Burney Falls is Closing for Much of the 2024 Season
Burney Falls will be temporarily closed to the public starting April 2024, lasting through the summer season.
California State Parks has announced the closure of McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park’s famed waterfall, a stunning 129-foot waterfall nestled in eastern Shasta County, for the spring and summer months due to essential trail reconstruction efforts.
The need for trail renovation at Burney Falls is caused by erosion, exacerbated by the heavy foot traffic of approximately 250,000 annual visitors— a figure that surged to over 350,000 during the pandemic’s peak years. The trail’s deterioration and the damage to the surrounding hillsides have been attributed to visitors straying from the designated paths, combined with natural wear from weather conditions.
The planned improvements include repaving the Burney Falls Loop Trail, constructing a retaining wall, and installing an ADA-compliant guardrail to enhance safety and accessibility. Additionally, Caltrans will undertake significant work on Highway 89, leading to the park’s entrance, with strict enforcement against unauthorized parking along the highway to prevent congestion and damage.
The rehabilitation work is expected to conclude by the end of summer 2024, although a specific reopening date for the waterfall area remains uncertain.
