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Burney is an unincorporated town in Shasta County in Northern California and has long been a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
The town is mostly known for its waterfall of the same name, Burney Falls, a 129-foot, nearly 300-foot wide behemoth.
While Burney Falls deserves its status as the town’s main offering, there are many other things to do in and around Burney that most may not be aware of.
In this post, we’re going to discuss seven of our favorite things about Burney that we think you would love most.
A Quick Note…
We have several more “7 Things” posts about other great towns that you might want to read about. Click/tap any of the links below (opens a new window) to read them.
1) McArthur-Burney Falls State Park
May as well get the main event out of the way at the start. You’ve undoubtedly heard of Burney Falls (or at the very least have seen pictures of it).
It’s more than deserving of its title as one of the best and most popular waterfalls in the entire state and you would agree once you’ve seen it.
Burney Falls has a commanding presence with a height of 129-feet and a width of nearly 300-feet. It’s an amazing sight to behold.
No trip to Burney would be complete without AT LEAST one visit to the falls and take in its beauty. If you’ve never been, be sure to check out our guide.
READ: “Burney Falls State Park: When To Go, Directions and More”
2) Junk Art Sculptures
Just down the road from Burney Falls in the tiny town of Cassel are a bunch of junk art sculptures that are open to the public.
They’re placed in front of a local construction company, the owners of said construction company being the artists behind them.
It is free to both park at and explore the sculptures and it’s open during daylight hours. It’s a great way to kill an hour or so.
READ: “Check Out Junk Art Sculptures Near Burney Falls”
3) Proximity to McCloud River Falls
While not in Burney itself (the falls are located near the town of McCloud), McCloud River Falls is a series of three scenic waterfalls.
It’s about an hour’s drive to these falls, but the trip is more than worth it, especially if it’s a hot day and you’re in search of a swimming hole.
The three falls can be accessed via a 3.9-mile, out-and-back hiking trail or by driving to each one. The lower and upper falls are right off their parking lots.
The middle fall (the most scenic of the three) can be viewed from above but for a closer look, you’ll need to take a series of switchbacks to the bottom.
READ: “McCloud River Falls: Three Fantastic Waterfalls In One”
4) Subway Cave
Just a short drive from Burney is the largest, most easily accessible lava tube cave in the world; Subway cave.
It isn’t open in winter but if you’re in the area any other time of year, you’re all set. Best part? It’s free to park and explore the cave.
You’ll definitely want to bring flashlights because there are no natural or artificial light sources anywhere in the cave.
READ: “Subway Cave: Explore An Awesome Lava Tube Near Burney Falls”
5) Proximity to MANY Waterfalls
Burney Falls is far from the only waterfall in the area. In fact, there are DOZENS scattered throughout the area.
A handle of examples of those include; Hedge Creek Falls (pictured above), Potem Falls, McCloud Falls, Mossbrea Falls and Faery Falls.
READ: “Hedge Creek Falls: A Short Hike To An Incredible Waterfall”
6) A Plethora of Hiking Trails
As is the case with the rest of California, there are hiking trails everywhere around Burney and the surrounding area.
In fact, a beautiful section of the infamous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) goes through here.
Some other well known area trails include the Burney Falls Scenic Loop, the Spatter Cone Trail, the Great Shasta Rail Trail and more.
READ: “How To Hike The Burney Falls Scenic Loop”
7) The Bridge from ‘Stand by Me’
Finally, if you’ve ever seen the movie, ‘Stand by Me’, then you’ll undoubtedly remember the infamous bridge scene.
In it, the four boys attempt to cross the bridge but end up having to run for their lives from an oncoming train.
Many people don’t realize that the bridge used in the movie is still standing and is just down the road from Burney Falls.
Due to an unfortunate death in 2021, walking on the bridge is no longer permitted. You can, however, still visit it and take in the surrounding views.
READ: “How To Visit The Bridge From ‘Stand By Me’ In Burney”
Your Thoughts…
Does Burney sound like a place you and your family would enjoy? Have you been to any of the destinations listed above?
Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from our readers.
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