McArthur-Burney FallsState Park - California |
McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park is the second oldest state park in the California State Parks system, located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Burney, California. The park offers camping, fishing, watersports, hiking and horseback riding facilities. The park is mainly known for the waterfall, Burney Falls, at the entrance of the park. Wildlife in the park includes bass, trout, Steller's jay, squirrels, woodpeckers, deer, and on rare occasion, black bear.
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Map of the Nobles Emigrant Trail section, part of the California National Historic Trail (NHT), located outside of Susanville, California. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) - Map 1a of Lassen National Forest (NF) in California. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Vintage 1958 USGS 1:250000 Map of Alturas in California. Published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
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https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=455
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McArthur%E2%80%93Burney_Falls_Memorial_State_Park
McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park is the second oldest state park in the California State Parks system, located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Burney, California. The park offers camping, fishing, watersports, hiking and horseback riding facilities. The park is mainly known for the waterfall, Burney Falls, at the entrance of the park. Wildlife in the park includes bass, trout, Steller's jay, squirrels, woodpeckers, deer, and on rare occasion, black bear.
McArthur-Burney
Falls Memorial
State Park
Our Mission
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
On a visit to the falls,
an enthralled President
Theodore Roosevelt
pronounced them one of
the wonders of the world.
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
(530) 335-2777. If you need this publication in an
alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
McArthur-Burney Falls
Memorial State Park
24898 Highway 89
Burney, CA 96013
(530) 335-2777
© 2005 California State Parks (Rev. 2016)
cArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State
Park sits on the eastern edge of the Cascade
Range, between majestic Mount Shasta
and Lassen Peak. The park’s centerpiece is
the thundering white-water falls on Burney
Creek, augmented by the voluminous springs
emanating from the basalt cliff face.
On sunny days, the mist above the basin of
blue water at the bottom of the falls is often
alight with rainbow colors. In the fall, the pool
reflects the rich hues of autumn leaves, while
winter often brings a lacy array of tiny icicles
to decorate the face of the cliff.
The climate in this area 65 miles east of
Redding is dictated by its predominantly
mountainous topography. The park’s highest
elevation is nearly 3,100 feet. Temperatures
range from averages of 20 degrees in winter
to more than 85 degrees during the drier
summer months. Between November and
March, rainfall averages nearly 28 inches.
PARK HISTORY
The first people of this region lived in small
groups or “bands.” The band that lived near
the falls and the creek that flows into the Pit
River called themselves Ilmawi. Central to
the band’s way of life, the Pit River provided
an important range of activities, including
fishing, gathering, and social and sacred uses.
Today, the Ilmawi are among nearly a
dozen culturally similar bands that comprise
the Pit River Tribe.
The name “Pit” refers to a traditional
hunting method in which hunters dug deep
pits to trap large game such as pronghorn,
deer, and elk.
Salmon and trout from the river
were a vital part of the Pit River
people’s diet. The surrounding
lands provided small game,
including squirrels, ducks, geese,
sage hens, and quail. Acorns,
bulbs, tubers, seeds, and grasses
also grew in the region, while
various trees, herbs, and mosses
served medicinal needs.
Fur trappers began to encroach
on Pit River territory in the 1820s
and ’30s. By the mid-1850s,
European and American settlers
were homesteading the Pit River
bands’ lands. By the 1870s, many members
of the Ilmawi and other bands had died
from European diseases or been forcibly
removed to the Round Valley Reservation in
Mendocino County.
However, the ties of the people to their
land proved strong. Today, the Pit River
Tribe continues to maintain spiritual and
economic relationships with their ancestral
lands. People honor their cultural identity by
visiting ancestral sites; conducting traditional
activities such as hunting, gathering, fishing,
and ceremonies; and teaching traditional life
skills to their children and grandchildren.
Many descendants still look upon Burney
Falls and the sapphire pool at its base as a
sacred place.
Tribal members also continue their role as
caretakers of the land, at times partnering
with California State Parks to carry out landmanagement practices.
Image courtesy of the Meriam Library, CSU Chico
M
Drawing of Shasta Peak by Charles Wilkes
Becoming a State Park
Burney Falls was named after Samuel
Burney of South Carolina, who died in the
area in 1859. Several local features came to
be named after Burney.
John and Catherine McArthur arrived in
the 1860s, purchased thousands of acres,
and opened a mercantile store in the area.
Over time, several family farms and the
small settlement of Peck’s Bridge sprang
up along the Pit River near the falls. Early
pioneer Isaac Ray established a shortlived lumber mill above the falls, but the
area was sparsely populated well into the
1900s. The nearby Pioneer Cemetery bears
witness to some of the historic names
associated with this part of California.
