Chasing Waterfalls (and Volcanoes)

What I love most about California is that we are one of the most geographically diverse places in the entire world. Whether it’s the blazing desert of Death Valley, the cloud-like snow in the Sierra Nevada, or the gleaming white sand beaches along the Pacific Ocean, we truly have it all here in the golden state. And living here means easy access to all California has to offer. Despite having lived in California for most of my life, every year I find a new hidden treasure in a far-reaching corner of the state.

This year, my adventures took me to Shasta County in far northern California to see 5 spectacular waterfalls. I had first heard of these waterfalls after I stumbled across a video article compiled by a local bay area reporter who had gotten the inspiration to visit the waterfalls after reading another article in National Geographic detailing the falls. Her adventure inspired me and my girlfriend to do the same. So on the Sunday before this past Memorial Day, we decided to take the 3.5 hours trip from the Bay Area up Interstate 5 to Redding, which would act as our home base for the weekend.

Day 1 - Redding

For those of you who are not familiar with the city of Redding, it’s basically at the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley before you hit higher altitude terrain near the Oregon border. The town has a surprisingly large population (~92,000) and is home to a few interesting landmarks, particularly the impressive Sundial bridge (pictured below), which crosses the Sacramento River, and Bethel Church, a well-known non-denominational mega-church which many of my fellow Christians have probably heard of. On the opposite end of the sundial bridge was a nice botanical garden which was very pretty to explore in the early evening hours just before sunset.

Day 2 - The Falls

Stop 1 - Hedge Creek Falls

After getting a good night’s rest and fueling up on some breakfast, we headed out for our full-day adventure, with the goal of seeing all five waterfalls on our list before the sun set. Our first stop was Hedge Creek Falls, located just off Insterate 5, just under an hour north of Redding. Along the drive, we were able to get glimpses of the gorgeous Mt. Shasta, one of the most iconic mountains in California.

Once we exited the freeway, we pulled into a small dirt lot and took a short hike down a well-groomed trail to the falls. While not a particularly large and heavy flowing waterfall, it was still gorgeous to see in the mid-morning lighting. The trail also wraps under the falls so you get to view it from multiple different perspectives.

Stop 2 (and 3 & 4) - McCloud Falls

The next stop on our journey was to see McCloud Falls, which is actually a combination of 3 different waterfalls flowing down the McCloud River. After a slight detour to the city of Mt. Shasta to grab some lunch from a local market and empty our bladders, we made the short 30 minute drive further into the mountains to the base of Lower McCloud Falls. While slightly more impressive than Hedge Creek, the falls were still small enough that an experienced rafter or kayaker could’ve probably made the plunge.

We then set out on foot towards the middle and upper falls, enjoying some gorgeous scenery and run ins with some wild deer along the way. The hike was definitely worth the reward. Middle McCloud Falls did not dissappoint! The image below does not do the sheer power and beauty of the falls justice.

We then continued our hike to the upper falls which was admittedly not as fantastic, but still awe-inspiring nonetheless. After hiking back to our car, we set out on the lengthy drive to our final destination - Burney Falls.

Stop 5 - Burney Falls

After spending over an hour on a long windy two-lane road through forest stuck behind a slow truck, we finally made it to Burney Falls. And I must say, the drive was well worth it! The falls traversed an enormously wide space, with two main waterfalls amongst many smaller falls leaking out from tiny rivulets behind the rocks. Of note, there is a $10 parking fee to get into the park, but it’s well worth it to see the falls. There are also ample picnic tables and space to hang out/walk around and a store that sells memorabilia and soft serve ice cream!

Ultimately, seeing the waterfalls in a day requires lots of driving and stamina, but it’s a must-see California attraction.

Day 3 - Lassen Volcanic National Park

As exciting as visiting the waterfalls were, our trip did not end there. We set our sites on hiking Lassen Peak, a once active volcano which exploded in the early 1900s. As we were driving to the trailhead, we discovered the road leading to the trailhead was still closed for clearing of ice/snow that accumulated over the winter months. Despite this setback, we decided to press on - but boy were we in for a crazy drive. While the route from Redding started on a well-maintainted highway, our GPS quickly took us on a less maintained one lane road through the middle of chaparral-like landscape with next to nothing around. The road traversed some steep terrain, which pushed my girlfriend’s tiny Toyota Yaris to it’s limit, but I’m glad to say we made it in one piece!

Once we arrived at Lassen Peak Volcanic National Park, our suspicions were confirmed by the fee collector - most of the road running through the park was closed. So instead of pushing our bodies to hike up a 10,000 foot mountain, we decided to splend a leisurely afternoon strolling through the visitor and soaking up the lovely smell of bubbling sulfur on display at the park. While Lassen does not align with the traditional national park vibe that you would get from other well-known California parks like Yosemite, Sequoia and Joshua Tree, it’s untouched beauty and unique volcanic roots and sulfuric geothermal areas make it quite fascinating and somewhere I would love to visit again once the roads open for the summer.

I must say, I was utterly amazed at the sheer beauty and power that the Northern California waterfalls and Lassen Volcanic National Park had to offer only a few hours away from my home. I tell many folks that I have a love-hate relationship with my home state. Everyday life is a constant battle with expensive living, ultra-liberal politics, and a fast-paced lifestyle that wears and tears on your body and mind. But after this trip, I cn’t help but boast about being a proud Californian. Who knows where my next California adventure will take me, but I’m sure it’ll have lots of surprises in store :)