Bathroom locked. Road closed to parking lot. Parked along Ice House Road which added about a mile to our hike. Some minor stream crossings. Some snow patches. Waterfall raging. Beautiful views. read more

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Such a beautiful place! Located near Ice House and in Pollock Pines - it's a must see! The hike is about 4.5 miles round trip and is pretty easy - there were only a few small inclines. Bassi Falls is huge - lots of little areas to swim. The water was freezing, but well worth the hike and a quick dip. We could have spent hours here! Pack lunch and make a day of it! I highly recommend checking it out. We will definitely be back next month when we go camping again! read more

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Bassi Falls is located in the El Dorado National Forest not far from Pollock Pines. Using GPS to get to the trailhead can be confusing so I found that using directions from other trail goers posts was helpful. You exit on Ice House Road from Highway 50 and take that about 16 miles. Once you go over a bridge around mile 16, on the left there is the signed Big Silver Group Camp. On the right there is an unmarked road, which you will turn on, taking you to the trail. There's no signage pointing to this being "the" road to take. Go straight once you're on this road for the longer route to the falls. It comes to a dead end and there's parking that's quite obvious. There's also a right turn down a pretty rutted road leading to the campground near the trailhead if you want to take a chance and take your car down there. I have a low clearance car, so I opted to park up top and it's a pretty short walk. Now for the good part-the hike itself!! It was kind of a gloomy, chilly Saturday so it wasn't too crowded. Mid May is a great time to come and see the creek flowing heavily and some little wildflowers coming in. It's a fairly flat and obvious trail that's well traveled. You can also look for trail blazes on the trees. There are times you veer away from the creek and are in the woods and other parts of the trail with epic mini falls before you get to the main event. The trail ends at some pretty magnificent falls. There are lots of rocks and areas to sit and enjoy the views, so pack a lunch and linger to enjoy it! It's about 4 miles round trip but worth the drive out for the spectacular falls in the spring. That's the time to go, as I've read they run to a trickle as the warmer months come in. Great hike to be in the mountains but not have to head all the way in to Tahoe. Would do again. read more

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Long snow route in April 2023. It seems that there are 3 parking areas, but I think parking is only available near phere until May: 38.88155, -120.36032. There are green/blue markers but you've really got to look for it. Follow the footprints for a good gauge of a safe route, and be safe if you choose to take this snowy path. Snow is melting at the bottom; It will take you two times longer. Tip for partial snowy hiking routes: pack gaiters/snow shoes/ hiking sticks/work gloves/change of clothes and socks read more

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Needing to get out of our house and away from the city for a little while, we made our way up to Bassi Falls for a hike. It looked like every other person had the same idea; even with the parking lot closed at the trailhead itself, there were several cars parked on the sides of the street. After finding a parking spot ourselves, we made our way to the trailhead and up to the falls. Everyone was super respectful of social distancing out on the trail and at the falls. It was so nice to be outside, with fresh air and sunshine. The falls were flowing, despite a mild winter/small snow-pack. We laid out at the falls before making our way back down. Of note, besides the parking lot being closed, all restrooms are closed, and parts of the trail still had snow and/or were flooded. Just be mindful as you make your way up to the falls. read more

Bassi Falls - On the way up to Bassi Falls - Hiking Near Me - Placerville, California

(COVID-19 REVIEW) My family and I decided to embark on our first Waterfall Hike at Bassi Falls on a hot Saturday (7/18/20). I read the most up to date yelp reviews to make sure we started at the right place...boy was I misled. For that reason, I want to make sure everyone who are interested in hiking are well aware of some things I wasn't. 1. Keep driving up. The paved road is pretty tight and you can't park on the north end of the road. You'll see a bunch of cars lined up on the side and I'll suggest you park there. 2. There's three trails. There's one that goes more upward at the top of the falls. You'll see a trail dedicated to it straight ahead on the left of the dirt paved road. There's an easier trail that is unmarked, but you have to get passed all the cars parked next to the campground. Ask locals. People are happy to help you out. The trail we took was called the Diamond Head and it was mediocre. We thought it was easier trail based on the Yelp reviews...wrong. For me, it was hard just because it was pretty steep and I was giving up. Its definitely family friendly though! 3. Not a lot of people were wearing masks. Just be aware and stay safe. 4. Be careful of all the logs laying around, especially if you have children! You might trip of them and it's not fun (happened to my mom). Overall, the journey was difficult but fun. I had a fun time once we got to the falls. There's plenty of hidden areas and creeks you can have a picnic at or get away from groups of people. The water is also COLD but refreshing. My family and I just did a picnic at one of the big rocks in the shade that had a direct view of falls and it was beautiful. I wouldn't come here in the summer time though because the falls was only a trickle of water! I would've came here in March/April for more water flow. read more

