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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.”
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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.
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