Hatchet Creek Falls
- Height
- 25 ft
- Hike
- 0.25 mi each way
- Permit
- Required
Hatchet Creek Falls drops about 25 ft on Hatchet Creek in Shasta County, California. Reaching it is a 0.25 mi hike each way.
Closures and warnings
Do not enter. Access is across private property and remains closed. Officials have issued trespassing citations. Upstream scrub routes are unsafe (rattlesnakes, poison oak, no maintenance). As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 25 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | Also called Lion Slide Falls (~25 ft; WWD lidar). Historic climb-and-jump tree when open. USGS adopted Lion Slide Falls in 1995. |
| Swimming allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
Access
| Hike | 0.25 mi each way |
|---|---|
| Road note | Former approach: Big Bend Road off Hwy 299 between Montgomery Creek and Burney (~0.8 mi to a pullout before the bridge). Falls on private land closed since 2020. |
| Parking | Former roadside pullout on Big Bend Road; no public parking or trail access while closed. |
| Fee | No public day-use fee; private property closed to visitors since 2020. |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Seasonal closure | Closed to the public since 2020. Property owners blocked the trail after break-ins, litter, and an apparent arson; trespass citations reported. |
| Managed by | Private land (access closed to the public) |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Hatchet Creek Falls open?
Do not enter. Access is across private property and remains closed. Officials have issued trespassing citations. Upstream scrub routes are unsafe (rattlesnakes, poison oak, no maintenance). As of September 28, 2026. Seasonal closure: Closed to the public since 2020. Property owners blocked the trail after break-ins, litter, and an apparent arson; trespass citations reported.
How tall is Hatchet Creek Falls?
Hatchet Creek Falls drops about 25 ft.
Can you swim at Hatchet Creek Falls?
No, swimming is not allowed at Hatchet Creek Falls.
How long is the hike to Hatchet Creek Falls?
It's a 0.25 mi hike each way. Former approach: Big Bend Road off Hwy 299 between Montgomery Creek and Burney (~0.8 mi to a pullout before the bridge). Falls on private land closed since 2020. Parking: Former roadside pullout on Big Bend Road; no public parking or trail access while closed.
Do you need a reservation for Hatchet Creek Falls?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Hatchet Creek Falls?
The fee is No public day-use fee; private property closed to visitors since 2020.
When is Hatchet Creek Falls flowing?
Also called Lion Slide Falls (~25 ft; WWD lidar). Historic climb-and-jump tree when open. USGS adopted Lion Slide Falls in 1995.
Nearby
Nearby
Camping nearby
Fishing nearby
Public land
Just outside: Shasta-Trinity National Forest (0.5 mi) .
Sources
5
- https://www.activenorcal.com/property-owners-close-hatchet-creek-falls-to-the-public/ (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / access.seasonalClosure, waterfall.heightFt, waterfall.flowNote, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, access.fee)
- https://www.activenorcal.com/will-hatchet-creek-falls-ever-reopen-to-the-public/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.seasonalClosure, hazardNote, access.permitRequired)
- https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Lion-Slide-Falls-7262 (accessed September 30, 2026; backs waterfall.heightFt, waterfall.flowNote)
- https://www.activenorcal.com/hatchet-creek-falls-the-best-swimming-hole-in-northern-california/ (accessed September 30, 2026; backs waterbodyName, swimmerNotes.waterType, access.roadNote / access.parking)
- https://www.yiftahshahar.com/2021/11/hatchet-creek-falls-shasta-county.html (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.hikeDistanceMi / access.hikeDistanceBasis)
More: California waterfalls