McArthur-Burney Falls State Park is located on California Highway 89, about 5 miles north of the junction with California Highway 299.
Burney Falls
The most noteworthy feature of McArthur-Burney Falls State Park is Burney Falls. Snow melt from Burney Creek cascades 129 feet to a deep blue catch pool. Besides the main waterfall, smaller falls from between rock layers add to the width and overall beauty of the falls. Nearly 100 million gallons of water pour over Burney Falls every day. The cool mist from Burney Falls is welcome on a hot day. The mist can make some sections of the falls loops trail west and slippery. The falls loop trail, which departs from the Burney Falls overlook, makes a loop along Burney Creek. Bridges cross Burney Creek both above and below Burney Falls making this a great trail to see many different viewpoints of Burney Falls. The trail is about 1.3 miles long and has significant elevation changes. Overall this trail is easy to hike with plenty of switchbacks to reduce the steep grade, and a mix of paved and improved dirt sections.
Camping
Camping at McArthur-Burney Falls State Park is a joy all its own. Regular campsites for tents, camper trailers, and RVs as wells as cabins are reserved on-line at Reserve America. The cabins opened as recently as 2010 and are very comfortable. The 18 foot cabins have one room with a set of bunk beds. The 24 foot cabins have two rooms with two sets of bunk beds in the back room. Most cabin sites can accommodate two vehicles. In 2011 the cabins had not yet been connected to a power source; however the cabins are wired for lights and outlets. Bring a battery operated lantern for lighting inside the cabins. The charge for the extra vehicle is collected at the campground check-in station. The regular campsites can fit RVs and camp trailers up to 32 feet long. The sites can easily fit two or three tents. Accessible campsites and cabins are available and are indicated on Reserve America’s website. In 2011 the per night cost for a campsite was $30.00. The per night cost for 18 foot cabins was $65.00. For the 24 foot cabin the per night cost was $85.00. Reservation fees were also charged by Reserve America. Each campsite and cabin were located within an easy walk of restroom and shower facilities. Showers cost $.50 for 5 minutes and accept only quarters.
General Store
The road in to the campgrounds passes by a small but well equipped general store. During the summer the general store is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The store has a limited selection of beer and wine, and has some of the more forgettable necessities for camping. The store has bags of ice and even offers soft serve ice cream. The ice cream is particularly nice treat after hiking the falls loop trail. The general store also has Wi-Fi and power outlets for your wireless devices. For a more serious resupply of groceries and gas Burney, CA is your best bet. The small town of Burney is about 11 miles from the campgrounds and has a number of gas stations, a well stocked grocery store, and a sporting goods store that carries about everything a person needs for camping and fishing.
Lake Britton
Lake Road, which runs right through the middle of the campgrounds, leads to the Lake Britton Marina and swimming beach. The marina offers a paved boat ramp, floating docks, boat rentals and slip rentals. In 2011 a canoe or kayak could be rented for $20.00 per hour and a boat with motor could be rented for $60.00 per hour. Other types of watercraft were available for rent. The swimming beach is on the small side but offers a nice protected area for swimmers. Expect cool water in Lake Britton as it is primarily fed by snowmelt. Showers and restroom facilities are located near the marina and swimming beach.
McArthur-Burney Falls State Park is a great place to camp. Traffic on highway 89 can be heard from a number of the campsites and cabins so make sure to bring some earplugs. The California Park Division has a great website with more information about the history of the park and a detailed map of the campgrounds.
Sources
- Reserve America, Burney Falls, Retrieved 26 August 2011 from, http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/Mcarthur_Burney_Falls_Mem_Sp/r/campsiteCalendar.do?page=calendar&search=site&contractCode=CA&parkId=120054&topTabIndex=CampingSpot
- California State Parks, McArthur-Burney Falls State Park, Retrived 26 August 2011 from, http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=455
Carl Hoffman - Carl has a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration and is retired from the Nevada National Guard.
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