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    Mossbrae Falls - Access Restricted

    4.6 (109 reviews)

    Mossbrae Falls - Access Restricted Photos

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    Mossbrae falls
    Jeanie B.

    Great place to visit but can be very dangerous definitely be on high alert for trains.

    Johanna C.

    Lots of walking is required but the view is worth it. Gotta park somewhere close to shasta resort then walk down to the residential area... cross the bridge then veer to your left and just follow the railroad track until you reach the bridge. No need to cross bec on your right side is a spectacular gift from Up above :-) extra caution if though bec this is a private property & stay away from passing train

    Ed T.

    This review is for the Hedge Creek Falls to Mossbrae Falls which was a ~1.7 mile round trip that took ~50 mins to complete. Hedge Creek Falls was interesting to walk behind! Followed by crossing the Sacramento river and reaching the unique Mossbrae Falls! The river was mid-calf to knee high and the rocks were slippery so be careful when crossing! Disclaimer: Cross the river at your own risk (pay attention to the water current, etc). Limited parking spots on dirt road across Hedge Creek Falls trailhead. Short video of the hike for those interested: https://youtu.be/-5EGdyT14dw

    Mossbrae Falls!
    Shayla B.

    Stunning, stunning, STUNNING! Everything that I could have imagined and more. The pictures don't do this waterfall any justice honestly. This is one where you've got to be there to experience it for yourself. Believe it or not, this visit to Mossbrae Falls has been on my bucket list for years. I can't even remember when I first found out about this waterfall. It was definitely during my pre-Yelp days, but I've always wanted to see it. I've had a few opportunities in the past to check it out, but the thought of trespassing through private property and walking next to an active train to get there was what deterred me for so long. Welp, that all changed this past summer. I finally made it there. And it was completely worth it on all levels. The main trail that runs alongside the train tracks and passes through private property is the most popular and also the easiest way to get to the falls. It's about a 3 mile hike/walk roundtrip. It can be dangerous since you're essentially walking right next to an active train track. However, if you're keeping an eye out, you'll be fine. Don't be stupid and walk directly on the tracks. It sounds like common sense, but I saw more than a handful of people doing this. Stopping in the middle of the tracks to get a selfie. Even laying on the tracks. Some people just never learn. This is probably why the trail is listed at "access restricted". It's a straight shot to the falls when you take the main trail this way. But, there's also a shortcut that can be taken from Hedge Creek Falls. I wasn't planning on taking the shortcut at first. I was just going to hike both falls. But after realizing how close I was to Mossbrae Falls and learning that I could skip most of the hike next to the train tracks, I decided to do it. The catch is, you have to cross the Sacramento River to get to the other side. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. This is not an easy river crossing. First off, the rocks are extremely jagged and slippery making for a terribly painful and scary experience for bare feet. Secondly, the water is ice cold. I did this hike in the summertime and my feet still went numb. Thirdly, the river gets past waist deep when you reach the middle which makes it even harder to navigate. I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't prepared for this at all. It was an impromptu decision that I made once I saw how close Mossbrae Falls was. But once I made it halfway across, I was already regretting my decision. I think if I had worn water shoes and maybe had a hiking stick to help me balance, it wouldn't have been so painful. Every single person crossing the river slipped on those rocks multiple times. I think 2 or 3 people even ended up falling in. I'm not trying to scare anyone from doing it, but I'd just make sure to be prepared. It looks super easy when you're glancing at it, but once you get in, it's an entire different story. But anywaaaays! After you cross the river, it's about a half mile or so until you reach the falls. You'll see a steel bridge and then make an immediate right through the trees down the trail. And then BOOM!! Just pure beauty right before your eyes. These falls remind me of something that you'd find in Hawaii. Water gushing down through the beautiful green leaves. It's truly amazing. It wasn't flourishing during the summer, but it was still pouring down. Such a heavenly sight. From here, you can actually get in and take a dip or get cozy on the rocks and have a little picnic. It does seem to be a popular spot but not too crowded at all. With how hot it gets down there, I'm sure it feels amazing to get in that water. So yes, there's some riskiness involved to get there. A lot of riskiness actually. However, the experience 100% warrants that risk. I personally wouldn't take the shortcut from Hedge Creek Falls again. Next time, I'll just take the longer route through the train track. And yes I said next time because I am absolutely coming back to see those falls again. Would highly recommend it. It's pretty damn magical.

