Donated to the state in 1920, the McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is considered California’s second oldest state park. Located in northern California and still influenced by the lower reaches of the Cascade Mountain Range, descendants of the McArthur and Burney families set aside this falls area and its surroundings from would-be developers. Thought to be one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the state, the park creates a marvelous memorial to early California pioneers, Samuel Burney and the McArthur family. Killed by natives in the mid 1800s, the Burney name lives on in the town, a nearby mountain, and the Burney Creek and falls.
   The area, covered in black volcanic rock, allows rain and snowmelt to seep into the park's porous landscape. This underground aquifer feeds Burney Springs and the creek, and eventually drops over Burney Falls. The park, offering camping, fishing, water sports, and five miles of hiking trails, is centered on the constant flowing 129 foot Burney Falls. Not far from area parking, several trails allow visitors to enjoy plenty of viewpoints in and around the falls. The falls loop trail leads hikers to the falls, as well as down canyon to views of Lake Britton. The Pioneer's Cemetery hike, covering three miles, leads through a mixed forest of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and the pleasant aroma of cedar. A Junior Park Rangers program not only introduces youngsters to the life of a park ranger, but also helps convey details of the park which are often overlooked.

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