McCloud Falls - Upper Fall — Attraction in Mount Shasta

Relaxing and scenic hike

McCloud consists of 3 falls: lower fall which is short - popular for picnics,camping and has a natural swimming pool; middle fall which is wider also has a pool, and a small rock canyon for the upper falls drops 25 feet of stronger falls.

McCloud Falls, a trio of waterfalls sitting on the upper McCloud River, offers a quieter and more secluded swimming hole in relation to their counterparts downstream. Though its height is not impressive, the falls and pool sit on a deep basalt rimmed bowl.

Above the Upper Falls, the river runs into a narrow gorge constricting the flow of water to gush out of the short 15-foot fall. Nice thing about this is that the bowl and swimming hole are shaded most part of the day, a fantastic retreat during summer.

MIDDLE FALLS hike is 0.7 mile or 150 yards above. This trail is popular for hiking, walking, nature trips and birding. It is a scenic waterfall that stretches across the rocky edge and 40 feet drop. It also has an inviting pool and swimming hold at the base of the fall characterize by basalt boulders

When we visited the falls in summer, I took an hour hike or so around the 3 falls. The scenes are captivating, the sounds of water falling are soothing music to the ears, so musical and calm. Visiting McCloud, the hike makes the trip complete. Well worth it.

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From the parking lot to the top of the third falls and back down again takes around 1.5 hours. The second falls is definitely the prettiest. Despite being a relatively easy hike, there's a 60 yard section just before the upper falls that is only about 2-3 feet wide with a sheer drop off on the righthand side. There's a second section before the middle falls that has a rail. Again, dangerous. One slip and you’re going to be rolling down a massive hill that could be deadly. There's a nice campground area that looks like a great spot near the lower falls. At several points the water seems deep enough for cliff jumping, but I would recommend not doing it, and instead saving that kind of activity for the Yuba River or Slide Rock. The intermixed deciduous and evergreen trees are quite striking...

Upper McCloud Falls is a charming, relatively small waterfall that flows into a deep pool. It plays second fiddle to Middle McCloud Falls, which is by far the prettiest waterfall in this area, however it is a worthwhile stop. The asphalt pathways are well-maintained and there are several overlooks, with various vantage points. You can also hike down to the bottom using a steep, dirt trail. We visited at the end of September, and only saw a couple other people. I understand it gets fairly busy on Summer weekends. Also, be sure to investigate the river upstream as well. There are several beautiful spots...