McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

110 foot waterfall, swifts flying around everywhere.  Epic place near Mt. Shasta, McCloud up the street half an hour has a waterfall you can jump into to cool down on hot summer days.  

Epic CA state park

This has got to be one of the top state parks in the state of CA.  A beautiful 120 foot waterfall with black swifts flying everywhere.  Unbelievable.  Great hiking to lakes in the surrounding area.  The campsites where large and wonderful for our big groups.  A definite win.  Even the bathrooms seemed a step better here than most CA state parks.  Plus a great gift store!

Best state park in CA?

Off season visit, September 12. I rolled in five minutes after 5pm, so the entrance staff had left, and the cafe closed. Bummer. But as I struggled to figure out where to look for a campsite on the park map, I found the hiker/biker site, and got excited about a potentially cheap night. 

It was empty when I arrived and set up camp. Two picnic tables, one fire ring, a couple of bear boxes that seemed a little flimsy, and one had noticeable gaps between the wooden boards. That one was empty, but the other one had random bits of helpful things for Pacific Crest Trail hikers who stop through, since the PCT runs past this park. 

I headed to the shower, and almost forgot to bring quarters in the event that it cost something, which it did. 50 cents for 2 minutes, and a quarter for every minute thereafter. I was just glad I had quarters to use, since the cafe was closed. 

Walked back to my site, dropped stuff off. Headed out to see the falls that are the focal point of the park. And they are pretty impressive. Not hugely tall, but wide, with interesting fractal patterns of falls. Apparently due to three very different layers of rock being eroded away at different rates. There are a number of hikes around the falls. 

When I got back to my site, there was a PCT through hiker there. It was interesting to talk to him about his experiences. He was heading north to south, and had started late, missing all the snow in the north. Now he just had to get south fast enough to avoid snow in the Sierras in October and November. 

That night, the trucks on the adjacent highway were ridiculously loud. I think there was a particularly loud period from midnight to 1am, and then they started back up again around 5:30am. I think the sites on the other side of the campground would be ok, but anything on the highway side probably got a decent amount of noise. Probably the worst part of the campground, and more annoying than the trains I experienced at two other camps on this trip. 

The next morning I was up hoping to get a good breakfast sandwich at the cafe, but they only had standard convenience store food, which mean frozen breakfast burritos to microwave. It was ok, but I didn't feel so bad about missing dinner there the night before. I also stocked up on snacks, knowing I was camping in the middle of a National Forest next, and there would be no food whatsoever. Jerky, Milky Way, Fritos and Cheetos. Probably some other stuff. Then I went out to talk to the PCT hiker, who had gotten not just his restock package, but also a care package from a friend. And he ended up with so much food we both started laughing. He had offered some to me as he started unpacking, and I was hesitant to accept, but thought he could probably spare a few things. But by the end of the unpacking, it was clear plenty of it wasn't going to fit in his bag, so I ended up with a few different bars, and granolas, and the like. Pretty sweet. Another PCT hiker came up as we were wrapping up, and I think he probably got even more. 

Beautiful falls, and hiker/biker site, but annoying highway noise

This is one of my favorite campsites in California. There all the falls, which are beautiful, the lake for swimming and water sports and lots of hiking trails. The campsites are dry sites (no hookups), but they have updated bathrooms and showers. They also have cabin for rent, but you have to bring your own bedding. The visitors center is awesome and they always have programs going on for kids and adults alike. Both the falls and lake Britten is within walking distance. Even if I am not camping, I stop here to visit when going through CA.

Nestled in the Pines

Pretty camp ground. Lots of trees. Beware Lots of meat bees! Nice lake to swim and spend some time. Good for kids. The falls are beautiful too cold to do any quality swimming but a nice hike around the falls and down to the lake.

Pretty place

Stayed here on the second day of a bicycle trip. Stayed in the hiker biker site which was only $5.00\. Nice! However they stick you back in the woods away from the main sites. It closest to Highway 89\. Lots of truck traffic all night and a walk to the bathrooms and water. On a good note, the campground has a nice shaded area where you charge phones etc, a camp store and cheap showers. It was super hot but if you walk down to the bottom of the falls it's like a natural air conditioner.

Heat wave at Burney Falls

Nice state park and so much to see and do in the area. Burney Falls is gorgeous. The only thing I didn’t like was the dirt..lol. This area is made from diatomaceous earth and every step you take,a little poof of dust rises up. I must have washed my feet 2 dozen times in one day. If you have pets, be carefull if they come into your tent or RV, you’ll have dust everywhere.

Love Burney Falls......

Nice campground though it can be very crowded. If you have kids it's perfect, close to the lake with a beach area, and activities are offered by the park staff. You can hike or drive to the lake, and of the waterfall, which is easily accessible, is simply beautiful. Watch for black swifts by day, and big eared bats at night by the waterfall. Last time I went, there was an Osprey nest at the falls. The park has a nice visitor center and small store. Sites have a picnic table, food locker, fire ring, there are showers, flush toilets and water. The sites are nice sized and mostly level.

