McArthur-Burney Falls weekend reservations
- California State Parks said McArthur-Burney Falls will require advance day-use reservations on Fridays, weekends, and holidays from May 15 through Sept. 27. - The pilot sets 241 vehicle slots a day — 103 for mornings, 103 for afternoons, and 35 all-day passes — at $10 plus fees. - Visits have doubled in a decade, and summer weekends now routinely trigger closures, traffic backups, erosion, and illegal parking.
Burney Falls is one of those places that used to feel like a sure thing. You drove up, paid at the gate, and hoped the lot wasn’t already full. But that stop-and-pray system has been breaking down for years. Now California State Parks is changing it: starting Friday, May 15, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park will require advance day-use reservations on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through Sunday, Sept. 27. (parks.ca.gov) ### What exactly changed? The big change is simple — on peak summer days, you can’t just show up for a day visit anymore. You need a reservation bought in advance through the Burney Falls page on the state parks system. Monday through Thursday still work the old way, and overnight guests with campground or cabin reservations do not need a separate day-use booking. (parks([parks.ca.gov)hen do reservations apply? The pilot starts May 15, 2026 and runs through Sept. 27, 2026. It covers Fridays through Sundays plus Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Outside that window — and on Monday through Thursday during the summer — no day-use reservation is required. (parks.ca.gov) ### How many spots are th(parks.ca.gov)rol point. Each reservation is for one vehicle, one day. The park will issue 103 passes for 8 a.m. to noon, 103 passes for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 35 all-day passes. That is 241 vehicle reservations total, though the park says those quantities can be adjusted as the pilot rolls out. (parks.ca.g([parks.ca.gov)at does it cost? The base price is $10 per vehicle plus a $1 processing fee. Senior and disabled discounts still apply if you qualify, and annual pass holders still need a reservation even if their entry fee is covered. Same-day reservations are not allowed, which is the catch for spontaneous road-trip people — if you wake up and decide to go, you may already be out of luck. (parks.ca.gov) ### Why is the park doing this now? Because Burney Falls has outgrown the old first-come system. State Parks says visitation has doubled over the last decade, and the park now regularly gets overwhelmed on summer weekends. When that happens, the problems pile up fast — traffic backups, illegal parking, restroom lines, trail crowding, erosion, and damage to vegetation arou(parks.ca.gov)es in the state. (sierradailynews.com) ### Why does parking matter so much? Because parking is really the bottleneck for the whole experience. Burney Falls is remote, but that doesn’t protect it anymore — viral travel videos and social posts have turned it into a destination (sierradailynews.com)efore the park hits the same midday chaos. (parks.ca.gov) ### Who still has special rules? Boaters bringing a trailer for day use can come, but they still need an advance reservation and must park in the marina day-use lot after paying boat launch fees. Oversized vehicles, RVs, buses, and most other trailers are not allowed during the day-use reservation period. Commercial tour groups also need pre-approved permits. (parks.ca.g([parks.ca.gov)t should visitors do? If you want Burney Falls on a summer weekend, plan it like a timed-entry park now. Pick a date, reserve early, and don’t assume a pass will be waiting later. The bottom line is that California is testing whether a famous waterfall can stay visitable only if access gets a little less casual. (parks.ca.gov)
