Cliff Jumping at Middle Falls (McCloud River) in McCloud, California

About this spot

Middle Falls is the showpiece of the McCloud River Falls loop in Shasta-Trinity National Forest — a wide, ~50 ft curtain waterfall pouring into a large pool, a quarter-mile walk from the free Middle Falls day-use lot off Highway 89 (Fowlers Camp area). People do jump here and videos are easy to find, but know the official position: the Forest Service and local guidance say cliff jumping at the falls is not allowed and it has a record of injuries — undertow below the curtain, submerged rock, and snowmelt-cold water even in August. If you go, treat it as a swim-and-scout spot first, respect any posted closures, and never jump the falls line itself.

Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.

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Mccloud River Falls

McCloud, California