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Hiked bassi again yesterday (Saturday 7/18) and found an easier trail. "Easier" because it was much more defined and thus less likely to get lost like we did the first time. Finding this trail made me love this hike even more. Sadly around this time of year the falls were really sparse. It was a trickle compared to what it was when we first visited in May. But there are still some mini swimming pools you can find on the way there and under the falls. Just go on a week day when there isn't a ton of people. Key things: -GET. THERE. EARLY. I cannot stress this enough. Especially on a weekend. We got there at 9am and there already wasn't parking in the lot. As we were walking back around 12pm we passed 3 huge groups of people heading to the falls. When we reached the parking lot, it was completely congested with people trying to find parking on the side of the roads. -Easy enough for kids and dogs. We had a pregnant lady in our group and also brought my sister's dog who both had no trouble doing this hike. - The trail starts in the parking lot. Walk towards the very end of it where you'll find huge rocks preventing cars from parking further. Walk passed these boulders and you'll find a trail. -No parking fee. read more

Bassi Falls - Where the hike leads: bassi falls. - Hiking Near Me - Placerville, California

This trail is located near Ice House. I used All trails to navigate which took me right to the location. Because we took our little puppy we decided to park at the end of gravel road. It only took us 40 minutes to arrive at the falls. This place is beyond beautiful!! Honestly, I would love to check it out during the week when it's not busy! I've always wanted to skinny dip! It's pretty sexy here! Hahah read more

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Bassi Falls is definitely a great hike when it comes to views and hiking level. The panoramic views were amazing and I enjoyed all the beautiful scenery nature has to offer .We got lost and got there really late around 2 or 3pm and noticed it wasn't busy at all which was a plus! Parking is limited and lucky for us people were leaving, but I could imagine how packed it can be if we came earlier. It was great enjoying the gorgeous landscape and the water. It gets very slippery climbing the rocks getting to the falls so I would suggest shoes with good grip. Bring your lunch sit out relax on the rocks and relax and take pics. I forgot there were a lot of ants around, I'm not sure what kind but maybe Carpenter Ants? I still would def come back again for the views read more

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2/5 for the drive (very windy, be prepared) 5/5 for the hike & destination 1/5 for the parking I loved the hike & the falls, but driving and finding parking was a little daunting. Hike: The hike is a perfect beginner/intermediate trial. You can bring your dog as it is about 2-3 miles. The path is visible, and you have the choice of reaching the falls fairly quickly. If you want to see the larger waterfall, you have the option of continuing to walk about another mile. I never felt lost throughout our hike & the weather was beautiful! Parking & Drive: Lowkey scary. I drove, and it was pretty windy since it's about 25 minutes off the freeway. Now that I've driven it, I know what to expect, but if it's your first time, I do recommend allowing yourself time to drive carefully. Also try to get there early, because once the parking lot fills up, it is pretty hard to find parking as getting in and out might be hard since it's basically a one-way street. Overall I will come back here again! Beautiful hike & views. Perfect way to spend the weekend. read more

First of all I want to start this review by saying it is a bit confusing finding the trailhead for Bassi Falls. My gps told me to park on the side of the highway next to the bridge. This is in fact not the case! Cross the bridge, turn right on the gravel road and follow this road all the way up to the trailhead! The trail itself was easy to hike. About 2 miles into the falls and 2 miles back to the car. My 4 year old daughter did this hike with no problem! Beautiful scenery along the way. There are a few places you can look out and get down to the water and rapids. Please be careful. Once reaching the falls you will not be disappointed. Basis Falls is amazing. You can climb up to the falls to get a better look. But once again please be careful! There are little ponds which it goes into that you could swim in. I went in the beginning of July and the water was still freezing. Rocks can be very slippery and dangerous so be careful if you bring your little ones along. read more

