Hiking Down to Burney Falls: Reservations Required (2026 and Beyond)

Burney Falls is arguably one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of California.  With the stunning blue water and the quick and easy trail, this seems like the perfect waterfall to visit.

Unfortunately, this stunning 129-foot waterfall became mobbed by tourists who had no regard for the trails and other visitors.  So in 2024, the trail to the waterfall was closed.  

But have no fear!  The trail reopened in early 2025 and now there is a reservation system that is required to get into the park.  This will limit the number of people who can access the trails, protecting the waterfall for future generations.

So let’s get into it!  Today we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the reservation system, the park, the trail, and how to enjoy the beauty of Burney Falls!

Important Links

• McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park website
• Reservations from LAZ Reservations
• Burney Falls – AllTrails Link
• State Park Brochure
• Camping Reservations
• Campground Map
• Camping Checklist Freebie – A Useful Camping Checklist
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Be Prepared on the Trails
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!
• Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

Location

The famous Burney Falls is located in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in northern California.  This state park is in a beautiful area and not too far from Mount Shasta.

If you’re looking to drive to Burney Falls, you’re looking at a 4.5 hour drive from San Francisco, CA, a 3 hour drive from Reno, NV, and about 2.5 hours from Medford, OR.  All of these areas have airports if you are planning to fly out west and then rent a car. 

Access Hours

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is accessible from 8am – 5pm everyday. Unless you are camping there, then you can stay in the park outside of those hours with a valid reservation.

But now, let’s get to the newest and crucial piece of seeing Burney Falls, the reservations!

Reservations – NEW for 2026!

Starting in May of 2026, and continuing through September, reservations are required on Friday/Saturdays/Sundays.  If you are unsure if you need a reservation, check out the graphic below (courtesy of CAstateparks).  Reservations are also needed on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.

Reservations need to be purchased online ahead of time from LAZ Reservations. If you try to enter the park on a weekend without a reservation, you WILL be turned away.

How Much Are Reservations

So what do these reservations cost?  They cost the daily fee ($10) plus a $1 processing fee.  In total, you will pay $11 per vehicle to enter the park and hike down to Burney Falls.  

The exception to this is if you have any kind of valid California State Parks Pass, then your fee will just be $1.  This includes the California Explorer Passes, the Golden Poppy Passes, or the Disabled Discount Pass to name just a few.  Here is the list of California’s State Parks Passes.

3 Types of Reservations

Now, there are 3 different types of reservations that you can reserve.  There is an AM Reservation, a PM Reservation, or an All Day Reservation.  

The AM Reservation is valid from 8am to 12pm (noon).  This means, you can show up anytime between 8am – 12pm, but you must be leaving by 12pm or there is potential for a ticket.  There are 103 of these passes available each Friday/Saturday/Sunday from May – September.

The PM Reservation is valid from 1pm to 5pm.  Again, you can arrive any time between 1pm and 5pm, but you must be leaving by 5pm or you also risk getting a ticket.  There are 103 of these passes available each Friday/Saturday/Sunday from May – September.  

And finally, we have the limited All Day Reservations.  These reservations are valid from 8am – 5pm on the day of your choice.  Unfortunately, there are only 35 of these reservations released each day, so I suggest booking them sooner rather than later!

How To Make A Reservation

So now you know when you need a reservation, how much they cost, and the types of reservations.  

But how do you MAKE a reservation?

First off, you’ll start by going to the LAZ Parking Reservation Page.  This can also be accessed straight from the CA Parks website, where you’ll scroll down until you see “make your day use reservation” button and then you’ll be sent to the LAZ Parking website.

Once you’re there, you’ll see a page like the screenshot below.  

From there, you’ll select your type of reservation. Be careful, as there are several options to choose from.  See below for the choices you have.  

With so many options, it’s important that you choose carefully.  This will ensure that you have paid the correct amount and that you can enter the park smoothly!

After that, you’ll select the date that you need.  

PLEASE NOTE: You only need a reservation on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays from May to September.  You also need a reservation in advance on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day.  

The other days, or times of year, you can simply drive up to the kiosk at the state park and pay.  This will avoid the $1 processing fee.  

This leads me to the daily fee, which we have sort of already covered, but let’s do it again so we are clear.

Fees

Nearly all of California State Parks require an entrance fee to pay the employees and to keep protecting their parks.  

Daily Fee: $10 per non-commercial vehicle

The daily fee covers up to 9 people inside of a standard vehicle.  

You won’t need to pay the day use fee if you have one of the many California State Parks Passes. However, even if you have one of these passes, you’ll still need a reservation if you plan to visit on a Fri/Sat/Sun in May – September.  

Parking

Ok, that was a LOT of details, but let’s discuss parking really quick. 

There are many parking spots in McArthur-Burney Falls State Park, but the lot that is closest to the falls is not particularly huge.  For the best potential for snagging a spot in this first parking lot, you’ll want to go early in the morning, or later in the evening.  

There are more parking spots near the Visitor Center and over by the General Store. 

