Pioneer Camp

About

Pioneer Camp is situated within McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, California's second oldest state park established in 1926. The campground provides access to the park's centerpiece, the magnificent 129-foot Burney Falls, which flows at 100 million gallons per day from underground springs. The park features five miles of hiking trails winding through evergreen forest, including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Lake Britton offers boating, fishing, swimming, and beach access. The campground operates with reservations available mid-May through Labor Day, while the off-season runs first-come, first-served from Labor Day through mid-May. The park experiences extremely high visitation from April through October, often reaching capacity on summer weekends. Facilities include restrooms with showers, an RV dump station, and the Burney Falls General Store operated by Vista Recreation. The park enforces a strict 32-foot maximum vehicle length for both day-use and camping. Pets are restricted to the campground, parking lots, and paved roadways only and are not permitted on trails or beach areas. The park is located in the Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau region, featuring volcanic basalt formations and a landscape created by ancient volcanic activity. Heritage Day is celebrated annually on Columbus Day weekend with demonstrations of 19th-century pioneer activities.

Directions

The park is northeast of Redding, six miles north of Highway 299 on Highway 89 near Burney.