Two Must See Nor Cal Waterfalls

We’re in the final days of summer as fall quickly approaches. It was another smoky California summer. I’m used to the fire seasons having grown up in Northern California but the past 3 years the fires have been much larger and much stronger. Multiple fires have burned down much of the mountains around my home and canceled a few of my summer plans this year. I was supposed to hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail with my Dad but the Dixie fire, currently the second largest fire in California history, put an end to our planned trip. We were planning on hiking the section that goes through Lassen National Park but the fire raged through the park which forced surrounding forests to be closed. This really cut my summer hiking plans short but I managed to get in quite a few hikes earlier in the summer before the fires started. Some of my favorite hikes that I checked off my list this summer took me to some amazing waterfalls. Today I’m going to share my top two favorite waterfall hikes in Nor Cal with you!

If you’re looking for an amazing day hike that ends at a gorgeous waterfall you don’t want to miss these… Mossbrae Falls and Burney Falls. These two waterfalls are stunning and are close enough that you could do both in one day. I did each one on a separate trip so I wasn’t rushed and could spend as much time as I wanted soaking up all the views and taking in all in. Although these waterfalls are the best in the springtime when there is more water flowing, September is still a great time to hike in Northern California. The leaves start changing, the mornings are cooler and there are normally less people on the trails. Mark a day on your calendar to make the trip to these amazing waterfalls and I promise you wont regret it!

Mossbrae Falls

This waterfall was on the top of my list of must sees this summer. I love moss so this was one waterfall I’d been dying to see. The water falls from a moss covered wall which gives you the feeling you’re in a lush rainforest. Its absolutely stunning! The day of the hike to Mossbrae falls I woke up feeling so excited. My friend Hannah came with me and we left my house by 7am so we could have the entire day to enjoy the waterfall. The drive was about 2.5 hours so we knew we wanted to get an early start. The waterfall is located near the town of Dunsmuir which is located an hour north of Redding off highway 5. We parked off Dunsmuir Road outside of the Shasta Retreat. This road parallels highway 5 and is easy to access. Coming from the south you take the exit onto Dunsmuir Ave and turn left then continue north on Dunsmuir Ave. until you see Scarlet Way to your left with the Shasta Retreat sign overhead. You cannot park down in the Shasta retreat so you park anywhere along Dunsmuir Ave. You then walk down Scarlet way under the Shasta Retreat sign to the bottom of the hill and then veer to the right onto Cave Ave. This road takes you through a residential area of cabins along the Sacramento river. You come to a bridge that takes you across the river and once you go over that bridge turn right before the railroad tracks and follow the tracks down about 1 mile. (Disclaimer: This route is technically trespassing as you are on Union Pacific property and a woman was struck by a train years ago after walking this route, so enter at your own risk.) We stayed as close to the side of the edge on the east side of the tracks and when we heard a train coming we just sat down as far away form the tracks as we could get until it passed by. The train wasn’t going very fast so it wasn’t too scary and we thought it was actually kind of cool. After walking about 1 mile parallel to the tracks you will arrive at a bridge and the falls are just to the right. Do not cross the bridge, turn to your right and you will see a trail leading down to the falls. Currently there is a boulder spray painted with the words Mossbrae Falls and an arrow pointing in the direction. The trail leading down to the falls is short and you will soon be mesmerized by the beautiful mossy falls. We were lucky enough to go on a weekday and were the only ones there so we had the entire place to ourselves. It was truly magical and so serene. The water cascades over the mossy rocks and falls into the river below. The sounds of the rushing water are so peaceful and the seclusion of the falls adds to the tranquil vibes. Mossbrae falls is my absolute favorite waterfall I’ve ever visited. I promise you it’s worth the risk to get there!

Burney Falls

Burney Falls is a more well known waterfall and is a state park located off Highway 89 near the town of Burney. This is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the state and once you visit you can see why. Its not a single waterfall but multiple streams that fall over a wall covered in moss and greenery. Its truly breathtaking and a must see, plus its easy to get to as its only steps form the parking lot. To get there we headed north to Redding then took highway 299 East, then after passing through the town of Burney we took a left on Highway 89 and the entrance is down just a couple miles down on your right. Because it is a state park there is an entrance fee of $10. The plus side is there are restrooms and even a general store where you can grab snacks, drinks and even souvenirs. Once at the parking lot, follow the signs to the waterfall. There are a couple overlooks to view the waterfall which are just a few yards from the parking lot and don’t require any hiking. The best spot in my opinion is front and center at the base of the falls. To get there follow the signs for the loop trail which takes you down to the base of the falls and then loops around and over above the falls and back to the parking lot. We stopped at the base of the falls and walked across the wet rocks and through the mist of the falls to get to the edge of the waterfall pool. We took lots of photos and just admired the beauty of the falls. After taking in the sights, smells, and feel of the waterfall we continued on the loop hike. This is a very mild hike and takes you to see some beautiful serene views all while hearing the thunder of the falling water. After hiking the mile long loop we sat at the overlook spot and enjoyed our lunch with the views of the falls. Make the trip to this gorgeous waterfall-you wont be disappointed!