    Epic view
    Juana G.

    Beautiful place wonderful energy . I always feel better when I leave after I go for a swim in the healing waters .

    Joey W.

    I'm a sucker for railroad hikes so when I saw this, I had to do it! This is an active track so stay alert! You walk along the railroad and once you see the bridge, you make a right down the hill to see the falls. The falls is breathtaking! One of my favorite waterfalls I've ever seen - you're literally surrounded by the falls. It's an easy 3 mile out and back. If you walk past the bridge, you'll walk along the tracks for awhile and see small waterfalls along the tracks.

    David M.

    Don't want to miss about a mile and half one way. I am sure there are many ways to get here but why not make it an adventure and take the railroad tracks more than likely you will get the train but it was fun not as scary as it seems.. just stay on the side of the river.. plan accordingly take some water toilet paper if you need to pop a squat. There is not bathrooms. But the water fall was beautiful.. take a lunch and have a picnic..

    Janet C.

    This place is breathe taking! Came here around 11am on a Saturday. The entrance isn't too hard to find, entrance is on the right side of N. Dunsmuir Ave street is Scarlet Way. You pretty much park on Dunsmuir and then walk to the Shasta Retreat and walk down the pathway. You stay right at Cave ave then you will pass a bridge and go right at the train tracks. It is access restricted since you have to walk on the side of train tracks for 30 mins each way but totally worth it. The rocks didn't bother us at all and the train only passed by once on our way back. You will start hearing the falls and before you hit the bridge they will be on the right side down a little trail that's very noticeable. If you have time take some lunch and enjoy this hidden gem.

    Rita K.

    This place is so magical in person, pictures don't do justice! I'm so glad I went, I was super hesitant to go at first given it is trespassing, scared of getting hit by the train, confusing instructions, etc. But we did it, it wasn't hard to find at all, and I would go back again! We went on a Sunday morning around 930AM and there were plenty of parking on the north side of Dunsmuir Ave. Don't drive into the Shasta Retreat, there is no public parking. Park on the street off Dunsmuir Ave near some old closed down shop and a hotel/motel then walk towards Shasta retreat. Keep going down, veer right, and go straight past the homes until you hit a bridge that takes you to the railroad tracks. Cross the bridge and turn right, keep to the right side of the railroad tracks and walk along the river. Make sure you stay to the right side of the tracks because there is more space to walk on and move aside if the train comes by. It is an active track, we encountered the trains twice during our round trip hike and it took a few minutes for the trains to pass by. You can easily hear the trains coming by the tracks vibrating/high pitch? Can't describe it but it's very audible. The path is rocky with big, sometimes pointy rocks, so make sure you wear thick shoes or hiking boots... and make sure your dogs have boots on or carry them. We carried our 10lb chihuahua/min pinscher the whole time. He was frightened by the trains as it was a bit loud, but it was quite exhilarating see trains up close. The walk takes about 25-30 min along the tracks until you hit a bridge, don't cross it and instead look for a path to your right. There'll be rocks pointing towards the falls. Once you walk down a short path to the falls, you'll be stunned by the beauty and fairy tale grandeur of the falls. The fall is quite wide and hard to fit in a picture and the sounds were so relaxing. It was cold, our dog was shivering the entire time and felt uncomfortable, hehe. So beautiful, for 5 minutes we had the entire falls to ourselves, then a couple girls appeared and it was just us 4 for a good 20 minutes. I didn't want to leave but we left as soon as another large group came down. We went at a good time (930am on Sunday) when the hike to the falls were almost empty; we saw only one other girl hiking towards the falls and a couple walking back in the opposite direction. When we left the falls it was close to 1030am, we saw about 5 other groups walking towards the falls on our way back... so if you want seclusion, try coming on a weekday or early morning! At first I was a bit scared being the only ones hiking but felt comfortable when we saw a coupe walking back.

