If you are visiting the Mt. Shasta area in Northern California, then you don't want to miss McCloud Falls. After visiting for the first time this past May, McCloud Falls has become one of my favorite waterfalls in California! Not only are the falls impressive, but they are also easily accessible. Here is some helpful information if you plan on visiting the three-tiered waterfall.
*When exploring the outdoors, please keep it beautiful by Leaving No Trace*
Getting There
From HWY 89, turn off at Fowlers Campground. Once in the campground area, you will see clear signs for Middle, Lower, and Upper McCloud Falls. Tip: Cell service along HWY 89 is pretty spotty, so make sure you have McCloud Falls entered into Google Maps before starting your trip.
You can visit the tiers in whatever order you prefer. I did Middle McCloud Falls first, then Lower, and then Upper.
Experiencing the Waterfalls
You can access the falls via the McCloud River Falls Trail, a 3.5-mile out and back hike that passes all three of the waterfalls, or, you can drive right up to each tier individually. I chose to drive up to each tier. While at Middle McCloud Falls, I did the short hike down to the base of the falls, which I highly recommend!
If you choose to do the McCloud Falls hike, you can access the trail at Lower McCloud Falls. The trail is well maintained and is rated as easy to moderate.
Middle McCloud Falls
If you only have time to visit one section of McCloud Falls, then I would recommend Middle Falls. It's the biggest and arguably the prettiest of the three tiers. The view from the overlook is lovely, but if you really want to be wowed, then take the short and easy hike down to the base of the falls.
Once at the base, you'll be rewarded with some pretty spectacular scenery. You can get as close to the falls as you want, and you can even go swimming, as long as you don't mind the cold water! Keep in mind that the rocks around the falls are quite slippery.
*Always use caution when swimming next to a waterfall.
Lower McCloud Falls
Lower McCloud Falls was my second favorite of the three tiers. While not as high and wide as Middle Falls, it's still a beautiful and unique-looking waterfall. It's also the most accessible, just walk down a flight of stairs and you're right next to the falls! I've read that that Lower Falls is a popular spot for swimming. While I didn't see anyone swimming when I visited, I did notice quite a few people fishing at this tier.
Upper McCloud Falls
In my opinion, Upper Falls was a bit underwhelming (at least from the overlook), but it's still worth a quick stop. I did see a trail that led to the base of the falls, but it looked very steep and sketchy, so I opted not to do it. If you chose to do the dicey hike down, I would imagine you would encounter some stunning scenery at the bottom of the falls, and perhaps an opportunity to swim!
Where to Stay
There are quite a few budget-friendly hotels and motels in the Mt. Shasta area. During my visit to McCloud Falls, I stayed at Cold Creek Inn and Swiss Holiday Lodge. I would recommend either hotel, as both were comfortable and clean. If you're looking to be right in downtown Mt. Shasta, I would choose Cold Creek Inn.
Nearby Attractions
Lake Siskiyou
Only 45 minutes from McCloud Falls, Lake Siskiyou has outstanding views of Mount Shasta in the background and is a popular spot for camping, fishing, and water sports.
Burney Falls
Also located off HWY 89, Burney Falls is only an hour south of McCloud Falls; so you can visit both of these gorgeous waterfalls in one day!. Check out my guide to Burney Falls here.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to visiting McCloud Falls in Northern California. Let me know what some of your favorite waterfalls are in California in the comments section! Also, be sure to subscribe to the blog so that you don’t miss the latest blog posts, videos, and other good stuff!
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Please enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
Always practice the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace.
