Burney Falls

Burney Falls – California

Burney Falls is a 129 foot tall waterfall located in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Shasta County, California. The falls were discovered by explorer and pioneer Jim Burney in 1878 and are said to be the eighth wonder of the world due and have been designated as a National Natural Landmark. The falls cascade over an ancient volcanic cliff face into a large pool below with the source originating from underground springs that at located near Lake Britton, several miles away.

The entire park covers an area of 1,921 acres and includes five different ecosystems – pine forest, oak woodland, fir forest, meadowland and riparian areas with streams running through them all. There is also a wide variety of wildlife within the park including deer, black bears, coyotes and many species of birds such as hawks, woodpeckers and eagles.

The Burney Falls are part of the Pit River watershed, which flows out of Lake Britton in Shasta County. The river cascades down 129 feet before spilling into Lake Britton; however, due to its steep gradient it appears much higher than it actually is. This makes for some fantastic views – when standing at the top you can see all four sides of this magnificent waterfall!

The area around Burney Falls was first inhabited by Native Americans who used its waters for fishing and gathering plants for food and medicine. In 1864 President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation protecting it as part of what became known as McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park – making it one of California’s oldest parks! Visitors come to view Burney Falls year round but summertime is especially popular because that’s when water flow tends to be at its highest levels (upwards to 100 million gallons per day!).

In addition to viewing this incredible natural wonder there are also plenty activities available including camping (there are two campgrounds on site), fishing (the lake has trout), hiking trails (ranging from easy strolls around the lake shoreline to more challenging hikes up into nearby mountains where views overlooking Mount Lassen can be admired), swimming holes (in both Lake Britton which is open year round or near Burney Creek during summer months) and picnic spots along with interpretive programs offered by park rangers throughout the year.

For those looking for something more adventurous there are guided horseback rides through nearby Lassen Volcanic National Park or even whitewater rafting trips down Hat Creek! And if you’re feeling really brave why not try your hand at rock climbing on Mount Tehama?! No matter how you choose to enjoy Burney Falls there’s no doubt that this amazing natural attraction will leave you wanting more each time you visit!