In 1917 the newly formed Pacific Gas and
Electric Company (PG&E) began buying up
land and water rights in the area. Alarmed
residents foresaw that PG&E, in the
interests of providing more hydroelectric
power, would dam the Pit River and destroy
Burney Falls. Frank and Scott McArthur,
sons of John and Catherine, purchased
160 acres surrounding the falls; in 1920
they deeded the property to the State,
requesting only that it be named
Parque Estatal
McArthur-Burney
Falls Memorial
Nuestra Misión
La misión de California State Parks es proporcionar
apoyo para la salud, la inspiración y la educación
de los ciudadanos de California al ayudar a
preservar la extraordinaria diversidad biológica
del estado, proteger sus más valiosos recursos
naturales y culturales, y crear oportunidades para
la recreación al aire libre de alta calidad.
En una visita a las
cascadas, un fascinado
presidente Theodore
Roosevelt las declaró
una de las maravillas
del mundo.
California State Parks apoya la igualdad de
acceso. Antes de llegar, los visitantes con
discapacidades que necesiten asistencia
deben comunicarse con el parque llamando
al (530) 335-2777. Si necesita esta publicación
en un formato alternativo, comuníquese con
interp@parks.ca.gov.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
Para obtener más información, llame al:
(800) 777-0369 o (916) 653-6995, fuera de los
EE. UU. o 711, servicio de teléfono de texto.
www.parks.ca.gov
McArthur-Burney Falls
Memorial State Park
24898 Highway 89
Burney, CA 96013
(530) 335-2777
© 2005 California State Parks (Rev. 2016)
l Parque Estatal McArthur-Burney
Falls Memorial está situado en el borde
este de la Cordillera de las Cascadas,
entre el majestuoso Monte Shasta y el Pico
Lassen. La pieza central del parque son las
estruendosas cascadas blancas en Burney
Creek, las cuales aumentan gracias a los
manantiales que emanan de la pared del
acantilado de basalto.
En los días soleados, la bruma sobre
la cuenca de aguas azules del fondo de
las cascadas a menudo se ilumina con los
colores del arcoíris. En el otoño, el pozo
refleja los matices ricos de las hojas de
otoño, mientras que el invierno a menudo
crea témpanos diminutos a semejanza del
encaje que decoran la pared del acantilado.
El clima en esta área, a 65 millas al
este de Redding, lo impone su topografía
predominantemente montañosa. La
elevación más alta del parque es de casi
3,100 pies. Las temperaturas van desde
20 grados en invierno a más de 85 grados
durante los meses más secos de verano.
Entre noviembre y marzo, las lluvias
promedian casi 28 pulgadas.
HISTORIA DEL PARQUE
Los primeros habitantes de esta región
vivieron en grupos pequeños o “bandas”.
Los miembros de la banda que vivía cerca
de las cascadas y el arroyo que fluye hacia
el Río Pit se llamaban a sí mismos Ilmawi. El
modo de vida de la banda giraba en torno
al Río Pit, el cual proporcionaba una amplia
gama de actividades, que incluía la pesca, la
recolección y usos sociales y sagrados.
Actualmente, los Ilmawi están
entre la casi docena de bandas
culturalmente similares que
componen la Tribu del Río Pit.
El nombre “Pit” se refiere a un
método tradicional de caza en el
cual los cazadores cavaban fosas
profundas para atrapar a las
presas grandes como antílopes
americanos, ciervos y alces.
Los salmones y las truchas
del río eran una parte vital de
la dieta de los habitantes del
Dibujo del Pico Shasta realizado por Charles Wilkes
Río Pit. Las tierras circundantes
proporcionaban caza menor,
Actualmente, la Tribu del Río Pit continúa
incluidas ardillas, patos, gansos, gallos de
manteniendo las relaciones espirituales
salvia y codornices. Las bellotas, bulbos,
y económicas con sus tierras ancestrales.
tubérculos, semillas y pastos también
Las personas honran su identidad cultural
crecían en la región, mientras que diversos
visitando los sitios ancestrales; realizando
árboles, hierbas y musgos cubrían las
actividades tradicionales como la caza,
necesidades medicinales.
la recolección, la pesca y ceremonias; y
Los cazadores de pieles comenzaron
enseñando a sus hijos y nietos habilidades
a invadir el territorio del Río Pit en las
tradicionales para la vida. Muchos
décadas de los veinte y treinta del siglo
descendientes todavía ven las Cascadas de
XIX. Para mediados de la década de los
Burney y la piscina azul zafiro de su base
cincuenta del siglo XIX, los colonos europeos
como un lugar sagrado.
y estadounidenses estaban construyendo
Los miembros tribales también
viviendas en las tierras de las bandas del Río
continúan su rol como cuidadores de la
Pit. Para la década de los setenta del siglo
tierra y a veces se asocian con California
XIX, muchos miembros de los Ilmawi y otras
State Parks a fin de llevar a cabo prácticas
bandas habían muerto de enfermedades
de administración de la tierra.
europeas o habían sido expulsados a la
Conversión en parque estatal
fuerza a la Reserva de Round Valley en el
Condado de Mendocino.
Las Cascadas de Burney recibieron su
Sin embargo, los lazos de las personas
nombre por Samuel Burney de Carolina
con sus tierras demostraron ser fuertes.
del Sur, quien murió en el área en 1859.
