McCloud Falls
- Height
- 50 ft
- Hike
- 3.5 mi round trip
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Allowed
McCloud Falls flows year-round. McCloud Falls is a 50 ft waterfall on McCloud River in Siskiyou County, California. Reaching it is a 3.5 mi hike round trip.
The falls
| Height | 50 ft |
|---|---|
| Flows | year-round |
| Flow note | Three falls: Lower about 15 ft, Middle over 50 ft and about 100 ft across (highest), Upper from a platform about 90 ft above the river. |
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Water clarity | USFS: Lower Falls pool stays in the low 50s F. |
Access
| Hike | 3.5 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Road note | McCloud River Loop Road (40N44) is not plowed in winter; after heavy snow, park near Hwy 89 and ski or snowshoe in. |
| Parking | Lower Falls Picnic Area / day-use lot about 1 mi off Hwy 89 southeast of McCloud (fork right after Fowlers Campground sign). Bear-proof trash, restrooms, water, picnic tables. |
| Fee | No fee |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Wheelchair access | Lower Falls Picnic Area is ADA accessible. Middle Falls overlook also reachable by vehicle plus an ADA trail from a parking area north of the falls. |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service, Shasta-Trinity National Forest |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | Yes |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Nine picnic sites with tables and vault toilet at Lower Falls; potable water on site. |
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Not allowed |
| Fires | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is McCloud Falls open?
Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
How tall is McCloud Falls?
McCloud Falls drops about 50 ft.
Can you swim at McCloud Falls?
Yes, swimming is allowed at McCloud Falls.
How long is the hike to McCloud Falls?
It's a 3.5 mi hike round trip. The road in is paved. McCloud River Loop Road (40N44) is not plowed in winter; after heavy snow, park near Hwy 89 and ski or snowshoe in. Parking: Lower Falls Picnic Area / day-use lot about 1 mi off Hwy 89 southeast of McCloud (fork right after Fowlers Campground sign). Bear-proof trash, restrooms, water, picnic tables.
Do you need a reservation for McCloud Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at McCloud Falls?
Yes. No fee.
When is McCloud Falls flowing?
It flows year-round. Three falls: Lower about 15 ft, Middle over 50 ft and about 100 ft across (highest), Upper from a platform about 90 ft above the river.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
McCloud Falls is inside Shasta-Trinity National Forest .
Sources
3
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/shasta-trinity/recreation/lower-falls-picnic-area (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager, waterbodyName, access.trailhead, access.hikeDistanceMi, access.hikeDistanceBasis, access.fee, access.hours, access.amenities, access.wheelchairAccess)
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/shasta-trinity/recreation/trails/mccloud-river-trail (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.parking, access.roadNote, rules.dogs, rules.fires, rules.camping, waterfall.heightFt, waterfall.flowNote, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote)
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/regions/Pacific_Southwest/MiddleFalls/index.shtml (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterfall.ephemeral)
More: California waterfalls