McArthur‑Burney Falls starts May 15 reservations
- California State Parks said McArthur‑Burney Falls will require day-use reservations starting Friday, May 15, on Fridays, weekends, and holidays through Sept. 27. - The pilot costs $10 per vehicle plus fees, with 103 morning, 125 afternoon, and 125 sunset-entry reservations released through ReserveCalifornia. - Burney Falls has been hitting capacity, triggering Highway 89 backups, illegal parking, and midday closures during the park’s busiest summer stretch.
McArthur-Burney Falls is doing something a lot of California parks have been inching toward for years — timed access when crowds get too big to manage with a normal gate fee. Starting Friday, May 15, day visitors will need a reservation on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and that runs through Sunday, Sept. 27. Weekdays stay first-come, first-served. The point is simple: fewer traffic jams, fewer surprise closures, and a better shot at actually seeing the falls instead of getting turned around at the entrance. (parks.ca.gov) ### Why this park? Burney Falls is one of those places that breaks normal park logistics. The waterfall itself is 129 feet tall, but the real issue is volume — huge numbers of people all trying to arrive in a pretty tight window on hot-weather weekends. State Parks says visitation spikes from April through October, and many summer weekends already end with the park at capacity. (sfgate.com)p)) ### What exactly changes on May 15? If you’re coming just for the day, you’ll need to book ahead for peak days. The reservation rule applies only to Friday through Sunday and holidays during the pilot season. Monday through Thursday visits do not require a reservation. This is a day-use system, not a blanket rule for every kind of visit. (parks.ca.gov)ows. There are 103 morning reservations for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 125 afternoon reservations for 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and 125 sunset reservations for 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The base price is $10 per vehicle, plus a processing fee, and bookings go through ReserveCalifornia. Basically, it’s timed parking access dressed as a day-use pass. (activenor([parks.ca.gov)aunching-a-reservation-system-this-summer-to-tame-the-crowds/)) ### Who doesn’t need one? Campers with existing reservations, cabin guests, and visitors arriving by bus, bicycle, or on foot are not part of the day-use reservation requirement. That matters because the state is trying to target the biggest congestion source — private vehicles showing up all at once — not every person entering the park. (parks.ca. ([activenorcal.com)iliar if you’ve been there lately — long lines on State Route 89, illegal roadside parking, overflowing restrooms, packed trails, and the park shutting its gate once lots fill up. State Parks says cars can back up for up to an hour before entry on busy days, and parking along Highway 89 for a mile in either direction is illegal and can get vehicles cited or towed. (parks.ca.gov) ### Is this permanent? Not yet. The state is calling it a pilot program, which means this summer is effectively a test. If it smooths out access and cuts the worst crowding problems, it becomes much easier to argue for keeping it, tweaking it, or exporting the model to other high-demand parks. Burney Falls is not the first California park to experiment with controlled access, but this is a notable sign that the old “just show up early” system is failing at marquee sites. (parks.ca.gov) ### So what should visitors do now? If your trip lands on a peak day, plan it like a concert ticket, not a casual roadside stop. Pick an arrival window, book early, and don’t assume you can improvise at the gate. The catch is that weekdays remain the easier play if you want flexibility. (parks.ca.gov) The bottom line is that Burney Falls isn’t closing off access — it’s rationi(parks.ca.gov)ummer weekend. For visitors, that means a little more planning. For the park, it’s a test of whether reservations can protect both the experience and the place. (parks.ca.gov)
