Burney Falls

{{Short description|Waterfall in Shasta County, California}}

{{about|the waterfall|the state park|McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox waterfall

| name = Burney Falls

| photo = The Burney Falls in April.jpg

| photo_width = 260

| photo_caption = The falls in full flow in April

| map = USA California |relief=1

| map_width = 220

| coordinates = {{coord|41.0107162|N|121.6527649|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CA_scale:50000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref = {{cite gnis |id=257711 |name=Burney Falls |accessdate=2013-01-04}}

| location = Shasta County, California, US

| type = Cataract

| elevation =

| height = {{convert|114|ft}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/index.php/waterfall/Burney-Falls-6557/ |title=Burney Falls |publisher=World Waterfall Database |accessdate=2013-01-04}}

| height_longest =

| number_drops = 1

| width = {{convert|250|ft}}

| average_width =

| watercourse = Burney Creek

| average_flow = {{convert|195.0|cuft/s|abbr=on}}

| world_rank =

| embedded = {{designation list | embed = yes

| designation1 = NNL

| designation1_date = 1954}}

}}

Burney Falls is a waterfall on Burney Creek, within McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, in Shasta County, California.

The water comes from underground springs above and at the falls, which are {{convert|129|ft|m}} high, and provides an almost constant flow rate of {{convert|379000000|liter}} per day, even during the dry summer months. Burney Creek is a tributary of the Pit River which has its mouth on the Lake Britton reservoir to the north.

The falls are an example of river drainage regulated by stratigraphically-controlled springs, and of a waterfall formed by undercutting of horizontal strata.[https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=BUFA-CA Burney Falls]

Called "the Eighth Wonder of the World" by President Theodore Roosevelt, the falls are "at their most intense ... during the spring, from early April through October, when snowmelt is at its peak".[https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/burney-falls/ EXPERIENCES Burney Falls] The falls were declared a National Natural Landmark in December 1954.{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=BUFA-CA |title=Burney Falls National Natural Landmark |publisher=National Park Service |accessdate=2013-01-04}} In March 2021, a National Geographic article declared the site to be one of "northern California's most spectacular waterfalls".[https://web.archive.org/web/20210303120751/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/where-to-see-northern-california-most-spectacular-waterfalls Where to see northern California’s most spectacular waterfalls]

The water temperature rarely gets higher than {{convert|42|°F|°C}} but the pool below the falls is a popular location for catch-and-release fly-fishing.[https://www.visitcalifornia.com/ca/attraction/burney-falls Burney Falls] The Redding tourism website states that the falls "can be enjoyed from above at lookout point", and preferably, from the pool at base of the falls, accessed via a trail.[https://www.visitredding.com/mcarthur-burney-falls-memorial-state-park McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park]

Some of the waterfalls scenes for Willow (1988) were shot at the falls, although Powerscourt Waterfall in Ireland was also used for filming.[https://screenrant.com/willow-movie-where-filmed-locations/ Where Was Willow Filmed: All Locations] Other movies with scenes filmed at Burney Falls include Stand by Me (1986), The Parson and the Outlaw (1957) and Tarzan's Fight for Life (1958).{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20210929210949/https://www.ijpr.org/show/as-it-was/2019-07-02/as-it-was-the-big-screen-features-burney-falls As It Was: The Big Screen Features Burney Falls]}}