    Hiking on the restricted access train tracks.
    Annie L.

    Mossbrae Falls is breathtakingly beautiful. From Santa Rosa, it is a 4 hr and 20 mins drive up north to Dunsmuir, CA. I went on 12/23/2017 two days before Christmas during the holidays and there were no crowds and barely anybody. It was a nice quiet hike on the restricted train tracks and once we arrived, there were two other people there taking photos. They left shortly after and we had the whole waterfalls to ourselves. It was so peaceful taking in nature and being alone definitely helped intensify the experience. I'm giving credit to oregonblogger.com as I followed his instructions and led me there with no problems. Per oregonblogger.com: (TRESPASS AT YOUR OWN RISK) The entrance in where you will start off is on the corner of Scarlet Way/N Dunsmuir Ave. Here are the coordinates 41°13'42.4"N 122°16'33.3"W If you can't pinpoint these roads then type in this address ( 4727 Dunsmuir Ave, Dunsmuir, CA 96025 ) It's a motel called Cave Springs about a block away from the entrance. Here is what the entrance looks like. Make sure you park on the side of the road. You are not allowed to park inside the Shasta Retreat. You will walk down past the entrance. The road will fork when you make it to the bottom. Make sure you take a right onto Cave Ave. Then you will come upon a bridge and right after the bridge are the train tracks. Take a right on the tracks. The tracks will take you to the waterfall. It's about a 30 minute walk. Make sure you are walking without headphones. The tracks are active. I was there on the weekend and I didn't see any trains. I would recommend walking on the right since there is more room in case a train comes by. You can start hearing the falls about 200 feet away. The falls are about 50 feet before the bridge on the right. You won't miss it.

    Elena T.

    Mossbrae falls is really as close to magical as you can get. The water cascading down isn't very heavy, but the span of the waterfall is quite long. The waterfall is in a secluded area with a lot of tree coverage and feels very peaceful. Because there is so much tree coverage, the temperature by the falls is a lot cooler. I went in late September (when it was about 75 degrees), and it felt about 65 degrees standing by the falls. Technically, I think this hike is illegal because you're on private property, but it's not as ominous as it sounds--I definitely passed other people on the hike. You can walk right up to the water and swim, but I would recommend going between June and August if you plan on going in the water. The hike to the falls is very relaxing, and while there are other people on the trail, it isn't extremely trafficked. The hike is very flat and short, but you do have to walk on loose rock the entire time that is right next to a railroad track. This actually gets pretty tiring after awhile and slows you down. I walked on the concrete support blocks on the actual railroad track. This was a lot easier on my feet and made my trip a lot quicker. It's more dangerous to walk on the actual track, so if you're worried then I would just walk on the rocks. However, it was pretty easy to hear if a train was coming.

    Yin I.

    Technically it is private property so go at your own risk. Do not park inside Shasta retreat. I recommend to park down the streets, South on Dunsmuir near the burger and ice cream joint. Go with good hiking boots because the rocks on the railroad can be hard on your foot. I do not recommend bringing dogs; the rocks can tear their paw pads. Always walk on the side nearest to the river. And as always, respect the property, do not litter/vandalize, stay safe and you'll be fine. It's not very scenic on the way there but you'll be completely satisfied when you get the waterfall. We fell in love with it; peaceful, serene, and majestic. We got some good pictures, relaxed a bit, and soaked in the views. Then headed back and got shakes and ice cream. 5/5 would totally visit again!

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    The falls are fantastic, two stars for the access restriction notification. ..............................................................

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    Beautiful waterfall along the Upper Sacto River. It's a bit tricky to get there though.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Mossbrae Falls - Access Restricted

    Review Highlights - Mossbrae Falls - Access Restricted

    This is where you'll find Shasta Retreat (picture posted) which is the entrance to a private residential area.

