Ten Best Waterfall Hikes in California State Parks
Follow the sound of falling water.
Few things in nature stop us in our tracks quite like a waterfall.
Maybe it’s the thunder of water meeting stone. Maybe it’s the cool mist on your face after a long climb. Or maybe it’s something less measurable—the way falling water seems to reset the mind, quiet the noise, and remind us why we go outside in the first place.
In California, we’re spoiled.
From year-round cataracts that roar through volcanic canyons to ephemeral springtime ribbons that vanish as quickly as they appear, our state parks offer a gallery of falling water in every form imaginable. Some are world-famous—President Theodore Roosevelt called Burney Falls “the eighth wonder of the world.” Others require a bit more wandering, a willingness to follow a trail just to see what’s around the bend.
That’s part of the appeal.
This week, I’m sharing ten of my favorite waterfall hikes in California State Parks—ranging from thundering showstoppers to quiet, seasonal surprises. And yes, narrowing it to ten was an act of discipline. There are at least ten more waiting in the wings.
For now, lace up.
We’re heading for the sound of falling water.
Burney Falls: Hike to the “Eighth Wonder of the World”
President Theodore Roosevelt once proclaimed Burney Falls “the eighth wonder of the world.” A bold claim, but one look at the 129-foot curtain of whitewater—two great cataracts flanked by dozens of shimmering plumes springing straight from the rock—and you realize he wasn’t exaggerating much. Burney Falls isn’t just another waterfall, it’s a spectacle, a showstopper.
For decades it was a bit of an out-of-the-way wonder. Travelers had to seek it out, winding along Highway 89 north of Lassen. That all changed in the 2020s, when Burney Falls went viral on TikTok. Instagrammers struck poses in the mist, videos racked up millions of views, and suddenly the “eighth wonder” was attracting the kind of crowds usually reserved for the Magic Kingdom. So many visitors clogged the highway and pounded down the trails that California State Parks shut down access in 2024, citing “erosion from high visitation”—a very polite way of saying the internet broke the falls.
But Burney Falls has been drawing awe long before hashtags. Native people considered the site sacred. The Ilmawi, a band of the Pit River Tribe, held villages nearby and believed the falls to be a place of spiritual power. Later, hydroelectric developers saw it as a literal power spot, aiming to harness Burney Creek. Pit River Dam Number Three created Lake Britton downstream, but the falls themselves were saved from development thanks to local rancher Frank McArthur, who in 1922 donated the land to the state. The park honors his pioneer parents, John and Catherine McArthur.
Roosevelt wasn’t alone in his wonder. Early park promoters called the falls “California’s own Niagara,” a stretch perhaps, but you can see the impulse. Hike 1.75 miles, stand at the overlook on a summer’s day and watch the sun light the spray into rainbows while cool canyon mist washes over you—it does feel like another world.
McWay Falls: Big Sur’s Big One
Every hiker has their “wow” moment, and McWay Falls is one of mine. Imagine this: a 100-foot ribbon of water tumbling from granite cliffs directly into the Pacific, framed by turquoise surf and the rugged Big Sur coast. If that doesn’t land it on The Trailmaster’s List of Top Ten Romantic Hikes in California, I don’t know what does. It’s the kind of scene where couples propose, poets pause mid-sentence, and photographers feel they’ve died and gone to heaven.
For most travelers, “Big Sur” means Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, but ten miles south lies this smaller jewel—Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Don’t skip it. In just over four square miles, you’ll find a redwood grove, dramatic headlands, secluded coves, and coastal views that make you shake your head in disbelief. And of course, that waterfall.
The park honors Julia Pfeiffer Burns, a Big Sur pioneer who ran cattle with her husband, John Burns, on steep mountain slopes that today seem fit only for condors and mountain lions. She was remembered for her grit, her kindness, and her fierce devotion to the Big Sur backcountry. Her name lives on here, thanks in part to the wealthy Lathrop and Helen Brown, who built a home (Waterfall House) on this land in the 1940s, then donated it to the state with the wish that the park be named after Julia.
From the park’s day-use lot, you can sample two short trails: the famed McWay Falls Trail and, just up the road, the Partington Cove Trail, where a narrow tunnel leads to a rocky inlet once used by smugglers and later by loggers to load redwood lumber onto schooners. Together, they offer a compact but unforgettable taste of Big Sur’s wild spirit.
Footnotes
Read the full story: Ten Waterfall Hikes in California State Parks
A waterfall is beautiful, a hiker fall is not. Check out The Trailmaster’s Tips for Waterfall Safety
Hike On,
John McKinney
The Trailmaster
