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.

If you're segment hiking the PCT and find yourself wondering if you should shuttle or backpack the…read moreWathum Lake to Lost Lake section, I encourage you to check out the Buck Peak offshoot trail. Quarter mile off the PCT and you'll find an established campsite complete with sufficient space for a tent, a small fire ring, and a spring within a half mile. As a bonus, you can go the half mile up the Buck Peak trail to the official summit. The view of Mount Hood from that spot is worth all of the mosquito bites you'll collect at camp.

Very fun lava tube (cave)…read more Short hike. Easy parking. Bathroom at parking area. You will definitely need a flashlight and close-toed shoes. It is not dangerous, but it is very dark and the ground is bumpy and uneven.

Wonderful pit stop to cool down in the extreme heat!…read more Limited parking Picnic area Non flushable toilets

We took ourselves on a waterfall tour of Norther California this spring and we hiked to over a…read moredozen waterfalls. Potem falls was my favorite by far. The good: This hike is very short and easily doable for all fitness levels. Although there is decline down and incline back, even someone out of shape can make it back up (ask me how I'm sure :) ) The payoff is amazing! The fall is gorgeous and centered so you are able to see it well from any angle at the bottom. There is thunder and mist and a beautiful pool of water as well as shade to enjoy it in. We saw wildlife, including a lizard (pictured) and a deer on our way out. The not so good: The road is dirt for the last few miles and has a steep drop-off, so drive slow and pay attention. I was lucky enough not to have anyone in front of me but halfway through the drive a cybertruck came up behind me and they had to stop for a while to create distance because there was so much dirt flying at their car that they couldn't see. Even with the dirty and sometime scary drive, these falls are definitely worth visiting.

The walk down to Potem Falls is pretty easy…read more Parking: A pull-out on the side of the road right in front of the "Potem Falls" sign. There's enough space for ~4 cars. We noted broken glass on the ground so there may be a risk of break-ins here. The walk itself was a gradual descent which made it one of the easier ones. We went on Thanksgiving Day and only encountered a couple walking down to the falls while we were leaving. The waterfall is beautiful and looks like a really fun spot to swim in the summer.

The trail to Mill Creek Falls begins right off to the side of the new Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor…read moreCenter in the Southwest parking area. The trail is somewhat easy-moderate, depending how fit you are of course. It has a round trip distance of 4.6 miles with various areas of inclining slopes. The path was not smooth and in many spots there was snow blocking the way (but this was a few weeks ago and it may have melted by now). Hiking poles were very useful here. This trail isn't for those looking for an easy stroll. Keep a close eye on the trail too because it wasn't clearly marked and there are areas were you can get off the main path. With that being said, the hike and the actual falls were beautiful. Along the way there were open areas that offered lovely views of various mountain peaks, as well as areas with towering trees that loomed overhead and offered much leafy shade. There was one part of the trail that brought us to a hillside covered with bushes of yellow wildflowers, which was absolutely beautiful. The Mill Creek Falls itself was stunning. You can walk across a bridge that runs above its cascading waters and also across a second little bridge further up from the first. The bridge gives you a spectacular view of the canyon between the two hills. Be careful though because the wooden bridges do not have railings. It's hard to put into words the beauty and majesty of a natural waterfall. You just have to see it for yourself.

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!

The water is hypothermia inducingly cold, the walk is treacherous and the falls aren't that…read moreexciting. You can take the long route which requires a lot more walking near the train tracks or attempt the river crossing which could end with you swept miles downriver or drowned. At any moment they could let water out of the down to send a surge down the Sacramento River and send you off through rocks and rapids below the falls. The trains come through fast and around blind corners and the roar of the river masks the sound of the train. It is a dangerous hike and people have died there. I don't recommend it for day trippers or casual tourists. Advanced hiking skills required and extra attention to safety and strong swimmers only. Even in mid August the water is high and freezing and the river crossing is very slippery and dangerous. If you know what you are doing and manage the trek there and back you will have seen one of the areas smaller but pretty waterfalls. There is talk of building a trail with a pedestrian bridge to the falls so once that is done it will likely be overrun with day trippers. I recommend going now but be careful.

A must visit in Dunsmuir! Live the cascading waterfall so majestic , calm and mesmerizing ! It's…read moreour second time here and definitely be more visit in the future ! We had the whole waterfall to ourselves

One of my top two hikes in Lassen National Park, and probably their most popular and well-known…read morehike. If you have the chance to hike down to Bumpass Hell, I'd highly recommend you do it. If you visited Sulphur Works, that's just a small bit of what Bumpass Hell has to offer. It's about a 3 mile round-trip hike with only about 200 elevation gain. All in all, it was a pretty easy hike. The views of these hot springs are absolutely gorgeous - a good variety of hydrothermal areas with such strikingly beautiful colors. If you've been to Yellowstone National Park, it might be a bit of a let down because the ones there are next level. So just keep that in mind when visiting! Make sure to stay on the boardwalk. The ground off trail is completely unpredictable and can lead to severe injuries. This trail is only open about 4 months of the year. So check the website in advance. It also gets so busy as this is their park gem. And there is not as much parking as you would like. So plan accordingly to ensure you'll be able to do the hike - the ranger did advise to go earlier in the morning. Amazing hike in Lassen. Highly recommend!

A Must-See Hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park!…read more Bumpass Hell is a fantastic hike and one of the highlights of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The trail offers incredible geothermal features--bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and vibrant colors that make it feel like you're walking through another world. Keep in mind, the hike is at high elevation, so the trail is typically only open from July through late October, depending on snow conditions. Please inform yourself before traveling here. In some years, it might not open until August - based on the information provided by rangers. Be sure to check trail conditions before you go, especially if Bumpass Hell is a must-do on your list. National Park fee applies. Even if the trail happens to be closed, don't worry--there are plenty of other great hikes throughout the park to explore. But if it's open, this one is absolutely worth the trip! If you happened to be fluffy like me, take it slow and drink water.

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.