Burney Falls - McArthur-Burney Falls State Park - Burney

8:00am-sunset
Location: Northeast of Redding, six miles north of Highway 299 on Highway 89 near Burney
Why Go There? A short (very popular, expect lots of people, and parking lot may be full during peak season hours) scenic walk to spectacular 129 foot waterfalls. An optional level walking loop trail above and around the falls, including intersection of Pacific Crest Trail extends walk to five miles; day use fee $10 (note: entrance kiosk only accepts cash payment between Mid-September and Mid-May using pay-by-envelope at the entrance).
More Information: McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial + Hike to Burney Falls

Castle Crag State Park & Castle Dome Trail - Dunsmuir

Days + Hours of Operation
Location: Six miles south of Dunsmuir, 48 miles north of Redding along I-5 exit 724. Entrance is 20022 Castle Creek Road (Castella)
Why Go There? Trails begin at the state park day use parking area next to the campground, and include a small spring, waterfall option (Indian Springs), which adds one mile if doing the Castle Crags (also called Castle Dome trail) hike. The trail enters Shasta-Trinity National Forest, is encompassed in the Castle Crags Wilderness, offers good workout with 2135 elevation gain, 5.5 miles with spectacular views on clear days at the base of the Crags; day use fee if not already paying/camping in the state park campground.
More Information: Castle Crags + Castle Dome Trail

Castle Lake, Heart Lake, optional Castle Peak Hike - near Mt Shasta City

Location: Interstate 5 exit 73B Mt Shasta City. At the end of the offramp, head west (away from the city) on Lake Street toward Hatchery Lane (signs for Lake Siskiyou). Turn left on Old Stage Coach Road, drive south 0.2 miles. Veer right to Barr Road, drive 2.3 miles to Ney Springs Road, turn left up Ney Springs Road, first right to Castle Lake Road 7 miles to end of the road/Castle Lake parking area.
Why Go There? A moderate rated, very popular (expect others) short 600 ft elevation gain, 2.2 mile round trip scenic hike from trailhead to Heart Lake, return. A longer (the longer option via trail-less ascend/descend to Castle peak offers additional great views, scenery, adds 1,100 feet elevation gain/descent, approximately 1.1 miles each way).
More Information: Castle Lake to Heart Lake + Castle Peaks and Heart Lake

Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens - Dunsmuir

Location: 4841 Dunsmuir Avenue
Why Go There? Within Dunsmuir City Park, ten acres contain a hilly wooded area, meadow, various gardens, feature native white dogwood blooms, Shasta lilies, azaleas, more natives plants and many introduced perennials; numerous walking paths beckon visitors; annual Tribute to the Trees fundraiser concert, dinner option (June)
More Information: Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens

Lava Beds National Monument Selected hike/walks - Tulelake

Year-round (2020 update: area fires have closed some parts of the park)
Location: One Indian Well Campground Trail (Visitor Center)
Why Go There? Several hundred lava tube caves spread over a wide terrain provide hours of exploring, including above ground trails, pictographs, petroglyphs in a location that receives less visitors than many national monuments, parks. A few trails described below:

Visitor Center, Pictographs  
Symbol Bridge Trail Winding 0.8 miles (1.3 km) past interesting lava tube collapses and other features, this trail leads to many fine pictographs at the bridge and cave. Take the Skull Cave road to the first parking area and trailhead. Across the road from the Symbol Bridge Trail, you will find the Missing Link Trail

Petroglyph Point - Lava Beds National Monument
Very short trail begins on the east side of Petroglyph Point just  beyond the bulletin board on the dirt road.  The trailhead parking lot is on top of a short rise across from the trail entrance. Hike to the top to enjoy an impressive view of the basin and the Medicine Lake volcano. Please do not hike to the edge of the cliff to avoid disturbing nesting birds such as prairie falcons,  red-tailed hawks,  and owls.  Please do not attempt to hike to the top from the west side of Petroglyph Point.  A social trail there has caused severe erosion and passes too close to nesting sites

Schonshin Butte Trail - Lava Beds National Monument
This trail climbs 0.7 miles (1.4 km) to the fire lookout and a panoramic view. Trail has a 500 -foot elevation gain. You can be a guest of the lookout on duty in summer.

