Here are the best places to visit while camping at McArthur-Burney Falls.
Deep within California’s Cascade Range, whitewater flows down the mountainside in a shower of silk and tumbles into an aquamarine pool, dusting dark gray rocks and bright green foliage with airy foam. This creamy cataract, a natural wonder where snow-white froth sprinkles mossy stones with satin spray, is the defining feature of McArthur-Burney Falls State Park. Here are the best places to visit while camping at the Falls.
Lake Britton
The clear waters of Lake Britton owe their existence to the dammed Pit River, a gushing torrent created by the Falls’ fast-flowing freshwater. Join the adventurous campers who go boating, fishing and water skiing in the placid waters of this hidden gem, sending ripples across its glassy surface. While at the lake, try your hand at wakeboarding while bald eagles and osprey soar overhead.
Mount Lassen
Take a day trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park, a majestic landscape where snowy peaks scrape clouded skies and red-orange trees splash wooded valleys with bright specks of color. Wind through the 30-mile highway which links the park’s northwest and southwest entrances, stopping along the way to catch a glimpse of popular viewpoints like the Kings Creek Meadow. Here, a turquoise stream wends its way through a grassy field at the foot of Mt. Lassen, the slate-gray titan which towers over the forest below.
After visiting the meadow, continue driving along the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway until you reach Summit Lake. Enjoy your lunch at the lake’s picnic area, then head to the north shore to finish your day with a refreshing swim. If you plan to stay the night at the Summit Lake Campground, keep in mind that there are no showers, cell phone reception or Internet connectivity available, so plan to be off the grid while on your trip.
Mount Shasta
Following your Lassen adventure, head to Mt. Shasta, a small city dwarfed by its namesake skyscraping summit. Explore Shasta’s magnificent Castle Lake, where teal waves lap against soaring tree-lined cliffs. After hiking the easy Shoreline Trail on the lake’s western shore and taking a dirt path up to Heart Lake, plunge into the crystal-clear Castle Lake for an icy swim. Then, enjoy flat-water kayaking in the pristine turquoise waters.
Enjoy the best of what McArthur-Burney Falls and the surrounding area offer when you visit these unforgettable places.
