How To Hike To The Base Of Middle McCloud Fall
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Middle McCloud Fall is just one of three beautiful waterfalls, collectively known as McCloud Falls, along the McCloud River about 45 minutes from the town of Burney.
Being that there’s two more waterfalls, you may be wondering why i’m only writing about the middle fall in this post. There reason is simple…it’s my favorite.
I have a post dedicated to the three falls as a whole. If you’re interested in reading that one, you can do so here.
In that post, I state near the end of article that if you only have time to visit just one of these, make it the middle fall.
On top of that, of the three, the middle fall is the only one that requires any real effort to reach the base (you can drive to all three but the middle one requires a small hike to reach it).
So in this post, i’m going to cover where to find parking, what to expect along the trail and what it’s like at the base of the fall. Let’s get into it!
Quick Stats
Location: McCloud, CA (45 minutes from Burney Falls)
Fee: None
Permit: None
Open: Spring, summer & fall
For: Hikers, swimmers, sightseers
Restroom: At the trailhead
Parking: Large, paved lot
EV Stations: None
Difficulty: Easy
Popularity: Medium to high
Mileage: 0.8-mile, out-and-back
Time: 1-3 hours (depending how much you spend at the fall)
Elevation Gain: 157-feet
Condition: Maintained & easy to follow
Features: Waterfall and great swimming hole
Pets: Allowed on leash
Drones: No signage stating you can’t use them
Hazards: Boulder field near the base and submerged boulders in the swimming hole
Our Visit(s): September 2019 and May 2022
Getting There and Parking
Middle McCloud Fall is fairy easy to get to. If you’re coming from the town of Burney:
Drive north on highway 89 for about 40-miles
Turn left onto Fowler Public Camp road
Continue for about a half-mile
Then turn left onto an unnamed, paved service road (you’ll see signage indicating the way)
If you’re coming from the Dunsmuir:
Drive south on highway 89 for about 22-miles
Turn right onto Fowler Public Camp road for a half-mile
Turn left onto the same unnamed service road.
Each of the three falls have their own paved parking lots but the middle one is the largest. It could easily fit dozens of vehicles plus some RV’s and buses.
You’ll find the trailhead directly adjacent to the bathrooms.
Trail To The Vista
For those who don’t want to make the trek down to the bottom, the middle fall can be viewed from above at the vista.
The trail to the vista is paved and is able to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. There are two of them to choose from.
For most people, this is as far as they’ll go. The view of the falls from up there is nice but to get the true experience, you’ll want to hike down to the base.
Trail To The Base
Finding the beginning of the trail to the base can be a bit tricky. Especially if you aren’t paying attention (like me during our first visit).
The dirt path to the base spurs off from the paved trail that leads to the second vista. Right as the paved path elbows, look to your right (pictured above).
The dead giveaway are the rocks lining the right side of the trial, forming a path. How I missed that the first time I’ll never know.
*Side Note: There is no sign pointing the way. So keep an eye out for those rocks you see in the photo above.
From there, it’s only 0.4-mile down to the bottom. Accounting for a few stops to take pictures, it shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes or so.
Shortly after finding the trail, you’ll encounter a set of wooden stairs. After this, the trail continues its descent via a series of switchbacks.
The trail, while a bit rocky in some spots, is well maintained and easy to follow. There are no steep points as the switchbacks are gradual.
When you reach the bottom, you'll come to a junction. Going right will take you down to Lower McCloud Falls (about a mile out).
To continue to the middle fall, head left (you should have the waterfall in your line of sight as this point).
At the end of the trail, you’ll see a large boulder field in front of you. If you want to swim near the waterfall, you’ll need to negotiate it.
Most of the boulders are positioned fairly close to one another, so getting through it isn’t too difficult. Young children may have a tough time, though.
Once on the other side, you’ll have unobstructed views of Middle McCloud Fall and its pool. I was fortunate enough to have it all too myself.
The scenery is amazing. Huge, towering alpines surround you while the water pours over the crest and down the large basalt rock wall into the pool below.
If you plan to swim, I do caution you to watch for the submerged boulders and to wear water shoes as there’s tons of debris in the water.
When you’re done, simply head back up the same way you came. While you’ll definitely notice the incline going out, it’s still an easy trek.
I stand firm that the middle fall is the best of the three and if you only have time for one, to make it this one. You won’t regret it.
If you want to make it a point to see all three waterfalls and hike the trail connecting them, check out our post, “McCloud River Falls: Three Fantastic Waterfalls In One Hike”
Your Thoughts…
What do you think of Middle McCloud Falls? Does this seem like a waterfall/hiking trail you and your family would enjoy?
Let us know in the comments below! We love to hear from our readers.
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