Imagen cortesía de la Meriam Library, CSU Chico
E
Muchos elementos locales recibieron su
nombre por Burney.
John y Catherine McArthur llegaron en
la década de los sesenta del siglo XIX,
compraron miles de acres y abrieron una
tienda mercantil en el área. Con el tiempo,
muchas granjas
McArthur-Burney Falls
Memorial State Park
24898 Highway 89, Burney, CA 96013 • 530-335-2777
Welcome visitors! Our staff has put together the following information to help you have a safe and enjoyable visit
at this park. If you have any further questions please ask any of the staff, and we will be happy to help you.
PARK FEES are due and payable upon entry into the
park. Fees include one vehicle and one legally towed
vehicle or trailer. Extra vehicles will be charged a fee,
with a maximum of three vehicles.
OCCUPANCY: A maximum of eight people are
allowed per family campsite.
CABINS: 24 one- and two-bedroom cabins are
available, by reservation, for four or six people
respectively. Cabins come with a fire ring, outdoor
table and outside space for a tent.
VEHICLE PARKING: Park in designated parking only.
Most campsites are designed to accommodate a
maximum of three vehicles. For parking purposes, all
trailers are considered vehicles. There is an additional
charge for more than one motorized vehicle, and you
may need to park them in the overflow lots. Call for
additional information on the extra vehicle charge.
CHECK-OUT TIME is noon. Please vacate your site
by that time. Check-in time is 2 p.m.
DOGS/PETS must be kept on a leash no longer
than six feet and under control at all times. They are
not permitted in buildings, on trails (except for the
Pioneer Cemetery Trail) or on the beach. Dogs/pets
must be confined to a vehicle or tent at night, and
they cannot be left unattended at any time.
FIRES AND FIREWOOD: Please be cautious
when building fires—wildfire danger is especially
high during the summer. Fires are allowed only in
established fire rings or camp stoves. Do not build
ground fires outside the fire rings or leave campfires
unattended. Do not gather firewood in the park—
the nutrients must be allowed to recycle back into
the ecosystem. You may purchase firewood at the
entrance station or in the campgrounds.
SPEED LIMIT: Though the maximum speed limit is
15 mph, when pedestrians, bicyclists and children
are present even 15 mph might be too fast. Use
good judgement.
QUIET HOURS are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. To ensure
an enjoyable experience for everyone, please do not
disturb other campers, regardless of the time of day
or night.
NOISE: Radios and other sound-producing devices
must not be audible beyond your immediate
campsite, regardless of the time of day or night.
GENERATORS: Engine-driven generators or other
devices can be operated ONLY between
10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
BICYCLES are allowed only on paved roads or on the
Pioneer Cemetery Trail. All other trails are closed to
bicycles. Bicycle helmets must be worn at all times by
riders under age 18.
TRUCKS AND BOAT PASSENGERS: Passengers
may not ride in the beds of pickup trucks (including
those with camper shells) or in towed boats at any
time except on the launch ramp.
Discover the many states of California.TM
CAMPING RESERVATIONS: You may make camping reservations by calling (800) 444-7275 (TTY 800-274-7275).
To make online reservations, visit our website at www.parks.ca.gov
ALTERNATE FORMAT: This publication can be made available in alternate formats.
Contact interp@parks.ca.gov or call (916) 654-2249.
To Lake Britton
30 29
31
32
Rim Trail (to Lake Britton)
25
92
91
90/89
23
95
96 97
Your Site #: ___________
Pioneer
Camp
Road
80 79/78
98
100
108
99
109
106 107 76
101
110
103
77
102
105
111
104
112
113
114
e
Lak
22
20 21
36 35
19
18 17
37
Rim Camp 15 16
40 38
41 39
14
42
13
45
52 12
46 47 48 50
43 44
53
51
49
11
54
10
55 56
9
57 58
60
59
2
3
8
61
Accessible 62
cabins
4
7
56
87
88 86
85
83
84
82 81
94
24
34 33
Burney Creek Trail (to Lake Britton)
93
115
124
125
126
127
71
69
67
Camp
Rim
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To
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Ca
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Old Rim
Ca
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Accessible Campsite
Accessible Feature
Boat Ramp
Cabin
65
Campfire Center
Campground
To I-5
(55 miles)
Dogs Allowed on Leash
Firewood Sales
Fishing
89
Food Services
Foot Bridge
d
Hike/Bike Campsite
Locked Gate
Tra
Parking
il
op
Lo
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Lo
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Fa
Picnic Area
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Tra
Pa
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#
Accessible Trail
Bicycle Trail
66
63
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Trail
128
64
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LEGEND
72
70
68
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Pio
120 121 74 75
73
116
123 117 119
122
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McArthur-Burney Falls
Memorial State Park
il
ra
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Cr
Falls
Overlook
Burney
Falls
Group Picnic Area
Ranger Station
Visitor
Center
Restrooms
RV Sanitation
Entrance
Station
Showers
Supplies
To Hwy. 299
(6 miles)
© 2014 California State Parks
For emergencies call
Swimming
9-1-1
View Point
Waterfall