at which most people turn around and return to the trailhead, but if you continue along the trail you are treated to some interesting sights. The trail continues along the creek, where you will find some interpretive signs. If you look closely at the rock wall on the opposites shore, you might see water leaking out and cascading into the creek like mini-waterfalls. Before long, you’ll come upon a bridge (appropriately called the Rainbow Bridge because of its shape). Cross the bridge (you can get some good photos of Burney Creek from the bridge) over to the opposite side of the creek. It is from this point that you’ll begin the gradual incline toward the top of the falls. The good news is that there are benches at several points along the way where you can stop and rest. Eventually you will see a couple of interesting sights – the top of Burney Falls and the trail’s intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail. From there you cross over another bridge which takes you to the portion of the trail that leads back to the main parking lot. After completing the hike, my wife and I rewarded ourselves with an ice cream from the park’s general store. We drove here from Chester, which is near Lassen Volcanic National Park and a good distance from the falls. So, while the hike itself wasn’t life-changing, we really appreciated the opportunity to stretch our legs and get a little cardio workout after a long drive. Plus, of course, the ability to view the amazing Burney Falls from several different vantage points makes this hike a recommended activity.