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.
At 12 ft, it stands above roughly 4% of the 775 documented falls in this guide.
Its water comes from McCloud River. You'll find it in Siskiyou, California. It is protected within Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
This is a short hike waterfall: reached by a short trail, generally under about a mile each way. A short walk gets you to the viewpoint, so it works for most casual visitors and families. The walk to the main viewpoint runs about 3.8 miles round trip. Base a visit out of McCloud, the closest town.
When to go: Spring through summer. Like most waterfalls, Lower McCloud Falls runs highest after snowmelt or heavy rain and can thin out in late summer, so it's worth checking recent streamflow and the land manager's conditions page before a long drive.
