From the Cascade Park parking lot, head northwest into an airy redwood forest beside Cascade Creek. Cascade Falls, Cascade Park, Mill ValleyĬascade Falls is a family-friendly waterfall hike in a tiny Mill Valley park that is an easy 0.3 miles round-trip. Which ones are your favorites? Hike ’em and let me know. Here are ten fantastic waterfall hikes near San Francisco in order of distance. Remember those waterproof boots for high water, mud, and puddles on trails. If you hike after a series of strong storms, you have a good chance of seeing plumped up falls. It is true that some waterfalls, like Berry Creek Falls, flow year-round however, they are likely to be a trickle in summer as opposed to their full glory in winter.Īnother strategy is to watch the weather and wait for a few good storm systems to move through the area. So if you are looking to see a waterfall with a strong water flow, a good rule of thumb is to go in winter and early spring when the rainy season is in full swing. Thankfully, the Bay Area is teeming with waterfalls-horsetail falls, fan waterfalls, multi-tiered waterfalls, cascades, and tide falls-all within day-trip distance of San Francisco.īay Area waterfalls are dependent on rainfall as opposed to snowmelt. Read our Trail Spotlight blog to find other trails.I don’t know what it is about waterfalls, but they always make me feel happy. The last two miles pass through an old-growth cove of hardwood forest with large tulip trees, basswoods, silverbells, and yellow birches. The trail follows rushing rivers and streams for much of its length. It takes between five and seven hours to hike to the waterfall and back. The trail to the waterfall gains over 2,000′ in elevation over its four-mile course and the eight-mile roundtrip hike is considered strenuous but well worth the effort. Water drops 100 feet over rock outcroppings and collects in a small pool where numerous salamanders can be found. Guyot, the second-highest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains. Most of the water comes from the 6621′ Mt. Ramsey Cascades is the highest waterfall accessible by trail in the park. Ramsey Cascades Tallest Waterfall In The Park Try the Boulevard Trail for a longer but easier ascent, or a more challenging trek on Rainbow Falls Trail, all the way to the top. The Alum Cave Bluffs Trail, past storm-tossed boulders, up stone stairs and under Arch Rock, is one of the best hikes in the Smokies. Find out the best places to see a sunset here.Įven if you don’t have reservations at the Lodge or shelter, the trails to LeConte are worth the day trip, and you can reserve lunch at the Lodge dining room if you call ahead. The most spectacular sunrises and sunsets occur on Myrtle Point in the east and Clifftops to the west. Please note, there are also backcountry campsites nearby. You can stock a backpack and head up for a stay at the rustic LeConte Lodge, and despite the lack of electricity, it is a sellout every year. The views from the top of LeConte Lodge (just shy of 6,600 feet) in the Smokies make it a trek worth taking. LeConte Hike To The Best Sunrises And Sunsets In The Park The warnings about swimming are worth heeding! The currents here are dangerous and have swept some to their deaths. The amount of rushing water is staggering, and the pool below it is long and deep. When you arrive, you’ll see why a waterfall that’s only 20 feet high is one of the most popular places in the Smokies. Cross the wooden bridge, and follow the path along the Cades Cove Valley floor among pine, oak, hemlock and rhododendron. The five-mile round trip along Abrams Creek is a moderate hike that’s worth every step. Abrams Falls Abrams Falls Boast The Most Water And The Deepest Pool The path is stroller, wheelchair and walker-friendly. If you arrive in the early morning, you’ll beat the crowds and be rewarded with perfect photography lighting. It’s only a few miles from Sugarlands, right outside Gatlinburg. The 80-foot cascade is one of the most-photographed spots in all of the Smokies for good reason. Take a 2.6-mile walk on the paved trail to Laurel Falls, and you’ll see why so many people consider it a must-see. Laurel Falls Paved Access To A Picture-Perfect Wonder You can stroll the Trillium Trail through old-growth forests, and if you’re there in May, get ready to be wowed by the dazzling wildflowers. It’s just minutes out of Gatlinburg, right off the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, so make it the first stop on your day trip into the park. There’s something magical about standing behind a wall of water as it cascades to the ground at Grotto, the only waterfall in the Smokies where you can do this.
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