Updated July 2026
Lower McCloud Falls
Lower McCloud Falls is a wide, roughly 12-foot block waterfall on the McCloud River, the first of three falls connected by the McCloud River Falls Trail in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It has a paved overlook and a popular swimming pool below.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Shasta-Trinity National Forest for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lower McCloud Falls drops about 12 feet. That makes it the 657th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 4% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The McCloud River Falls Trail reaches it about 3.8 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 341 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is McCloud. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Shasta-Trinity National Forest for closures and current conditions.
Spring through summer. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More California waterfalls
- Alamere Falls · 40 ft
- Bassi Falls · 109 ft
- Berry Creek Falls · 70 ft
- Big Falls · 500 ft
- Bridalveil Fall · 617 ft
- Burney Falls · 129 ft
- Carlon Falls · 35 ft
- Cascade Falls · 200 ft
Sources
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