EXPLORE CALIFORNIA NATURAL WONDERS THIS WATERFALL SEASON

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – There is something spectacular about waterfalls. Some say it’s the roar of the crashing water as it comes tumbling down the rocks. For others, it’s seeing Mother Nature in all her powerful glory. Whatever the reason, visitors who can’t get enough of California falls are in luck, because waterfall season is upon us and amazing vistas can be found throughout the entire state.

“Some of the country’s most scenic waterfalls can be found in California,” said Caroline Beteta, president and chief executive officer of the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC). “Whether here for boating, camping or fishing, we encourage travelers to see these spectacular falls firsthand during their spring and summer visits.”

According to California State Parks, the 24 waterfalls in or near 16 of California’s State Parks can range in size from a mere 10 feet to more than 600 feet, and from small streams of water to massive currents of more than 100 million gallons a day. Some of these falls can be found by a short walk, yet others can take a lengthy hike. With so many waterfalls to see, including those outside of state parks, waterfall enthusiasts may want to start at one end of the state and work their way north or south. Because many of these waterfalls are located in rural areas, traveling to the falls makes for a fun and relaxing side trip while visiting the state’s major metropolitan cities.

In California, waterfall season is traditionally spring through summer. However, there are a number of falls that are spectacular year-round. Since many of California’s waterfalls are located in and near state parks, tourism officials recommend that travelers call first before visiting a particular waterfall to ensure conditions are at their best.

With traditionally more than 50 feet of snow falling each winter in the High Sierra Region, most spring and summer seasons make for fantastic waterfall viewing in this part of the state. In Yosemite National Park, Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfalls in Yosemite Valley and is seen annually by millions of visitors. The impressive and well-known waterfall is 620 feet tall and flows year-round. A quarter-mile path allows visitors to walk to the base of this waterfall. At 2,426 feet, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America. Many travelers take part in the 1-mile loop trail to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls to see this waterfall up close. The trail is handicap-accessible and includes interpretive panels and raised bridges, allowing visitors to experience the braided streams of Yosemite Creek flowing into the Merced River.

Twenty-two miles south of Tahoe City, Emerald Bay State Park is home to Eagle Falls. Visitors can take the short hike to the top of Eagle Falls along a roadside trail or the moderately easy hike down to the bottom of the falls and across a footbridge. The lower hike takes travelers to Lake Tahoe’s sandy beaches, Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm Castle – a perfect spot to enjoy a packed lunch. The best time to visit Eagle Falls is May and June. Another springtime favorite is the waterfall located in Grover Hot Springs State Park, 3 miles west of Markleeville, accessible via a 1.5 mile hike from the campground. In Mono County, Rainbow Falls at Devils Postpile National Monument, reached from Mammoth Lakes, is aptly named for the many rainbows that appear in its mist on sunny days. Lundy Canyon, in the Eastern Sierra, also offers a beautiful hike with four waterfalls that are best seen in early summer.

Feather Falls at Lake Oroville Recreation Area in Butte County, part of the Shasta Cascade Region, is the nation’s sixth highest waterfall at more than 640 feet. The hike to the falls is approximately 9 miles round-trip and takes four hours. Because the hike is so spectacular, many visitors prefer to take a lunch and make a full day of it. The best time to visit is late spring, when the falls are enhanced by spring runoff. Located northeast of Redding and 11 miles northeast of Burney, Burney Falls in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Shasta County, is the centerpiece of this state park. This 129-foot, spring-fed waterfall, which pours down 100 million gallons of water every day, is visible from the Falls Overlook located just 200 feet from the closest parking area.

