California officials have announced that reservations will now be required to visit the state park system's 'crown jewel' due to overcrowding. Visitors to the iconic McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Shasta County must secure a reservation for weekends and holidays during peak season, the California State Parks department confirmed on Friday.
Background on the Falls
The stunning 129-foot waterfall, once described as the 'eighth wonder of the world' by President Theodore Roosevelt, reopened last year after a surge in tourist numbers necessitated extensive repairs costing $835,000. The repairs were deemed 'critical' to address damage caused by the high volume of visitors.
New Reservation Pilot Program
To mitigate the impacts of overcrowding, state officials are launching a pilot program that requires reservations for visits from Friday through Sunday and on holidays during the peak season, which runs from Friday, May 15, through Sunday, September 27. The program aims to reduce strain on the park's resources and infrastructure, as well as improve visitor safety during the busiest summer days, when large crowds often overwhelm the park and surrounding area.
The park will offer 103 parking passes valid between 8 a.m. PT and noon, an additional 103 passes valid between 1 and 5 p.m., and 35 passes valid for the entire day. The cost is $10 per vehicle plus a $1 processing fee.
Official Statements
State Parks Director Armando Quintero emphasized the importance of the new system: 'Burney Falls is a crown jewel of the California State Park System, and we want all visitors to have an enjoyable and memorable experience when visiting this one-of-a-kind destination. By allowing visitors to make a reservation in advance, we can help keep crowds manageable and not push the park's resources past the breaking point. I thank our guests for their understanding as we work together to create a better visitor experience while helping to preserve this iconic place for generations to come.'
Impact of Overcrowding
According to the state parks department, annual visitation to the falls has approximately doubled since 2015. The influx is 'pushing the park beyond a sustainable capacity and creating a host of problems, including an increase in erosion, damage to sensitive vegetation and sacred tribal land, traffic backups, illegal parking, public safety concerns and sanitation issues.' This has led to long lines to enter the park and unsafe traffic conditions on State Route 89, sometimes resulting in two-hour-long traffic jams just to get into the park.
Burney Falls, located about 4.5 hours from San Francisco in the Cascade foothills, has a local population of only around 3,000 residents. During peak season from April to October, the waterfall previously attracted about 250,000 visitors annually, but that number surged to 350,000 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Public Reaction
Locals and park-goers were divided online. Some supported the decision, hoping it would reduce tourist numbers and associated problems. One person wrote on Facebook: 'Good! There were way too many day use flooding the site when others are camping trying to enjoy the falls and lake.' Another added: 'Probably a good idea. When the lots are full people park along the highway and it can be a hazard. Not to mention having to work your way through 1000 people on the trails.'
However, others expressed frustration. One commenter said: 'What a shame what's happening to this beautiful place with trampling and trash by the selfie crowds. I used to be the only one there. Now it's a horrible mob scene. So sad.' Another noted: 'This is frustrating, but also necessary to keep the impact of irresponsible tourists in check.'
Some worried about the impact on locals and accessibility. One person wrote: 'This is a terrible idea. People travel from all over to visit the park. Now there's going to be a waiting list probably a year out. Poor planning CA.' Another added: 'With all the taxes we pay you'd think the STATE PARKS would be able to operate without inconveniencing the people who actually PAY to keep them open!! State Parks belong to the people.'
Others were skeptical about the system's effectiveness: 'You're still going to have a TON of people that don't pay attention or do research before coming. This is not going to curb congestion for a while. Instead, you're going to have people with no reservation or any idea they need one still clogging up the line to get in and then having to turn around to leave.' A local business owner lamented: 'This is a horrible ideal… for the local business that depend on the tourist that come for quick day trips we will definitely be affected. Other parks have tried this and watched a steep decline in day visitors.'
