Burney Falls and Mount Shasta: Two Jewels in the Crown of Northern California

August 6, 2023 Tim Camas

Burney Falls, CA 2023 Trip

Burney Falls is located 63 miles northeast of Redding, CA. It is a scenic drive through the hills of northern CA. I arrived on July 4th and it was 90+ degrees in the parking lot. The beauty of the falls is unique and breathtaking. It’s like an oasis, in that, as you walk to the bottom of the falls, the temperature drops about 20 degrees. To give you some perspective, Burney Falls is 130 feet from top to bottom whereas Niagara Falls is 167 feet. Parking can be difficult as this park gets a lot of traffic. Patience is the key because as soon as it seems like you will never get a spot, there will be 5-10 openings 30 minutes later. The falls were especially strong this year due to record snowfall in northern CA. Check out the videos to see how fast the water runs.

Someone left their fanny pack and water bottle on the rocks near the falls and a squirrel was doing his best to find some snacks.

2019 Trip

I visited Burney in 2019 but it was raining heavily that day but the hike through the woods and the sunset a few miles down the road were very satisfying.

The sunset down the road from Burney was amazing.

Mt Shasta, CA

Mt Shasta is 61 miles north of Redding, CA just east of Route 5. You literally can’t miss the mountain because it dwarfs everything around it. It frequently has a snow cap, even through the summer. I was there at the beginning of July and you can clearly see there is no shortage of snow. The peak is at 14,179 feet and it is part of the Cascade Range.

There are areas around Mt Shasta that were burned extensively by the 2021 Dixie Fire. The area is recovering and you can see plenty of green areas overtaking the burnt remains.

Click the links below for more information about Burney Falls an Mt Shasta:

Burney Falls Link

Mt Shasta Link

Have you visited these landmarks? What were your thoughts when you were there?

Whale Watching

January 22, 2019 Tim Camas

In the heart of Newport Beach (where there is very little parking), you can take a 2-hour tour (said in the Gilligan’s Island narrative voice) a few miles off the coast and see various types of whales. The time of year will dictate what types of whales you might see in this area. I went on this excursion on Saturday January 19th. It was a beautiful 75-degree day with barely a cloud in the sky.

A nice day to paddle your way around the shoreline.

Pretty cool to see snow-capped mountains while cruising on the ocean.

We were told by the boat’s captain that there were a few Gray Whales in the area and we should have a reasonable chance to see them. These whales migrate at a top speed of 3 miles per hour from Alaska to Baja Mexico. He also mentioned that the whales lose a considerable amount of weight because they do not feed while migrating. We met up with two smaller boats that were staking out an area. Approximately 10 minutes after we arrived, we saw some water spouts so we knew they were near the surface. Shortly thereafter, we were able to see one of the whales breach the water and two tails flip over. And that, folks, was the extent of our experience. LOL. After about 20 minutes, the captain told us that whales can go under water and hold their breath for 20 minutes. We waited a while longer but did not see them again. The captain then took us to some other locations but we were not able to see more whales. We did to see some sea lions who were laying on each other on a buoy. We then made our journey back to the dock. I took many pictures so I hope you enjoy them.

I like the following sequence of photos. Check out the changing ripples of water with various shades of light hitting them as the sun begins to set.

Same situation here. This is a closeup of the waves and foam from the ship’s engine.

Check out the color and shading of the sun on the water on the next couple of pictures. The water looks like it is on fire.

I’m not sure who this guy is but he is extremely tall. Either he or the woman or both were flown in on the helicopter and joined the party on-board.

For more information about Gray Whales, click the link below.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/g/gray-whale/

Red Canyon: Dixie National Forest, Utah

May 12, 2018 Tim Camas

Just 14 miles west of Bryce Canyon National Park on Route 12, Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest gives a glimpse of what is to come at the grand national park down the road. It is like a little brother that lives in the shadow of his big brother who gets all the accolades. Red Canyon is perfect for sunsets and moon rises. The orange sandstone and the green pine trees glow in the setting sun. The moon ascends from behind the park and functions as the icing on the cake.

