The flow is good throughout the year because the Burney Creek feeds from the underground sources. Spring and fall months are the best time to visit the Falls as winter could be too cold and slippery so you cannot access some nice photo spots, and summer months are too crowded.
A view of the falls is accessible for anyone without any hiking, but I would also encourage you to walk down the steps and get closer to the falls. These falls had quite a lot of water even at the end of the summer in September.
Location and Facilities. The state park has a remote location surrounded by the Shasta National Forest along Hwy 89 - about half way (50 miles) between Lassen Volcanic National Park and Mount Shasta, and 63 miles northeast of Redding via Hwy 299. The entrance fee (2023) is $10 per vehicle.
The park is mainly known for the waterfall, Burney Falls, at the entrance of the park. Wildlife in the park includes bass, trout, Steller's jay, squirrels, woodpeckers, deer, and on rare occasion, black bear.
Filming Location Matching Burney Falls, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park - Highway 89, Burney, California, USA (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)
The park is located northeast of Redding, six miles north of Highway 299 on Highway 89 near Burney. Weather can vary so visitors are advised to dress accordingly.
Burney Mountain at 7,863 feet is one of the most beautiful mountain peaks in Northern California. There is a road that takes you to the summit of the extinct volcano. At the summit there is a fire lookout tower that helps spot wild fires during the summer months.
The hike: Follow Falls Trail past the first lookout point. The trail is paved for a couple hundred yards with a few switchbacks down toward the falls. A few tips for visiting with kids: The trail is a bit steep, making it tough on little legs on the return (totally doable, just be prepared)
Don't jump off of waterfalls or dive into waterfall pools. Unseen objects, such as logs and boulders, may be under the water's surface. Never swim or wade upstream near a waterfall, even if the water appears shallow and calm. The currents close to the falls could pull swimmers over the edge.
Getting to the FallsWhile the loop trail in itself is 1.2 miles, if your goal is just to see the falls- you're in luck! A paved path leads about 1/3 of a mile down from the main parking lot directly to the falls. Walking down is on an incline, but very manageable and has railings to hold onto during the steeper areas.