A suggestion if you want to skip the crowds - I've gone in the off season when a smaller section of the campground is open. It is cold at night – but you could hear the waterfall all night – best sleep ever! In the evening I had the waterfall all to myself (bring a bottle of wine)! I saw only two other people there in the morning. There are also cabins that looked nice.

Check out McCloud falls while in the area, it's a nice hike to three different falls. Note, the PCT goes through here if that is of interest to you.

Wonderful Burney Falls

There are many camp sites here, all with a fire pit, small cabinet (think just for storage, no way are they bear proof). Camp firewood is available for purchase on site. I think the best thing about this camp site is that it is located so close to Burney falls as well as many other trails (including the Pacific Crest trail).

Burney Falls

The Falls are spectacular and easy to access. The campground is not my style--there is a general store, lots of RV camping and ground workers circling in golf carts. They pulled up at our site as it neared check out time and asked if we were almost done. But with that said, it's clean, family friendly, very comfy camping...if that's your thing.

Stunning falls

I’ve always been star struck with Mount Shasta. I never saw the beauty of the surroundings. McArthur Park is an easy stop and a fun walk. Bring a jacket. You’llget wet walking that path!

Never did I know something this magnificent was around!

Large campground, back sites back into wooded away so sites are unofficially almost 2x as big, some new bathrooms &amp; showers, smoothly paved roads, moderate strenuous hiking access to nearby lake, mini cabins, tent or RV camping, the Falls are spectacular but water is VERY cold. Fairly steep hike down to Falls, not very handicap friendly but there are a few overlooks, nice camp store where you can get cell service. Really loved camping here for 5 days. Lace tubes about 20min drive. Don't miss!

Spellbinding, get away from it all

Camped at Pioneer Camp in August, 2017\. Nice campground under the pine trees even though it was full and a little crowded at that time. Some sites are close so music from neighboring site(s) can be heard. A picnic table, a fire ring and a little storage box are available at each site. Restrooms and showers were nice and clean. Since a store is so close, it is very convenient if you forget anything or just want to get food quick and easy. The falls itself is also so close to the campground so you could just hike/walk to explore. We stayed there only one night, but would love to go back and explore more around this place.

Close to the falls 

This is a great campground but you are right on top of each other. Spots are close but it's worth it for the views and hiking.

Camping with people

We enjoy this site for family camping. Fishing, swimming, and walking trails. Nice showers. Not very much privacy.

Great spring camping

This is a very easy camping site for beginners. Lots of great trails, and the most incredible cliff-like waterfall, with the water not just coming over the top, but shooting out of cracks all long the rock face. There is a store on site with a decent selection of camping and convenience store items, and firewood is for sale at the gate. Amazing caving nearby too.

Bucket List Waterfall

Had a wonderful visit. No hookups. So only dry rv camping. Hike around the lake and even made my own trails. 

Holy waterfall

we loved this campground! You have options of no hiking and enjoying some spectacular views or short hikes to see even more spectacular views! So even my kids enjoyed the hiking! The staff was so kind and the store is away from the camping by a short walk. Close enough but not to close! Absolutely loved this place for family camping.

Cabins though were not what we expected. 2 room cabin and we got 2 bunk beds and a space heater. Nothing in front room. Bring your table and chairs. Bunk beds were comfortable though!

Family fun

It had been over 20 years since the last time we camped here so I was pleased to see that updates had been made and the park is well maintained. Two loops: Rim Camp and Pioneer camp. Pioneer has over 20 cabins plus over 20 camping sites. We stayed in the Rim Camp; on a Monday the week before Memorial Day, we had our pick of sites as the park was nearly empty but the website warns that on weekends and during the summer, this park does fill up. No hookups so the $35 per night ($33 for seniors) price is a little pricey. Some sites have paved pads and some are dirt; since it rained hard as soon as we set up, we appreciated the pavement. Bathrooms have been updated since the last time we were here in the mid-1990s and they are individual rooms with toilet and sink and (powdered) soap but no trash receptacle.   Didn’t check the condition of the showers. The two draws are Burney Falls and Lake Britton. We didn’t go to the lake because it was cold and rainy but there are boat and kayak rentals available, which we would take advantage of during nicer weather. Absolutely no cell service! 

Nice CA state park

This campground is super popular, so you will most likely need a reservation in advance. But it’s so worth it! The waterfalls are breathtaking, the lake is refreshing and the campground itself is relaxing and peaceful. The sites aren’t super cramped, there is a general store, clean facilities, and even cool cabins if that’s your thing. We’ve been in July and late fall and both times were spectacular.

Something for everyone

This is a very large campground outside of Lassens, if you are deterred by the size of the campground you are making a mistake! We got an excellent site right next to the cliff with plenty of privacy. The waterfall is amazing and theres an awesome little lake nearby too!