But now, let’s get to the fun part!  Let’s get to the hike!

Trail Stats

Hiking down to Burney Falls is a very easy hike, more of a walk.  You can simply park and follow the signs that direct you toward the trail.  

• Distance: 1.2 miles (loop)
• Elevation Gain: 175 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Expected Time: 30 mins – 1 hour

If you’re just going down to the falls, the trail is only about 0.6 round trip.  Just remember, you’ll still have to hike back up the hill you started down.   

As for the expected time of 1 hour, this is if you intend to hike the entire loop.  But we all know if you’re going here you’ll be taking several photos of the waterfall once you get down there.  So I would add at least 30 minutes for photos.  

These stats are taken from AllTrails, and you can easily check out this trail at this hiking trail link. 

Our Itinerary

My husband and I hiked down to Burney Falls in May of 2026.  We went on the first Sunday of the reservation system, and secured a PM Day Use Pass.  We paired this stop with 2 other short hikes, so we didn’t end up arriving until about 3:45pm.  And remember, those PM reservations only give you access until 5pm.  So check out our time table!

• 3:45pm: Arrived, showed reservation/day pass, got parked
• 3:55pm: Visited the Visitor Center and General Store 
• 4:10pm: Began our hike down to Burney Falls
• 4:15pm: Arrived at Burney Falls, took lots of photos
• 4:55pm: Hustled back to our truck, used the bathroom
• 5:05pm: Exited the park

We had a very quick visit because our second hike took a little longer than expected.  But overall, we were able to see the famous Burney Falls in about an hour!

Our Hike

The hike down to the falls was very quick.  We hiked down the 0.3 miles to the falls and milled around to take photos.  We were able to watch the stunning waterfall with very few crowds since it was the end of the day.

After getting our photos, we hustled back to our truck.  The trail back up to the parking lots is a semi-steep hill, but not terrible.  Some people were struggling back up the hill, so if you know the hill will give you trouble, make sure you leave more than 3 minutes to get back to your vehicle.  

But let’s have a quick chat about the falls!

Burney Falls!

Burney Falls is just as beautiful as they describe.  In fact, it’s so gorgeous that it became Instagram famous.  This fame led to an overuse of the trail and ultimately what shut it down for 9 months.  

But now that the trail has reopened, and the reservation system is in place, hopefully this trail will be better protected.  So PLEASE respect the trails and the area!

This waterfall is 129 feet tall and approximately 100 million gallons of water flow over the falls EVERYDAY!  The pool of water below is a brilliant blue color in the sunlight. And with the mist swirling the in the air around you, it seems practically magical.  

If you have more time, there are a few other trails in the park too.

Other Trails

McArthur-Burney Falls State Park has more than 5 miles of trails in the park.  There is the most popular Burney Falls Loop, that we’ve already discussed.  But there are 4 other popular trails that you can hike.  

• Burney Falls and Burney Creek Headwater Trail – 2.7 miles
• Headwater Trail – 1.8 miles
• Burney Creek Trail – 3 miles
• Pioneer Cemetery Trail – 2.6 miles

There is also a 10 mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) that runs through part of the park.

You can hike any of these trails during your visit, but make sure you are aware of the time if you have an AM or PM reservation. You don’t want to get a parking ticket if you arrive late.  

And finally, we need to discuss the campground that is in the state park.

Campground

If you are looking to do some Burney Falls Camping, there is a great campground right in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. You can book a campsite on the ReserveCalifornia website. This site is easy to use and you simply have to select your dates and state park.

There are over 100 campsites between the Pioneer Camp Area and the Rim Camp Area. There are tent-only sites as well as RV sites.  RVs can be a maximum length of 32 feet to fit in this park. Just be aware that there are no hookups in the park.  A dump station is available. 

Campsites cost $35 per night, which includes one vehicle with each reservation.  

There are showers, bathrooms, and each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Please be aware of all fire-regulations if you are camping in the dry season!

Cabins

McArthur-Burney Falls State Park also has 24 rustic cabins that you can rent! There are 11 one-room cabins and 13 two-room cabins. There is no electricity or running water in the cabins, but it’s better than a tent.

Bathrooms and showers are available in a nearby showerhouse that is shared with the campground.  

One-Room Cabins are $99 per night (as of 2026)

Two-Room Cabins are $125 per night (as of 2026)

The one-room cabins can sleep up to 4 people. The two-room cabins will sleep up to 6 people. There are a mix of single beds and bunks in these cabins. 

So whether you want to stay in your own tent or camper, or rent a rustic cabin, there is a way to stay for just about anyone!  

Conclusion

Burney Falls is an incredible waterfall in northern California.  With an easy hiking trail and a beautiful water fall, you really can’t go wrong.  

There is a very recent reservation system that you need to know about, but other than that, just enjoy the beauty!  And if you want to stay for more than a few hours, go camping or rent a cabin in the peaceful state park!

As always, feel free to reach out to me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions.

-Happy Hiking!