There’s no better time than July to head to the mountains. The winter snow has melted, wildflowers are blooming, and best of all, the high country waterfalls are flowing with enthusiasm. Here are my picks for some of the best Sierra Nevada waterfall hikes this month: 

FRAZIER FALLS
Plumas National Forest; off Highway 89 near Graeagle
1.0 mile round-trip; easy
Frazier Falls is a famous landmark in the Lakes Basin area, and no wonder. It’s a 176-foot freefall that puts on a dazzling show from May to July. (See it soon before its flow dwindles to mediocrity.) The easy walk to the fall’s observation point is as delightful as the cataract  itself. From the parking lot head east on the trail, which is surrounded by polished granite, ponderosa and Jeffrey pines, and pretty bunches of lupine and Indian paintbrush. Cross a footbridge over Frazier Creek and in moments you’re at Frazier Falls’ overlook, a fenced-in platform across from the fall. 
Trailhead directions: From Truckee, drive north on Highway 89 for about 50 miles to Forest Service Road 24 (Gold Lake Highway) and turn left. (Or from Graeagle, drive 1.3 miles south on Highway 89 and turn right on Gold Lake Highway.) Drive 8.4 miles south and turn left at the sign for Frazier Falls (on Old Gold Lake Road, directly across from Gold Lake). Drive 1.5 miles north on the dirt road to the trailhead parking lot.

CASCADE FALLS
Tahoe National Forest; off Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe
2.0 miles round-trip; easy
The trek to Cascade Falls is far and away the best easy hike at Lake Tahoe. It’s short and level enough for almost anybody, including children, to make the trip. It has enough spectacular scenery to keep even the biggest whiners from complaining. And the trail leads right to the edge of a stunning 200-foot cascade that drops into the southwest end of Cascade Lake. What more could you ask for?
From the trailhead parking lot at Bayview Campground, head left on the trail. The route meanders in and out of pine forest and open sunshine, alternately providing shade and views. After a mere five minutes of walking, you’re rewarded with a tremendous vista of Cascade Lake. A few steps farther and you are granted a clear view of the tumbling falls ahead. The final stretch of trail crosses exposed granite; watch your footing and keep a firm handhold on small children. Upstream of the falls’ lip are lovely emerald green pools and large shelves of granite—prime spots for a picnic.
Trailhead directions: From South Lake Tahoe, drive northwest on Highway 89 for 7.5 miles to the Bayview Campground and Trailhead. Turn left and drive to the far end of the campground to the trailhead parking area. If the lot is full, park across Highway 89 at the Inspiration Point parking lot.

TUOLUMNE FALLS
Yosemite National Park; off Highway 120 near Tuolumne Meadows
9.0 miles round-trip; moderate
Tuolumne Falls is the first in a series of four spectacular waterfalls on the Tuolumne River, a few miles west of Tuolumne Meadows. While backpackers continue past Tuolumne Falls to California, LeConte, and Waterwheel Falls  (and beyond into Pate Valley), day-hikers can easily manage the 9-mile round-trip to Tuolumne Falls. The route offers some of the best scenery Yosemite can throw at you, with very little elevation change (you drop 500 feet on the way in and gain it back on your return). The trail parallels the Tuolumne River for the entire distance, meandering through a mix of meadows, granite, and woodland. A major bonus is the breathtaking views of Cathedral and Unicorn Peaks. The brink of Tuolumne Falls is reached at about three miles out. Hike downhill along the side of this 100-foot cataract to its base and a footbridge, which takes you across the river to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. Here you’ll have a fine view of the lower section of Tuolumne Falls, which some call Glen Aulin Falls or White Cascade.
Trailhead directions: From the Crane Flat junction in Yosemite, drive 39 miles east on Highway 120/Tioga Pass Road to the parking lot for Dog Lake/Lembert Dome/Soda Springs on the left. Park as far to the west of Lembert Dome as possible, and start hiking at the gated dirt road signed “Soda Springs 0.5 mile.”

LUNDY CANYON FALLS
Inyo National Forest; off U.S. 395 near Lee Vining
4.5 miles round-trip; moderate
The Lundy Canyon Trail leads into the Hoover Wilderness, a remote and rugged land of granite peaks, alpine lakes, and living glaciers. The canyon is a day-hiker’s delight, filled with myriad wildflowers and waterfalls. The trail follows Mill Creek, which sports two cascades in the first two miles of trail. In addition, smaller streams pour hundreds of feet down the surrounding canyon walls, feeding into Mill Creek. From the trailhead, the path meanders through an aspen grove and then climbs abruptly and steeply on loose shale. In 15 minutes you’re rewarded with your first view of a waterfall on Mill Creek. It’s a doozy. In the next 15 minutes, you’ll pass two more falls on your right. And so it goes. At 2.2 miles is the largest fall on Mill Creek, which has three main cascades. You may feel compelled to stop here and spread out a picnic.
Trailhead directions: From Lee Vining, drive 6.8 miles north on U.S. 395 to the Lundy Lake Road turnoff on the left. Drive five miles west on Lundy Lake Road, past Lundy Lake Resort, to the signed trailhead parking area. (The road is dirt beyond the resort.)

TOKOPAH FALLS
Sequoia National Park, off the Generals Highway near Lodgepole
3.6 miles round-trip; easy
Accept no substitutes or imitations; Tokopah Falls is hands-down the best waterfall in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Sure the trail is popular—why wouldn’t it be? The walk to the falls is only 1.8 miles of level trail through gorgeous Sierra scenery, culminating at the base of 1,200-foot-high Tokopah Falls. But if you follow the cardinal rule for visiting popular outdoor destinations and hike early in the morning, you can be at the falls before most park visitors have unzipped their tents.
The trail is a winner in and of itself. Watch for more than 30 wildflower species that bloom alongside the path. It follows the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River all the way, and offers incredible views of the Watchtower, a 1,600-foot-tall glacially carved cliff on the south side of Tokopah Valley. The U-shaped valley is similar in geological type and appearance to Yosemite Valley, formed partially by the river in its center but mostly by slow-moving glaciers. When you reach the falls, have a seat on one of many granite boulders, pull out a sandwich, and enjoy the show.
Trailhead directions: From Fresno, drive east on Highway 180 for 55 miles to the Big Stump Entrance Station at Kings Canyon National Park. Continue 1.5 miles and turn right on the Generals Highway, heading for Sequoia National Park. Drive 25 miles on the Generals Highway to the Lodgepole Campground turnoff, then drive .75 mile to the Log Bridge Area of Lodgepole Camp. Park in the large lot just before the bridge over the Marble Fork Kaweah River. Cross the bridge on foot to access the trail.

For more information on the Golden State’s beautiful waterfalls, see California Waterfalls by Ann Marie Brown.