Surreal Waterfall

I have camped at burney falls twice. My first time camping here I stayed in the little cabins they have. (Memorial Cabin Area) That was pretty awesome it’s just a small cabin that has a bed, all cooking and hanging out is done outside the cabin. It has a little porch was pretty cute. The downside to this campground is that it’s pretty obvious that visitors feed the squirrels. The squirrels were more than accustomed to coming right up to us. I put groceries on the picnic table and was unloading the car and squirrels literally ran to the table to attack. I was more than annoyed by this because I don’t interact with wildlife, for their safety to the public who may harm them. My second time staying I tent camped and the first night it rained. (Pioneer Campground) This was no huge deal to me because from what I’ve learned about the outdoors is you’ll never get the weather you expect haha. The next couple days weather started clearing up but was still cloudy. We hiked down to the water fall which is so breath taking and then hiked out to the lake. They have a souvenir shop, firewood and restrooms right on the campground. There’s a small town about 15-20 minute drive to shingle town that normally has little outside events. 

Prettiest waterfall I’ve seen

The falls sell the place.  They are beautiful.  The PCT trail goes right by on the opposite bank. Great fishing upstream from the falls. Great fun at Lake Britton.

BUT this is one busy crowded campground.  It is large (many sites) has cabins, a visitor center and a store.  So for me a tent camper this can feel like a freeway.  So go in the off season - spring and fall.  All the camping areas are not open then, but there are no crowds.

For tents some of the sites are open and not very private - meant for RVs. But you can hunt down a decent tent site.  They have all the amenities here.

Beyond the falls and beyond the lake there is lots of hiking here. Hiking up the stream is magical.  There are fall colors to enjoy, especially around Lake Britton.  You can even strick out for the subway cave or Lassen or Mcloud from this central location.

Beautiful falls - Crowded Camping

Clean place,  very close to the waterfalls 

Nice  cozy place

Where camped here just after they opened in April, 2021.  The daytime visitors made for a large crowded parking lot and line at the entrance station, but so far on 8 campers in the 64 sites that were open.

  

It is a wonderfully shaded park (i.e. no solar) and the sites are nicely separated.  However it is an older park and our 18 foot trailer was too large for many of the sites.  There were no pull throughs and any trailer over 25 feet is going to have a problem.  Otherwise, for the most part the pads were paved and flat.

  

They had solid picnic tables, aging stone fireplaces, but nice, newer heavy metal fire rings.  Wood was available for purchase.  There is no electric on site and the water faucets (not threaded) were scattered around the site.  No dish water dump or cleaning station, but there was an RV dump station.  They flush toilets with hot and cold water sinks as well as the showers (2 tokens for $1 = 4min) are excellent.

  

This is a cell dead zone.  Absolutely no Verizon service until you drove back to Burney.

  

We really enjoyed the different hikes that were available, being around 2 miles more or less in length.  The falls are the usual tourist zoo, but very beautiful.  Once you get out on the trails, you don't see many people.

Quiet campground next to busy day site

I stayed at this campsite after they opened from the pandemic while on a road trip home and I am so so happy I stayed here. The waterfall is like nothing I have ever seen before, and I was so blown away at it's size. The campground is a 5-10 min walk from the waterfall and while it is not private, each campsite has plenty of space I felt. 

  

Bring a lock because the best bins require one! I recommend going down to the lake as well because when I went later in the afternoon/evening it was completely empty and we had the place to ourselves. Great spot to relax.

This state park is a gem

Campground is big and right next to gurney falls

Sleep to the sound of a waterfall

Lake to swim and boat in, waterfall short walk, General store with everything you can imagine and firewood, close by a town where you can eat out. Junior Ranger program with iron on badge that changes every year. 

Beautiful and Fun

I stayed at the state park in a cabin for 2 nights ..me an my wife had a nice too good amount of trails...only few of them were closed due to a storm an fires...the falls are not even far to get too maybe 5 minute walk...worth it

Amazing scenery

Falls were gorgeous. Rum trail is an easy little walk (largely paved). Large picnic area. Not much else to do in the park but good stop if you are thru hiking the PCT. 

Bathrooms were clean, flush toilets, hot showers. NO cell service. Had a little camp shop.

NOT a very dog-friendly park, didn’t even see a pet area for them to get out and potty. 

Beautiful falls, tiny park

I love it here. I went as a teenager with a friend of mine and her family and I have been going every 10 years since. Lol. This time was amazing. I was divorced 10 years ago so a new group of eager wonderful  people who have come into my life since then we’re there to explore with me. The sound of the waterfalls is mesmerizing to me. I live the campground because that’s the sound I get to wake up to. The beauty of the Falls is indescribable. To me waterfalls were the most majestic things I’ve ever seen because my brain can’t wrap itself around its inner workings basically. For once since I was a teenager I went on the Falls Loop trail hike  lto the top of the falls and back to camp which was about a 2 mile hike. It was gorgeous. The trees throughout are tall and beautiful and plenty. You won’t be disappointed if you go here. It is a 3 1/2 hour drive for me but well worth it. 

The sound is like paradise

This campground was well maintained and the sites were large. Ample access to water spigots throughout the sites. Bathrooms were standard with flush toilets. A short walk to the falls made it very accessible. Would recommend driving to the lake due to the length of the walk and elevation to return back. Not much else to do in the area. There is a campground store where they also sell hot food and overpriced supplies if needed. 