There are trails to hike and a campground if you prefer to stay the night. When covered in snow, the trails can be navigated with snowshoes or cross-country skis. One of the more photographed areas of the park are the tunnels. The tunnels are currently undergoing construction so be careful when driving through the area. Oh, and watch for passing vehicles if you insist on taking pictures of them while standing on or at the side of the road.

Framed by the blue sky, wispy clouds or none at all, this smaller version of Bryce Canyon is never ignored, but is less crowded than its larger brother to the east. If you visit Bryce Canyon, take the leisurely drive to Red Canyon. It’s only another 10 miles to the small town of Panguitch or an hour to the gorgeous Zion National Park.

For more information on Red Canyon click on the link below.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dixie/recarea/?recid=24942

Route 395: Round Valley to Mono Lake

May 5, 2018 Tim Camas

The end of the journey. When you plan a trip, the anticipation can sometimes be overwhelming. Maybe you can’t sleep for a night or two. Maybe you get anxious and worry that you will forget something. You get that feeling that you just want to hit the road and get it underway. But all too soon, it ends. All of that excitement and the high expectations are either satisfied or disappointment sets because the trip did not meet your expectations. That didn’t happen with this trip. The only minor disappointment was that some of the roads were closed so I couldn’t reach certain mountain peaks or lakes.

This is a gorgeous area of the country. So many people sing the praises of the Pacific Coast Highway with the ocean waves crashing onto hundreds of miles of beaches or cliffs. I challenge them to take this drive on Route 395 through the heart of California. I know that even though this area has been neglected of fanfare and tourist attention, it is no less satisfying than any other road trip through California.

When I arrived at Convict Lake, I sent a text with a picture to my sister and said that I thought this might be the most beautiful place I had ever visited. About an hour later, I sent her another text from June Lake saying that this might be the most beautiful place I had ever visited. It’s impossible to select just one location in this journey and say that THIS is clearly the most beautiful location. This is the conundrum of the Midlife Crisis Traveler. The more you travel, the more impossible it is to nail down a place or even a top 10 list of places that are your favorite. Oh, what a problem to have!

June Lake has its own beach. I know that I will have to return during the summer months when residents and visitors sit in the sand and watch the sun set behind the mountains. They call Montana Big Sky Country. I can’t imagine the sky being any more impressive than in the 395 Valley. It provides the icing on the landscape cake.

I ended my excursion at Mono Lake. The Tufa’s are explained in the picture below. Many of them are visible above the water line. It gives the area a sort of prehistoric look.

A short drive from Mono Lake is the Tioga Road which runs through Yosemite National Park. Unfortunately, the road closes during the winter months and was still closed when I visited in early April. I will return at some point to drive the rest of the Route 395 trail through Nevada and California.

Route 395: Bishop, CA

April 28, 2018 Tim Camas

Bishop California is a small town nestled between the Sierra Nevada and White Mountain Ranges. You can’t miss it because Route 395 slithers its way right through the middle of it. I-395 starts in Hesperia CA and ends at a spot just over the Canadian border. It is a drive that I highly recommend. This documentation only covers the California portion of the highway and the glorious journey through the town of Bishop. I took hundreds of pictures on the highways, back roads and scenic overlooks surrounding Bishop. It is a photographer’s dream location.

Not only is the scenery spectacular but if you are an active person who loves the great outdoors, this is a paradise for you. Fishing, camping, hiking, cross country skiing, golfing, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking and mountain climbing are right outside your front door. Some of the best downhill skiing in California is right up the road at Mammoth Mountain. Mt Whitney, the tallest peak in the 48 US states is nearby as well. Mountain climbers from countries around the globe love the challenge that Whitney poses. The Bristlecone Pine Forest is about a 30 minute ride into the White Mountains. These trees are the oldest living organisms in the world.

Below is what a minor water leak can do during the winter, LOL. Not sure if you can see it but a fine mist isspewing upward just left of the pipe located on the right side of the picture.

Memorial Day weekend brings the Mule Days Festival. This year is the 49th annual event. There is also a food festival sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce that is very inexpensive and offer delicacies from local restaurants.

The pictures below were taken from the Sierra View Overlook in the Bristlecone Pine Forest. This is one of the best views in the area.