California officials are now requiring reservations to visit the state park system's 'crown jewel' due to overcrowding.
Visitors to the iconic McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Shasta County will need to make a reservation on weekends and holidays during peak season, California State Parks announced on Friday.
The gorgeous 129-foot falls, once dubbed the 'eighth wonder of the world' by President Theodore Roosevelt, reopened last year after a surge of tourists resulted in extensive $835,000 'critical' repairs.
In an effort to reduce the impacts of overcrowding, state officials are introducing a pilot program requiring reservations for visits on Friday through Sunday and holidays during the peak visitation season, starting Friday, May 15, through Sunday, September 27.
'The goals of this new day-use reservation system, which will not be required Monday-Thursday, are to alleviate the strain on the park's resources and infrastructure, and to improve visitor safety during the busiest summer days, when large crowds often overwhelm the park and the surrounding area,' the state parks department said.
The park will offer 103 parking passes valid between 8am PT and noon, an additional 103 passes valid between 1 and 5pm, and 35 passes valid for the entire day. The cost will be $10 per vehicle plus a dollar processing fee.
'Burney Falls is a crown jewel of the California State Park System, and we want all visitors to have an enjoyable and memorable experience when visiting this one-of-a-kind destination,' said State Parks Director Armando Quintero.
'By allowing visitors to make a reservation in advance, we can help keep crowds manageable and not push the park's resources past the breaking point. I thank our guests for their understanding as we work together to create a better visitor experience while helping to preserve this iconic place for generations to come.'
Visitors to the iconic McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Shasta County will need to make a reservation on weekends and holidays during peak season
In an effort to reduce the impacts of overcrowding, state officials are introducing a pilot program requiring reservations for visits on Friday through Sunday and holidays during the peak visitation season
According to the state park's department, annual visitation to the falls has approximately doubled since 2015.
The influx is 'pushing the park beyond a sustainable capacity and creating a host of problems, including an increase in erosion, damage to sensitive vegetation and sacred tribal land, traffic backups, illegal parking, public safety concerns and sanitation issues.'
It has resulted in long lines to enter the park and has frequently created unsafe traffic conditions on State Route (SR) 89, sometimes resulting in two-hour-long traffic jams just to get into the park.
About 4.5 hours from San Francisco, Burney Falls lies in the Cascade foothills with only around 3,000 residents.
During peak season, from April to October, the waterfall would draw in some 250,000 visitors a year - but, come the Covid-19 pandemic, that number swelled to 350,000.
Locals and park-goers were divided online, with some hoping the decision to charge for reservations would help cut the number of tourists.
'Good! There were way too many day use flooding the site when others are camping trying to enjoy the falls and lake,' one person wrote on Facebook.
'Probably a good idea. When the lots are full people park along the highway and it can be a hazard. Not to mention having to work your way through 1000 people on the trails,' a second person added.
Annual visitation to the falls has approximately doubled since 2015, and has resulted in long lines to enter the park and has frequently created unsafe traffic conditions
The gorgeous 129-foot falls, once dubbed the 'eighth wonder of the world' by President Theodore Roosevelt, reopened last year after a surge of tourists resulted in extensive $835,000 'critical' repairs
'What a shame what's happening to this beautiful place with trampling and trash by the selfie crowds. I used to be the only one there. Now it's a horrible mob scene. So sad,' wrote a third.
A fourth person added, 'This is frustrating, but also necessary to keep the impact of irresponsible tourists in check.'
Others expressed concern that the reservation system would make it harder for people to see the falls and negatively impact locals.
'This is a terrible idea. People travel from all over to visit the park. Now there's going to be a waiting list probably a year out. Poor planning CA,' one person wrote.
'With all the taxes we pay you'd think the STATE PARKS would be able to operate without inconveniencing the people who actually PAY to keep them open!! State Parks belong to the people,' added another.
A third person wrote, 'Well first the trails were closed when we went and now this. Safe to say we will probably not be back.
'You're still going to have a TON of people that don't pay attention or do research before coming. This is not going to curb congestion for a while. Instead, you're going to have people with no reservation or any idea they need one still clogging up the line to get in and then having to turn around to leave,' a fourth person added.
'This is a horrible ideal… for the local business that depend on the tourist that come for quick day trips we will definitely be affected. Other parks have tried this and watched a steep decline in day visitors,' wrote a fifth.