Burney Falls in Northern California Has Reopened With a New Trail

The National Park Service reported a document 331.9 million visits in 2024, displaying simply how a lot we’re all craving getting just a little time exterior with Mother Nature. However, we typically love Mother Nature just a little too a lot, which was the case with one explicit web site within the McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Northern California, which was compelled to shut a number of trails for 9 months for repairs after its record-breaking customer numbers.

But now, the paths are again and prepared for (accountable) motion—and can lead you to arguably one of the spectacular waterfalls within the nation.

Located a few five-hour drive north of San Francisco, vacationers can discover the park’s 5 miles of trails, a number of of which result in and across the 129-foot Burney Falls, which the park web site says “isn’t the best or largest waterfall within the state, however presumably probably the most stunning.”

The park’s web site moreover explains that the water for the falls comes from its underground springs, flowing to Lake Britton, “getting bigger alongside the way in which to the majestic falls.”

The spring months are, with out query, when the falls peak because of further spring rains and snow soften. This helps push extra water down its face, flowing over moss and ferns, tumbling right into a crystal clear pool on the base, giving a really picture-perfect expertise.

It’s such a phenomenal scene that customer numbers swelled from 250,000 to over 350,000 yearly over the previous few years, in accordance with Active NorCal. And that extreme use brought about the 1.1-mile Burney Fall Loop Trail and the 2.6-mile Burney Creek Trail infrastructure to fail, making a probably harmful atmosphere for guests. 

California State Parks shortly took motion, closing the paths for the higher a part of 2024 as a part of an $835,000 venture to restore each. It additionally labored in tandem with Caltrans’ multi-million-dollar Highway 89 enchancment venture, which can also be the principle path to entry the park and trails.

And simply because the parks division estimated, every thing is now again up and working on the park simply in time for the spring and summer time season. However, California State Parks is warning folks: “McArthur Burney Falls State Park experiences extraordinarily excessive visitation starting in April and persevering with by means of October. Most weekends all summer time, the park will fill to capability, and entrance into the park is topic to closure resulting from restricted parking availability.”

It added that would-be guests ought to anticipate site visitors delays “for as much as an hour previous to coming into the park because of the elevated visitation skilled at this park.” 

Still, should you’re up for an early-morning journey, or time your journey properly, it may all be value it. After all, it is such a phenomenal sight that former President Teddy Roosevelt even nicknamed it “the eighth surprise of the world.” Just be certain to abide by the Leave No Trace Principles to maintain this place as pristine as you discovered it.