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Bassi Falls is definitely a great and beautiful hike. It was one of the first hikes that I have gone on. My little cousins also joined in with us and was able to hike as well so it is great for younger kids as well. We arrived around 11am and the parking was getting very full. (their parking lot is small) On our way back down we got lost but the view and everything was beautiful. There is also no service on the way there and in some areas so beware. read more

So all the reviews across multiple sites did not prepare us for the obstacles we endured. Because of the weather conditions we had to navigate through snow , mud and fallen trees. There really wasn't a clear trail to follow so we just followed footsteps left by those who went before us lol . We didn't make it to the falls but got to enjoy nature. I wouldn't recommend kids for this hike during the winter months. Hope this helps any . read more

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This hike to bassi falls was a fun and great experience! We did not go all the way up to see the falls, hopefully we will get to do that at another time, but we stopped at the lower falls. The hike takes about an hour at our pace, although we did take plenty of stops and we're going pretty slow as we had no idea where we were going. Be careful when getting here, the turn off of the highway had no signs and we missed it and had to backtrack. The gps on our phones was spotty due to having little to no service. Anyways, you will go down a gravel road. People will park along the way. We had read somewhere that there was a parking spot close to the falls, but the road up prohibited motor vehicles from entering, so we had to continue to the end of the gravel road where many people parked. There are also vehicles parked on the right hand side of the road along the way, it is prohibited to park on the left side. It was very busy for a Tuesday afternoon, this seems to be an extremely popular hiking spot. The end of the gravel road is where the trail begins. There are not many trail markers here so be careful and try to stay on path. I def recommend keeping your maps open so you can get a general direction you need to follow. Although there are plenty of people there that you will probably run into that can help guide your way. The path is lined with plenty of plants and there are areas where they have overgrown onto the pathway and you may have to walk through bushes. There are some decent inclines and there are many pathways, but I believe they all end up merging to the waterfall anyways. Please be careful and pay attention to where you are going as it is very easy to get lost here! read more

When I arrived on the trail toward the falls, there was a wait because a truck had tried to turn around and got stuck and nearly toppled off the cliff. The truck required 10-15 people to strategically move the car. Please do not try to turn your car midway on the dirt trail. There is not enough room to do this. The only way to turn your car around is to head toward a parking area up further on the road and turn your car around at that parking spot. Once the car was freed and no longer blocking the path I headed toward Bassi Falls with my friends. The road is unpaved and there are huge holes in the dirt road. This made access to Bassi Falls an inconvenience. We parked our car at the parking area and could not venture forth because of the holes in the road. Once parked, we hiked about 2.5 miles to Bassi Falls. Upon arrival, the waterfalls were so beautiful and worth the hike to get there. The area is dog friendly, however, there are many people there on the weekend. There are two beautiful primary waterfall source and some people have climbed up to the highest waterfall to explore. There are also many water holes down the way. The further away from the waterfall, the warmer the water hole. There were fish in the water holes also! MY friends and I got lost when we left Bassi Falls because we steered off the trail. When we realized we made an error in our judgement, we continued forward thinking it was a shortcut. Please remember to visually observe brushes and specific trees when on the trail to enter the falls so as to not veer off the path. As we ventured forth, we realized we were deeper in the Forrest and the air became more dense. Since we were losing light quickly, we decide to hike back to the trail rather than proceed further into the Forrest. Best decision of our lives. I can see how people get easily stranded in horror movies. What should have taken us 15 minutes to return back to our car took us nearly 2 hours! Do NOT do what we did!! read more

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Beautiful hike to Bassi Falls. We chose the route that was 2 miles each way. There is an easy one that is 1/2 a mile that a lot of people take. One tip would be to get there early and avoid late in the afternoon as more people are on the trail. The falls this year were magnificent. The water was really gushing. Another plus about this hike is that it is very dog friendly. My dog, Abby, loved the areas she could get in the water. read more

