Redding boasts some of the most premier outdoor opportunities of any city. There is so much to do and see in every direction! One our favorite itineraries in the area is a waterfall tour visiting Potem Falls, the three McCloud River Falls, and Hedge Creek Falls. It makes for a fun day with amazing views, takes you through some of the most iconic landscapes and vistas in UpState California, and lets you return back to your Redding hotel to rest up for another day of adventure.
Bring a camera to snap a few shots, but before heading to the next spot take a few minutes to enjoy the beauty before you. Look at the intricacies of each of the falls, and the landscape around it. Listen to the sounds of the water, and the birds singing. The smells of Northern California coniferous forests surrounding you. People travel all over the world hoping to encounter something as beautiful as what you will see at every stop on this incredible trip.
The first stop on your trip is Potem Falls, about an hour’s drive. The waterfall lies in a deep canyon and falls 45 feet into a pool at the base below. Enjoy swimming in the pool at the base during the summer months, and don’t forget to check out the rope swing!
Directions: Head out on CA Highway 299-E toward Burney, then take a left on Fenders Ferry Rd. Drive down Fenders Ferry Rd to reach the Potem Falls trailhead.
From Potem, you continue to the three McCloud River Falls. There are several access points, and if someone wanted to opt out of the hike they could drive to each one. We highly recommend doing the hiking loop though, as it will take you along the McCloud River and through the forest to each of the three falls - Lower Falls, Middle Falls, and Upper Falls - each unique. It is only about a 1-mile hike each way from the Lower Falls to Upper Falls and is fairly easy.
It’s a short and easy hike to see Lower McCloud Falls and Upper McCloud Falls – both are ADA accessible with a paved trail from the parking lot. The lookout point for Middle McCloud Falls is above the waterfall but there is a short hiking trail to the right you can take to get to the base of the waterfall and connect with the main trail that connects all three waterfalls.
Directions: Continue on CA-299 through Burney where you can stop for gas, food or load up your cooler at the grocery store for a waterfall adventure picnic and head to the three McCloud River Falls – Lower, Middle and Upper. Just north of Burney, connect with CA-89 north for about 40 miles. You will see signs for Fowlers and Lower Falls campground in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
After you leave the McCloud River Falls, head west through McCloud and Mount Shasta to Interstate 5 South to Hedge Creek Falls (22 miles, 27-minute drive). Hedge Creek Falls is about a 5-minute easy hike to the falls that sits in a canyon and offers a small cave behind the waterfall, allowing you to walk behind the cascading water for a different perspective.
Directions: Take I-5 South, exit 732 to Dunsmuir Ave/Mott Rd and take an immediate right and park to the right. Safely cross the street on foot and you arrive at the trailhead.
The short 45-minute scenic drive back to your Redding hotel is enjoyable with roads through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, offering views of Castle Crags State Park, the Sacramento River, and Shasta Lake.
The full loop takes 4 hours to drive, not counting the time spent at each waterfall. We recommend spending a half-hour to an hour at each of the falls, depending on how long it takes you to do the hike.
