Burney Falls Featured in New Video
A recent YouTube video showcases Burney Falls Northern California — the 129-foot waterfall in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. The falls maintain year-round flow from underground springs, making it an all-season destination with accessible hiking for most skill levels. It's being highlighted as ideal for manageable yet memorable outdoor experiences.
The falls and surrounding land are sacred to the Ilmawi, one of eleven bands of the Pit River Tribe, who have inhabited the area for thousands of years. The tribe continues to hold the falls as a significant spiritual site for ceremonies and cultural practices. More than 20 locations within the park are listed on the National Register of Historical Places as part of the Lake Britton Archaeological District. President Theodore Roosevelt reportedly called the falls the "eighth wonder of the world." The site was later designated as a National Natural Landmark in December 1984. The park exists today thanks to the descendants of the McArthur family, who were pioneer settlers in the late 19th century. The family purchased 160 acres of the land and gifted it to the state in the 1920s to prevent its development for hydroelectric power. The area is named after Samuel Burney, a settler who lived in the area in the 1850s. Burney was killed near the falls in 1859. The constant 100 million gallons of daily water flow comes from porous, layered volcanic basalt that collects rainwater and snowmelt to form a large underground reservoir. This unique geological formation creates the falls' signature curtain-like appearance. The park has served as a backdrop for Hollywood films. The railroad bridge scene in the 1986 movie *Stand By Me* was filmed over Lake Britton, just outside the park. Additionally, parts of Burney Falls were featured in the 1988 fantasy film *Willow*.