Bassi Falls - Bassi Falls - Hiking Near Me - Placerville, California

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The directions took us a longer way than needed. You will know when your getting close when your near ice house and cross a bridge. Despite one spot of trash dumped it was clean! The trail was easy and is 4 miles there and back. Keep the trail clean and have a great time :) read more

Bassi Falls - Such an awesome swimming spot! - Hiking Near Me - Placerville, California

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This is a really beautiful hike to a really beautiful waterfall. As this was my first time exploring this area and I didn't know it too well, I had to do quite a bit of checking directions to make sure I knew where we were going. You definitely have to go on a couple of unmarked dirt roads, which doesn't make the path driving there any easier, but definitely worth it! Additionally, the trail to the actual falls is just ok - it's super easy to get lost and lose track of the trail. We arrived there relatively early in the morning and there weren't too many people there. Thankfully, we bumped into another group of hikers who knew the way, so we were able to follow them. On the way back, though, we definitely made a wrong turn or two and had to backtrack a few times. Aside from the hard-to-follow trail, it's actually really nice and pretty easy. The reward of the actual falls and all of the possible swimming areas leading up to the falls is totally worth it. The water is ice cold since it is snow melt, but it feels good against the hot almost-summer sun. By the time we left, there were definitely a lot more people there, but it still didn't feel crowded because it's a pretty large, open space at the base of the falls. Perfect hike for the whole family and a day trip outside of Sacramento. I'd definitely go back (and not get lost)! read more

Easy hike with a good view at the end. There are little swimming pods at the end of the hike. It's super pretty. However when we went there was a big group behind us so there wasn't much privacy. Also a dog friendly hike. Not much inclines either. If you go farther up there's more swimming holes we found out. Parking can be confusing but just follow the car trail and then stop when u can go no longer go any farther. It's a dirt path. Free parking try not to block the path for walkers. read more

Bassi Falls - Hiking Near Me - Placerville, California

It was an easy hike. The water falls and pools were gorgeous! The water was clear and clean although there were a lot of people dipped in. Water was cold but it compensates with summer heat so it was very nice and refreshing. read more

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Amazing day today. It's a good 4 mile rt hike. I guess there's a quicker way there? We had no idea, but none the less, the Falls just jamming. Perfect weather, sun and clouds high 60's. Good for whole family(we saw kids, dog friendly too), cuz you can go swimming in some of those pools at falls. I think fishing would be good too. It's a nice climb up to the falls. You can get off the path easily just find those cairns and markers in trees to keep you on trail. Brings water, snacks, sunscreen and hat and good hiking shoes. read more

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What a fantastic place to go in the El Dorado Forest near Ice House Reservoir. We took both our dogs and of course 3 kids and they climbed on the rocks and played in the water The Falls was still going really strong the first week in July I would recommend this is a day trip to anyone. read more

Bassi Falls - First week in July 2017. - Hiking Near Me - Placerville, California

Very nice to visit but be careful when you hear people target practicing with their rifles and pistols. A stray bullet zoomed by my sons' ear and cracked on a large rock in front of my family as we were walking away from the falls. read more

Beautiful 109ft waterfall off Ice House rd. The dirt road to the trailhead is bumpy and just before you reach the trailhead there are some gnarly potholes that I wouldn't recommend going over unless you have a high clearance vehicle. There are spots along the dirt road you can park & just walk the rest of the way to the trailhead. The hike itself is too easy not to do if you aren't a serious hiker and a lot of fun if you have kiddos. If you go during the summer it will likely be just a trickle. I try to go twice a year before end of May. Last 2 years I went as early as Feb & while the falls were lovely there wasn't any snow on the ground. I'd gladly wait until May to visit if it meant there was snow up there. Anyway from the trailhead walk until the trees clear out & you're walking over granite. You'll hear the falls before you see them. Plan a picnic there & enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Late spring on wknds can be a little crowded so if you want that perfect selfie consider visiting at other times. read more

