Pictures are up for the three parks we saw on our last trip but I’m still working on the write-up.  In the meantime, we thought we’d share one of the awesome places we saw outside the parks . . .  Burney Falls in northern California.

It was around six in the evening when we stopped at Burney Falls, with less than an hour left on our drive to our Manzanita Lake campsite in Lassen Volcanic NP.  We really wanted to see the falls and needed a break after a couple hours of driving but hadn’t had dinner yet and were quickly heading for a late arrival to camp (just like Crater Lake a couple nights ago :- ).  So, just a quick stop, right?  Nope, this place is GORGEOUS!

There is a decent viewpoint near the parking lot but hiking the short ways down to the base of the falls is definitely worth it.  Not to mention it was a hot evening and it got significantly cooler and more comfortable as you descended.  There was even a water fountain along the trail.

   

The falls look like they belong in Hawaii and with good reason.  In addition to the main waterfall, the porous volcanic rock in the area lets the water above seep down and out the face of the cliff in a thousand additional streams.  The cliff is lush and green as a result.  Absolutely stunning – probably one of my top three favorite waterfalls I’ve ever seen!

 

Suffice to say, we took a ton of photos and hung out quite a while, mainly at the base of the falls.  Burney Falls is on the Pacific Crest Trail and in retrospect we wish we had stopped to chat with some of the folks hanging out who were no doubt thru-hikers.  We did introduce our kids to the novelty of a payphone though!  There is a campground here too, which would be a good alternative to staying in Lassen.  In any case, if you are remotely in the area, go see Burney Falls.

(And if you were wondering, we had cereal for dinner at 9pm by lantern light)