McCloud Falls Hike
Waterfall | California
4 mi round trip
McCloud Falls Hike at a Glance
The McCloud Falls hike via the McCloud River Trail is 4 mi round trip.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 3,270 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | McCloud River Trail |
| Distance | 4 mi round trip |
Your time: about 1 h 20 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 40 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 750 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 4 mi distance for this hike is verified (mountshastatrailassociation.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About McCloud Falls
McCloud Falls is a waterfall in California, on land managed by Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the McCloud River Trail: 4 miles round trip, from Lower Falls Picnic Area. Distance from mountshastatrailassociation.org.
Before You Go
- No fees are required at this site. (fs.usda.gov)
- Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet in developed sites. (fs.usda.gov)
- Forest Road 40N44 is gated just south of Highway 89 in winter. (mountshastatrailassociation.org)
- Visitors are welcome from sunrise until sunset. (fs.usda.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Shasta-Trinity National Forest for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to McCloud Falls?
The McCloud River Trail to McCloud Falls is 4 miles round trip.
Where does the McCloud Falls hike start?
It starts from Lower Falls Picnic Area.
Is there a fee to hike to McCloud Falls?
No fees are required at this site.
Are dogs allowed on the McCloud Falls trail?
Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet in developed sites.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The McCloud Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- mountshastatrailassociation.org
- Distance
- mountshastatrailassociation.org
- Falls location
- geo.mytopo.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.