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What a great little hike! If you're in the area and looking for a small day trip or if you're camping somewhere alone Ice House Rd. then I suggest that you do this lil trail. It's only 1.2 miles round trip, but that's only if you start directly from the trail head. So here is why you most likely won't and the directions, from Sacramento... Take 50 East and past Placerville and Apple Hill and all that Turn left onto Ice House Rd. it's just a turn off the highway, don't worry there is one sign Drive on Ice House Rd. for appox. 16.6miles, you will cross a bridge over Silver Creek and the turn will be next. Turn right onto the unmarked road, it's dirt, but there is a sign that says Bassi Falls Turn left onto another small dirt road, there is another sign that says Bassi Falls Travel on this for about a mile or so...park anywhere you can find a little spot. If you travel all the way to the trail head I suggest that you have 4 wheel drive because it gets pretty bumpy. The trail is well marked and once you get to the waterfall there is plenty of places you can explore! Many people bring their dogs and kids to play in the small pools of water from the falls. This hike is only for the summer time though, early spring there will still be snow up there. read more

1st Family hiking trip. 2 miles one way.. worth the walk. Friendly people we met....will definitely be back. read more

Bassi Falls - 1st Hiking trip.... Loved it. - Hiking Near Me - Placerville, California

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Use Sarah Y.'s directions but know that we didn't see any signs for Bassi Falls from the main road coming down from Loon Lake. The 2nd Bassi Falls sign once you're on the dirt road is there. We chatted with another photog while shooting Bridalveil Falls (the one near Sly Park right on Hwy 50, not Yosemite). He said Bassi Falls has the most water he's seen in a while. Parking is limited. Maybe 10 total at the trailhead with another 10 just around the corner from the trailhead. The trail is easy to follow until you reach the granite. At that point just listen for the falls. Word of advice, note where the trail hits the granite as it's a bit of a chore to find the trail on the way back in the waning light. The falls are roaring right now, as much as 170 ft. fall can. You can also make your way to the top of the falls mountain goating up the rocks the left of falls. With the water volume high, there were crevices of granite with water streaming though, making for more interesting photographs than the falls themselves. There were families out there during our hike. Other brought their dogs. Even some smokers. A generally chill location to either relax, wade in a swimming hole, photograph, or just enjoy the falls. read more

What a nice hike. Went April 8, 2012, and the road to the parking lot was closed until April 16. But that was nice because it made the hike a bit longer than the short 1.2 mile jaunt. It was about 3 miles each way from the road. Easy hiking, easy to find. The falls were beautiful! Snow still on ground in places. I think during a particularly wet winter, the trail may have been closed, but during this mild winter we lucked out to be able to go so early. Highly recommend for a relaxing, shorter hike to an amazing area. Waterfall was a five star and you are surrounded by trickles and streams of water and wading pools. read more

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Our first time coming. Loved the waterfalls and water, easy hike to the falls. I believe we did the second route, about 1mile to find it, Until.... we thought we were headed back in right direction and got so lost on the way back. We walked up the wrong pathways a couple times, climbing crazy uphill, we thought we had finally found it and it was a dead end, so we climbed through one small bush (thinking we can get on the right trail)we kept going deeper into the trees. 2 Moms, 2 kids, no experience hiking, we panicked lol finally after climbing through scary rocks, going thought trees, bushes and falling down large trees, we seen hikers across the way not too far. I yelled out to them to help lead us out. This sweet guy and his family, stomped down trees to get us back on the trail!! So thankful for this sweetheart! He carried my 6 year out out of sharp bushes, the rest of us got our legs cut up! Geez, we thought we'd never climb our way out! BEYOND THANKFUL TO THAT FAMILY, especially the sweetheart that stomped down trees and carried my little one to safety! So...If your newbies and not good with directions like I was, just stay on the trail that's easy to climb up, or your screwed!!lol Lesson learned! Overall beautiful to experience! Might be back with someone with more experience because now I don't trust myself!lol read more

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I took my 4 year old son on this hike yesterday, and we truly enjoyed it! We didn't make it all the way to the top, but probably did a good 2 miles round trip. We made it to the bottom of the falls and hung out by the little pools. We followed the directions here on Yelp, and it took us about 90 minutes to get there from Sac. I recommend this hike for anyone with little kids! It was truly beautiful out there. read more

Bassi Falls - If you don't have 4wd, turn right onto the little dirt road across from the Big Silver Camp ground, it'll take you right to the trail. - Hiking Near Me - Placerville, California

Great hike as it's not too challenging but still feels like hiking. The turnoff to the trail can be easy to miss and then there is a really long drive to the actual trail head. On the weekends in the summer the trail is really busy, so either go early or later. In late summer there probably won't be much water if any. read more

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Perfect little hike, but there is no falls...we don't have any water in Cali!