In the North Coast Region, an easy, 1-mile hike along coastal bluffs affords waterfall seekers one of the state’s most scenic views - a lighthouse, pounding waves and a 50-foot waterfall – all at the same time. Stornetta Falls, located in Point Arena on the Mendocino Coast, is part of the Stornetta Ranch Reserve, which was recently opened to the public. The area consists of a wildflower and grass-covered meadow located above the ocean’s 50-foot cliffs. Just outside of Mendocino at Russian Gulch State Park is a 36-foot waterfall, accessible via a 2.3-mile hike through ferns and giant redwoods. Visitors can also ride their mountain bikes 1 miles of the 2.3-mile trail that leads from the campground to the waterfall. One of the newest trails in Redwood National Park is the Trillium Falls Trail, a 3.5-mile loop located a half mile from Highway 101. The trail goes through redwood forests, then crosses a small bridge with a view of Trillium Falls, a small cascade that is complemented by rocks, mosses and ferns.

In the foothills, Auburn State Recreation Area, 1 mile south of Auburn on Highway 49 in the state’s Gold Country Region, offers travelers a fairly easy 1.2-mile hike along the north fork of the American River to Codfish Falls for a cascade of about 100 feet. In Nevada County, Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, 16 miles northeast of Nevada City, has the Humbug Creek Falls, which can be viewed approximately 1.5 miles along the Humbug Creek Trail. The falls here are small; however, the pools and canyons are incredibly scenic. The best time to visit is April through June. Mariposa County is also known for its great waterfalls, including Penon Blanco Falls, which is located at Wheeler Gulch on the way to Coulterville.

The southern tip of Point Reyes National Seashore in the San Francisco Bay Area Region is home to Alamere Falls, which cascades about 40 feet over rock to the beach below before running into the ocean. Visitors can hike to Alamere Falls, which is best viewed in winter and spring, via the Coast Trail from the Palomarin Trailhead near Bolinas, an 8.4-mile roundtrip. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, Big Basin Redwoods State Park offers Berry Creek Falls, a 70-foot drop along Berry Creek. Hikers can take the famous Skyline to Sea Trail, which climbs 400 feet in a half mile to a trail junction leading down to Berry Creek Falls, losing approximately 1,000 feet in elevation in 3.5 miles. Travelers are rewarded for this challenging hike, which runs through huge redwood trees, by being able to view this scenic waterfall up close. Mount Tamalpais State Park, north of the Golden Gate in Marin County, has Kent Canyon Falls with a vertical drop of about 10 feet. The falls are located just west of Frank’s Valley on Muir Woods Road. Peak flow is December and March.

In the Central Coast Region off of Highway One is Limekiln Creek Falls at Limekiln State Park, which is located 2 miles south of Lucia. This waterfall flows year-round, but is best visited in the spring. Here the water flows more than 100 feet over the face of a cliff encrusted with moss and limestone. It is a half-mile walk on a marked trail up through the redwood canyon to the falls. Forty miles south of Carmel is McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The wheelchair-accessible Overlook Trail leads from the parking area to an observation deck with views of the falls, dropping 80 feet off a cliff onto the beach nestled in a picturesque cover. Just 15 minutes from the village center of Solvang, Nojoqui Falls at Nojoqui Falls County Park drops nearly 100 feet over a sandstone wall. Maidenhair ferns line the rock walls, creating a lush, serene environment that has few visitors. Perfect for families, the falls are a short, 10-minute walk on a wide, hard-packed trail from the park entrance (free and open daily).

Visitors to the Los Angeles County Region can see spectacular waterfalls located entirely within the Los Angeles city limits at Topanga State Park. Considered the world’s largest wild land within the boundaries of a major city, Topanga State Park is situated in the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains and offers three waterfalls. It’s a mile hike to reach Temescal Canyon Water Falls, a cascading waterfall with two main drops. The Temescal Canyon Trail Bridge crosses between the two main cascades, each about a 10-foot drop. The best time to view the falls is spring. Santa Ynez Canyon Water Falls is about 18 feet in height and is also best viewed in spring. Topanga Canyon Water Falls is an impressive ribbon of water that can be seen from Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Highway 27, after a significant rainfall. The water drops 60 to 70 feet into the sycamore treetops from the canyon’s east side. Point Mugu State Park on Highway One in Malibu has a waterfall at La Jolla Valley. The fall cascades only 20 feet, but the setting is pristine, with boulders and native vegetation.

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