This CA State Park Now Requiring Reservations After Social Media Surge

BURNEY, CA — Visitors to the beautiful but remote McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park may need a reservation this summer under a pilot program launched this month by California State Parks.

Day-use reservations will be required Friday through Sunday and holidays at the park from May 15 to Sept. 27, after annual visits to the Shasta County park roughly doubled in the last decade and the park experienced damage, safety concerns and sanitation issues, according to the state parks system.

“For generations of visitors, it had the reputation of a small, family-oriented park and one of California’s best-kept secrets,” a California State Parks news release said of the system’s second-oldest state park.

“However, over the past decade, and especially with the growth of social media, that secret is now world-famous.”

Due to its limited parking, Burney Falls often reaches capacity on weekends, forcing the park to close for hours.

“If lucky enough to gain entry, visitors inside the park are met with extreme overcrowding, long restroom lines, and overflowing trash cans instead of a peaceful, rejuvenating experience at one of the nation’s most awe-inspiring natural landmarks,” the news release said.

“Because of the park’s small footprint, proximity to SR-89 and the sensitivity of the surrounding area, there are limited expansion options to better accommodate more visitors without additional impacts to resources.”

The park will offer 103 parking passes valid between 8 a.m. and noon, another 103 passes valid 1-5 p.m., and 35 passes valid for the entire day, according to the news release. The cost will be $10 per vehicle plus a $1 processing fee, but senior and disabled discounts will apply, as will entry for annual pass holders, though reservations are still required. Reservations will be limited to one per vehicle per day.

Visitors with a campground or cabin reservation will not need to make a separate day-use reservation.

For more information, visit parks.ca.gov/post/102.