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

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    Hedge Creek Falls

    Hedge Creek Falls

    4.6(53 reviews)
    0.5 km

    Great little hike, work the walk. Little park at the trailhead, dog friendly, easy hike for me and…read moremy dogs. Cool falls, not an excessive amount of water due to time of year, can walk behind the falls. I didn't hike beyond the falls as I had a long drive ahead of me. So glad I found this spot. Lots of berry plants, beware of poison oak. You can scan a QR code to donate to the upkeep of the park, trail and falls.

    A must-stop on your drive through Northern California other than stopping for Weed…read more Remember: "Leaves of three, rub them on me" Right off the 5, there's a small picnic table, gazebo, drinking fountain (functional spring to fall) at the head of the trail that descends 160-200 feet down, crossing a small stream, past the highest concentration of poison oal in the area. Remember: "leaves of three, yum yummy" You'll hear the waterfall by the time you hit the switchback. The waterfall has a 30-35 foot plunge into a icy pool shallow enough to play in before it joins the Sacramento River. Because it's not huge or dangerous, you can actually pose next to it, dip your head into it, and hang out in the dark, shady, slippery rock cave behind the waterfall. I recommend going back up, especially if this was a pit stop on a road trip, but you can continue the hike, following Hedge Creek along the poison oak. Remember: "Leaves of three: make a tea" Allegedly there are more waterfalls if you pass the main waterfall and an observation deck looking down on the Sac River. Looking down, as in vantage point; not looking down on it for its historical elevated levels of mercury and arsenic from gold mining operations. If you want to get crazy, there's a rough and unofficial trail to the top of the falls. Option A: walk north from the parking lot about 75 yards and then cut through the trees to an obvious path. Option B: Climb about 35 feet up from the first switchback to get to that same path. From I-5 N exit Siskiyou and turn left. From I-5S., turn left. In both cases, turn right on Mott Rod and look for parking on the right. And remember, "Leaves of Three: Snack with Glee"

    Photos
    Hedge Creek Falls
    Hedge Creek Falls - View of the falls from the cave.

    View of the falls from the cave.

    Hedge Creek Falls

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    Lake Siskiyou Trail - Spectacular views from the trail.

    Lake Siskiyou Trail

    4.8(6 reviews)
    6.8 km

    Very well maintained trail along the perimeter of Lake Siskiyou. Decent amount of free parking near…read morethe trailhead/lakefront with bathrooms and trash cans. Tons of folks with boating equipment and stuff to hang out by the lake front and relax, fish, or have a picnic. The trail itself is a loop and you can turn around at any point. Not terribly strenuous and almost all flat - great for little ones/carrying a baby. There is a developed camp and a beach on the other side of the lake. If you're interested in a little bit more seclusion, there is plenty of space to spread out and relax, looking up at the base of Mt Shasha!

    This spot was utterly incredibly! Came here with my family as it is my brothers birthday and we…read morethought a Mount Shasta trip would be a nice easy fun get away from the rigors of Los Angeles and the concrete jungle. We stopped by after eating around the area (recommend the smokehouse or bbq, stay away from the Mexican food at all costs!!) So we went to cable beach and got off and walked around and went to the lake to skip rocks and hang out as we unfortunately forgot our bathing suits. The view was so incredible, and perfect I couldn't even believe the how breathtaking it was at sunset . We skipped many rocks and even made it into a competition which I won, then I went off and found a great stump to take pictures on and unfortunately I slipped and fell on the rocks. Caution! Many rocks here so take water shoes or something with a thick bottom! Although it was pretty funny I'm still hurting haha. We saw boats on the lake and some people off to the side having a picnic and taking a dip in the lovely, warm water. All in all this was an incredible place to stop by and visit! I highly, highly, highly, HIGHLYYY recommend coming here!

    Photos
    Lake Siskiyou Trail - Great "Kodak moment" of Mount Shasta from the trail.

    Great "Kodak moment" of Mount Shasta from the trail.

