McCloud Falls

McCloud Falls is a triple-waterfall experience on the McCloud River near Mount Shasta, offering three distinct waterfalls connected by a scenic 3.9-mile trail. Lower McCloud Falls drops 15 feet into a wide, swimmable pool. Middle McCloud Falls is the showpiece: a massive 50-foot-tall, 100-foot-wide horseshoe-shaped curtain of water that is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Northern California. Upper McCloud Falls plunges 30 feet into a deep, narrow pool framed by volcanic basalt columns. Each falls has its own character and swimming hole.

The McCloud River Trail connects all three waterfalls through a gorgeous forest of pine, fir, and cedar along the bright blue McCloud River. The trail is mostly flat and easy, with the 1.2-mile stretch between Lower and Middle Falls paved and wheelchair accessible. Each waterfall has its own parking area and overlook, so visitors can also drive between them. The ADA-compliant viewpoints at all three falls make this one of the most accessible multi-waterfall hikes in the state.

The falls flow year-round, with peak volume from April through June. Summer is the best time for swimming at the Lower and Middle Falls pools, where the water warms to a refreshing but still brisk temperature. The McCloud River Loop Road closes from December 15 through March due to snow. Cliff-jumping is extremely dangerous due to submerged boulders and is strongly discouraged. Fowlers Campground sits between the Lower and Middle Falls.