McArthur‑Burney Falls starts reservations May 15
- California State Parks said Friday that McArthur-Burney Falls will require advance day-use reservations on Fridays, weekends, and holidays from May 15 through Sept. 27. (parks.ca.gov) - The pilot caps entry at 241 vehicle passes daily — 103 for mornings, 103 for afternoons, and 35 all-day — with no same-day bookings. (parks.ca.gov) - The shift matters because Burney Falls routinely hits capacity in summer, causing long Highway 89 backups, closures, and strain on the park. (parks.ca.gov)
A California state park is doing something a lot of visitors probably hoped would never happen but could see coming — Burney Falls is moving part of summer day use onto reservation(parks.ca.gov)State Park will require advance reservations for day visitors on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through Sunday, Sept. 27. The(parks.ca.gov)nce, and the park says the crowding is now bad enough to hurt both the experience and the place itself. (parks.ca.gov)n Monday through Thursday during the summer window, and no reservation is needed before May 15 or after September. But on Fridays, weekends, and major summer holidays — Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day — day users will need to book in advance. Reservations opened May 1. (parks.ca.gov) ### How many people will get in? The system is really a parking-pass system. The park plans to issue 103 vehicle passes for entry between 8 a.m. and noon, another 103 for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 35 all-da(parks.ca.gov) though the park says those numbers could be adjusted as it learns from the pilot. (parks.ca.gov) ### What does it cost? The fee is basically the normal day-use charge plus a booking fee. The park’s main announcement says $10 per vehicle plus a $1 processing fee, while the park post lists a 55-cent processing fee — so the exact add-on may depend on (parks.ca.gov)bled discounts still apply if eligible, and annual pass holders still have to reserve a spot. Same-day reservations will not be allowed. (parks.ca.gov) ### Why is Burney Falls doing this now? Because Burney Falls has been getting hammered in peak season. The park already warns that most summer weeke(parks.ca.gov)p for up to an hour, and that people arriving late may find the entrance closed. Parking on the highway is illegal and can get vehicles cited or towed. So this is less a convenience feature than a crowd-control tool. (parks.ca.gov) ### Who does not need a separate reservation? Campers and cabin guests are the big exception. If you a(parks.ca.gov)ss is included automatically. Boat users are trickier — passenger vehicles towing a boat still need an advance reservation for day use and then pay launch fees on arrival, and they have to park in the marina lot. (parks.ca.gov) ### What vehicles are affected? This pilot is aimed at standard day visitors in standard cars. The park says vehicles must fit in one regular parking sp(parks.ca.gov)d tour buses or commercial groups need pre-approved permits. (parks.ca.gov) ### Why does this matter beyond one park? Because Burney Falls is turning a familiar California summer ritual — just drive up and hope — into a managed-entry system. That is usually what parks do when popularity starts colliding with safety, parking, and(parks.ca.gov)uces the crush at the falls, picnic areas, and trailheads, it could become the model for other high-demand state parks too. That last part is an inference, but the logic is pretty clear. (parks.ca.gov) ### Bottom line If Burney Falls is on your summer list, spontaneity is no longer the safe plan on(parks.ca.gov)t. 27, the busiest visits now start with a reservation, not a road trip. (parks.ca.gov)