    Lake Siskiyou Trail
    Lake Siskiyou Trail - Lake Siskiyou and Mount Shasta, view from the trail.

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    Lake Siskiyou and Mount Shasta, view from the trail.

    McCloud River - Upper falls

    McCloud River

    4.8(59 reviews)
    12.4 km

    We love Water Falls in California on the quest of exploring all the beauties within. we found the…read moreMcCloud River in Redding, contains 3 beautiful water falls, although we missed the Burney Falls that's not too far away. One day we will try it. From the east bay, it's about 300 miles north, if we want to see the falls and the lake shasta caverns, we need to sleep over one night because it'd take 5-6 hr to drive. When we get to the McCloud River, there are actual roads to drive to 3 Falls, Lower, Middle and Upper Falls. Each from the parking lot only take a few minutes hike to see the Falls, although we didn't go to the bottom of the upper falls, but we could see some. The lower falls where many people swim, or like us, sit on the rocks to feel the water gushing through rocks very nice. The middle falls, we didn't really hike to the bottom of the falls but stayed where we could see the clear views of the falls. Where people also play with the water. Next time when we visit Burney Falls, we will hike to the bottom of all these falls. Love these falls, love California.

    McCloud Falls should have its own Yelp page listing because this is like posting about Niagara…read moreFalls in a Niagara River page. McCloud and Burney Falls (an hour away) make the best one-two punch for waterfalls outside Yosemite. However, unlike Burney Falls, McCloud Falls has lots of free parking and no entrance fee because it is not a state park. Upper Falls is the least dramatic. An ADA-accessible trail leads to an observation deck about 90 feet above the falls. The fact that people were waiting efficiently in a line to take a photo was more exciting for me than the falls itself. Plus, it is a bit strange looking down on waterfalls. Stupid waterfalls. Anyhow, of the three locations Upper Falls offers a quieter environment, ideal for relaxation and reflection, especially if the water is still. Lower Falls was the most chaotic, with two lanes of parking lot traffic on a one-way road, and more kids sprawling the river for swimming. The area, stocked with trout, seemed the more picnic and day trippy of the falls, the best place to eat your lunch. Middle Falls is the money shot. The postcard. The one that has people posing for hours for the 'Gram. This is because it's 50 feet high and over 100 feet wide, creating a curtain of water over a basalt cliff into a pool below. McCloud Falls deserves its own Yelp page--lumping it in with a generic "McCloud River" listing is like posting Niagara Falls under the Niagara River. Come on now. Together, McCloud Falls and Burney Falls (just an hour apart) make the best one-two punch for waterfall chasers outside of Yosemite. But unlike Burney Falls, located in a state park that charges an entrance fee, McCloud Falls offers something rare and beautiful: lots of free parking and zero entrance fees. My favorite kind of waterfalls are free. Upper Falls is the least dramatic of the trio. A well-maintained ADA-accessible trail leads to an observation deck perched about 90 feet above the falls. Ironically, the orderly line of people waiting to snap a photo was more thrilling than the waterfall itself. Also, there's something a little odd about looking down on a waterfall. Stupid waterfalls. That said, Upper Falls is the most peaceful and serene, making it perfect for quiet moments of reflection--especially when the water is still. Lower Falls is the more chaotic of the trio, with two lanes of traffic trying to share a narrow one-way road, while kids are sprawled across the banks of a rushing, whitewater river. The area, stocked with trout, feels tailor-made for picnics and day trips--the kind of place where sandwiches taste better for no logical reason. Middle Falls is the showstopper. The money shot. The backdrop of annoying Instagram photo sessions. At 50 feet high and over 100 feet wide, it sends a dramatic curtain of water spilling over a basalt cliff into a pool below, with summer crowds climbing the shoreline boulders and wading into the 42 degree water just to ruin your pictures. I had to edit out so many people, they should call them McPhotoshop Falls.

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    McCloud River - McCloud River, Has do-able hiking trails.

    McCloud River, Has do-able hiking trails.