More Information: Lava Beds National Monument

McCloud Falls Trails - McCloud

Location: From I-5 highway/ 89 junction 15 miles east , continue five miles further east of McCloud town, turn south on Road 40N44 (follow sign for Fowlers camp/McCloud Falls). Go right at .6 mile (a left takes you to overlooks of Middle Falls and Upper Falls) Continue another .7 mile past the campground and park at the picnic area at the Lower Falls. If staying at the campground, can pick up the trail to lower or middle falls.
Why Go There? Easy relatively level trails from a few different trailheads offer views of three beautiful waterfalls along the McCloud River. The lower and middle falls have good swimming spots (refreshingly cold and welcome on hot days, and not surprisingly, popular). From the middle falls, it is a steep climb up the edge of the canyon to an overlook/another parking area, with views of Mt. Shasta, Castle Crags on clear days. The path continues approximately .5 mile east to view the narrow gorge, upper Falls (with optional more hiking as the trail continues for several miles).
More Information: McCloud River’s Three Waterfalls + McCloud River Falls Trail

Mt Lassen Ridge Lakes/Sulphur Works - Mt Lassen National Park

Location: Trailhead starts at parking lot for Sulphur Works
Why Go There? A short one mile hike with 1000 feet elevation gain offers a good leg-stretcher if time is short to a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. On a hot day, bring a towel (and bathing suit if people around!) for a refreshingly cold dip in the lake. To avoid crowds, go early in the morning and likely to have trail to oneself, even during peak season. Stay safely on the trail (and help protect the fragile area) but enjoy the view of hot sulphur vents and cascading creek along the trail as you start ascending and returning to the trailhead; take time for the very short walk from the parking lot to look at the bubbling hot mud pool (which is also visible right from the main road).
More Information: Exploring Ridge Lakes and Sulphur Works

Deer Creek Tribute Trail - Nevada City

Location: Start from Pioneer Park, or Miners Foundry (downtown)
Why Go There? Urban, well marked/maintained easy (very short steep side trail to locally known swimming hole) walking trail offers creek views, quiet contemplation, historic areas, suspension bridge. Options for short or longer walks, runs, depending on route, length of time desired.
More Information: DCTTS Historic Downtown Section

Feather Falls Trail - Oroville

Location: From Oroville, take Hwy #162 east (Olive Highway) for 6.7 miles, turn right on Forbestown Road for 6.3 miles, turn left on Lumpkin Road for 11.4 miles to signed turnoff for Feather Falls. Turn left at sign and drive 1.5 miles to the trailhead (also a USDA Forest Service campground site, pit toilet).
Why Go There? Trail offers a good workout (1,000 feet elevation gain, and loss, 7.9 miles roundtrip) to a gorgeous 410 foot waterfall (sometimes reported as 640 feet); views along the way include a 'mini version' of Yosemite's Half Dome: Bald Rock Dome; trail is a loop, with recommendations to do longer upper trail first (mostly downhill), returning on shorter, steep uphill. Popular, expect to share trail. (curator note: hiked in early October, departed trailhead in the morning, and had trail to self most of the way down but met several people heading to the waterfall as l as headed uphill back to trailhead). Can be HOT, carry lots of water, watch out for poison oak.
More Information: Feather Falls + Feather Falls Scenic Trail

Sundial Bridge, Turtle Bay Exploration Park Trails - Redding

Location: 844 Sundial Bridge Drive, Redding, CA
Why Go There? Whether destination, or leg stretch stop, a stroll through the Turtle Bay Exploration Park (especially during non-peak tourist season), offers a closeup view of the showpiece pedestrian Sundial Bridge crossing the Sacramento River, which besides being an architectural/engineering masterpiece of concrete, glass, granite and steel cables is a working sundial and is one of the largest in the world. Access to the Sundial Bridge and surrounding river trails is free to the public.
More Information: Sundial Bridge + Park Information

Whiskeytown Falls (James K Carr Trail) - Weaverville area (2019: trail/road to trailhead remain closed due to extensive 2018 Carr fire, which heavily damaged 39,000 acres)

Location: From Whiskeytown Lake visitor center drive west eight miles on Highway 299 to Crystal Creek Road (about .25miles past Tower House Historic District), turn left onto Crystal Creek Road. Drive 3.75 miles to reach Mill Creek Trailhead (passing turnoffs for Crystal Creek Falls and for Crystal Creek Campground).
Why Go There? A moderate 3.4 mile round trip from the trailhead to 220 foot waterfall, makes a nice leg stretcher if traveling east or west from Weaverville, or staying in one of the Whiskeytown Lake area campgrounds, and can combine with connecting Mill Creek Trail for longer day hike.
More Information: James K Carr Trail + Alerts & Conditions

Additional Resources

Chico Hiking Association - Chico
On-line guide to 50 best area hikes including several waterfalls

Indian Falls Trail - Crescent Mills Area
Short, easy trail to waterfall, popular

Bear Yuba Land Trust - Nevada County
Trails guide, varying lengths, difficulties

Cascade Canal Trail - Nevada County
Just a few miles from Nevada City at 3,200 feet is an easy mostly shaded, level 4.5 miles one way trail

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park - Nevada County
Offers 20 miles of trails, gold rush era mining remains

Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake Trails - South Lake Tahoe
Scenic, short but highly popular; fee at parking lot, fills up fast. Best for off season weekdays to avoid crowds

Trails - Weaverville
50 miles of shared use trails near Weaverville, Trinity County