Beautiful! We will be back! Hard to find map it out before you go service was spotty. Early summer was great time to go with lots of water flow. read more

Amazing hike. However there are a few things to look out for that I wish I knew ahead of time to look out for , There is snow leftover on the trail so it was hard to navigate in some areas. Since there is snow melt, parts of the trail are covered in water and it would be good to wear waterproof shoes or your feet will get wet ! It wasn't too far to get to the fall but if you go off trail to see the smaller falls along the way , it's very worth it! To know where the trail actually is if you're going when there's still snow leftover , Stay on the areas that are open! There are a lot of spots that look like a trail and it's not. The parking lot is small so make sure to get there early. and I didn't happen to see any bathroom but maybe there was one near the campground but I'm not sure .Overall, the entire experience was great and the hike was easy aside from walking through some snow and water. The views are so beautiful and I would go there again. read more

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PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: The waterfalls here are awesome but they are only active in winter/spring. I love sitting right at the top next to the waterfall as there is a misty refreshing breeze and an amazing forest view. read more

Gorgeous little hike. Gets crowded at times. The kids love it here! Parking is horrid, or it would get 5 stars. Follow the sound of the falls or the stacks of rocks. Beware the "toilet" to the left facing the falls. You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it. Ew. read more

Took young teenagers there in early July. The water was still flowing with a number of small pools present in the granite rocks. The road in can be a challenge (truck or 4 wheel drive). I didn't use the 4 wheel drive but the dirt road for the last few miles requires some clearance due to the rough road. The hike to the falls is pretty short, but there is plenty of climbing around opportunities at the falls. It made for a nice day hike. read more

We went here 5-28-12 and the water level was fantastic. I was a little worried that the falls wouldn't be very impressive but it was absolutely beautiful - I hear that early spring is the best time to view the falls. Take 50 East to Ice House Road and turn right on the dirt road just after crossing the bridge and then follow the sign to Bassi Falls. The last part of the dirt road might be tough for cars but there are plenty of places to park just before the trailhead. The walk from the trailhead to the falls is very short and pretty easy so don't worry if hiking isn't your thing - this is pretty much a short walk (10 minutes?) to incredible falls. There are several places to hang out so bring a picnic and your dog and hang out for a while. There are several swimming holes and so much to explore and make it a "hike" for those of us that need to work off the Bud Light calories we'll consume after the hike. :) read more

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Without doubt the finest falls no one ever heard of. I was there late May 2017. As you will read in other reviews, there are variable length walks to get there. I was late in the day so I choose the 1/2 mile (1 way). Very limited parking if you elect this option. I was there until about 6:30 and got rewarded with a brilliant rainbow. The falls faces the setting sun so it's a high probability. I'm going back to walk the 2 mi (one way) trail to enjoy the creek and then to scramble to the top of the falls. Now, about the falls. It's raging and will be for at least another 6 weeks at least. I frankly believe this falls will be running big until the next snowfall. Big I said because right now it's humongous. The setting, the curving path of the falls, the creek below all add to the enjoyment of this spectac place. Now the fall itself...unlike a long graceful fall like Yosemite's Bridalveil, this one is raucous, tumultuous, explosive, creating wind and mist and a thunderous roar. The best view at the base of the fall requires wading through 12 inches of swift water to boulders near the main stream. Take hiking poles and water shoes for best results. The dirt road to the short trail is about 1.5 mi from the paved road. There are a couple of spots where care is advised but your passenger car should make it. Really low cars could have trouble so the option is to park and walk. Caution: Turn around opportunities are infrequent once you're on the way to the closest trail head. This falls/trail is perfect for a family outing but keep the little ones close at hand. read more