    McCloud River - Upper falls

    Upper falls

    McCloud River

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    Mount Shasta

    Mount Shasta

    4.8(36 reviews)
    20.5 km

    Mount Shasta is an incredibly beautiful mountain and volcano. If your driving between Seattle and…read moreLos Angeles you can't miss it from the highway. There are probably a couple different cities that you can enjoy Mount Shasta from but my favorite city is Weed. They have hotels and gift shops and is a cute little town with everything you need. There are two exits for Weed off the highway. One exit is the 'old town' part that is more cute and the other exit is the newer part. I think staying a night here is a perfect thing to do as the scenery is so pleasant. It really is a destination. So often to see natural beauty like this you have to sacrifice comforts of city living. Not with Mount Shasta - its a town that has it all and is just steps away from a little nature walk with an incredible backdrop. It is a real sight to see when you have this regular old Shell Gas station or even Grocery Outlet where the backdrop is the volcano. I don't think you can ever get tired of the harmony here of man made combined with nature.

    Incredible volcano and mountain…read more Really recommend spending some time around the nature in this area, even if you won't be committing a summit climb. I went up this past weekend with the attempt to summit Shasta and had a really nice time. The town of Mt. Shasta has a few restaurants and some decent accomodations for sleeping (slept in Loge with our group which was great)... As for the hike, we went up and started at Bunny Flats and camped at Helen Lake for the night and then going for the summit via the Avalanche Gulch route. It was a beautiful and trying hike...definitely be familiar with the risks and have the proper skills to manage them if attempting. All in all; Mount Shasta is majestic and magical. Spend some time here!

    Photos
    Mount Shasta
    Mount Shasta
    Mount Shasta

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    McArthur Burney Falls State Park - Soft Serveeeeeeee

    McArthur Burney Falls State Park

    4.7(359 reviews)
    57.6 km

    If you're driving through Northern California and skip Burney Falls, you'll regret it -- read this…read morebefore you pass it. Some places stop you in your tracks. Burney Falls is one of them. We pulled in on a cloudy afternoon, paid the $10 day-use fee (heads up -- America the Beautiful Pass is not accepted here), and honestly, I wasn't fully prepared for what was waiting at the end of that short walk. It's maybe 10 steps down to the base of the falls -- gentle enough that we attempted it with a stroller. Is it stroller-friendly? Almost. I'd say stroller-possible if you're determined, but bring your patience and your arms. The clouds kept rolling in, softening the light over the forest, and I remember standing there thinking -- even like this, even on a grey day, this place is extraordinary. The waterfall doesn't roar at you. It cascades, wide and ancient and constant, like it's been doing this forever and doesn't need your approval. Water pours from every direction -- from the rocks, from the moss, from the walls -- and the sound wraps around you completely. I added photos, but they don't capture it. Nothing will. The trees surrounding the falls are cathedral-tall, the air smells like cold water and pine, and for a few minutes the whole world got quiet. On a clear sunny day? I think I would have cried. Even on a cloudy one -- I almost did. Go. Just go.

    This is my second trip to McArthur Burney Falls. Easy access and available parking today, 09.17.25…read moredue to it being the end of season/fall. $10 entrance fee, accept cash or credit cards. I actually received a $1 back as in a senior. I dislike that dog access is limited to parking lot, and observation area. Not allowed on stairs leading down to base of falls, on trails, posted properly. I understand people don't clean up after their pets plus you never know how dogs will interact. Their park, their rules. I love the rule that doesn't allow you to leave your dog(s) in the car, kudos. I think these dog rules apply to all California State Parks. Beautiful falls, great fall weather, friendly rangers.

    Photos
    McArthur Burney Falls State Park
    McArthur Burney Falls State Park
    McArthur Burney Falls State Park - Severe hiking!  It's less than a mile and a half.  Steep(ish) though.

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    Severe hiking! It's less than a mile and a half. Steep(ish) though.

    Mossbrae Falls - Access Restricted - hiking - Updated May 2026

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