Carson Falls are epic! Carson Falls drops about 80 feet along Carson Creek. In the winter after storms: totally amazing! The creek swells and the falls roar. You don't just see it, you feel it in your mind and heart! I love the power of water falls! In the summer, the water falls are quiet, delicate, still stunning. Your peaceful serenity moment with zero crowds makes your heart melt with smiles. Bring your lunch. Or a book. Or just simply enjoy the magic of living! It's about 3 miles round trip. 2 hours. Steady but happy climb, totally doable! The kind of "easy enough for any day of the week, rewarding enough to brag about hike. Chase this one right after a huge storm must be spectacular! Trust me. You'll see why Marin locals try to keep it quiet. Who's adding this to their hiking list? read more

See all

This is a case where the journey is more important than the destination. Carson Falls is located in a remote part of Marin County. When I was into mountain biking, I read a book about the biking trails in Marin. On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the toughest, the Pine Mountain area is a 6! Pine Mountain Road is not only remote, it's rocky. If you get in trouble out here, you're REALLY in trouble. I'll stick to hiking, thankyouverymush. First stop: Carson Falls. I went in March, there had already been a few showers that year, so I wasn't worried about the lack of water. I was spectacularly underwhelmed. I think the falls are around 25 feet tall, and it wouldn't take much for the creek to run out of water. The rock where you can gaze at the falls while eating lunch is nice, and the immediate area is home to an endangered yellow-legged frog. Oh well, so much for this destination. The journey - the acreage surrounding the falls - truly is spectacular. Especially in Spring, when the grass is still green. Forests alternating with low manzanita. The last quarter mile before Carson Falls is deep redwoods. Views of canyons, ridgelines, the Meadow Club Golf Course, both Alpine and Kent Lakes, and Marin suburbia in the distance. You can even see Mt. Diablo and Mt. Tam in the same shot. I made it up to Pine Mountain, which requires bushwhacking to get to the actual summit, and found two mysterious rockwalls hidden among the manzanita. If camping was allowed here, there are plenty of nice backpacking spots, but this is an area for storage of Marin drinking water so camping is out. The Carson Falls and Pine Mountain area is really nice if you're looking for a different outdoors jaunt. It's not undiscovered by any means, but it does offer an experience that's different from most in Marin County - or the entire Bay Area, for that matter. read more

Carson Falls - The view from Pine Mountain. Mt. Diablo to the left, Mt. Tam to the right, and the bay in the middle. - Hiking Near Me - Bolinas, California

See all

In August, the Falls don't have much water! I did not have super high hopes, since I figured in August the Falls would not be running so well. Guess what? They weren't running at all! Hike up Carson Falls Trail was a bit steep in places. So be sure to wear good hiking shoes. Even though the Falls were not running today, I could still appreciate the wonderful location. Plus, it's a nice hike up there anyway. read more

See all

Round trip about 3 miles/2 hours. Park at Azalea Hill and start at the Pine Mountain Trail. If the area is full there is some parking along Bolinas road. The first part of the hike isn't that impressive trail wise. Depending on the time of the year it can be dry and dusty or very muddy. It's also rocky so I would recommend hiking boots or sturdy sneakers (no keds or flip flops). The views are vast, you can see all the way to the bay and Mt. Diablo in the distance. At about a mile take a left on Oak Road. From there go down until you hit Carson Falls Trail and make a right. This trail is better because it's more shady and forresty. Once you get to the waterfall you can view it at the top but there is also a couple of other viewing areas past the bridge down the trail. I like this waterfall because there are many different levels and it has great photo opportunities. It's also quite the social scene on weekends which make it fun yet can get a bit crowded while trying to take photos. For the serious photographer come super early or on a weekday. read more

Carson Falls - Hiking Near Me - Bolinas, California

3 mile round-trip hike from Azalea Hill parking lot and back. This is Watershed land managed by Marin Water which means dogs are allowed on leash. Bikes are not allowed on trails, only the fire roads. Waterfalls are glorious. They are home to Foothill Yellow-Legged Frogs which is listed as both a federal and state species of special concern. The frogs breed in spring so it is important to keep out of the water from March through May or you might crush frogs eggs or tadpoles. Frogs, eggs and tadpoles are same greenish/gray color as the rocks so they blend in but if you have patience and/or binoculars you can spot them. You may also see newts, salamaders, lizards, all kids of wildflowers and lots of poison oak. Keep your feet and your dogs out of the falls to protect these sensitive species! read more

Carson Falls - Foothill Yellow-Legged Frogs blend in - Hiking Near Me - Bolinas, California

Unlike most waterfall hikes, this one is not covered. From Fairfax-Bolinas Road at Pine Mountain Road. There are about 8-10 parking spots on the left hand side of the road while the trail starts on the right hand side of the road. The first 1/2 half of this hike is mostly uphill and will catch you a little off-guard and leave you breathing a little harder than expected. There are 3 tiers of waterfalls at the top and 1tier of falls at the bottom (the biggest of the 4 which is about 35 feet). Collectively, the 4 falls are about 80 feet and if you position yourself correctly, you can capture all 4 in one shot. This hike is just over 3 miles round trip but with the elevation change during the first leg of the trail, you'll feel like you've been hiking a bit longer. =============== For more hiking recommendations: http://www.yelp.com/list_details?list_id=kc_cpimm3r3OA07lrBGKBA read more

See all

It's only 1.3 in, really. Depending what you do it is about 3 miles back and forth with a decent net gain - it's a short hike that will make you feel like you worked hard if you go at a click. http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/carsonfalls.html That is solid advice, except the right onto broadway doesn't mention it's actually a right from Pastorini to Belmont which becomes Central which becomes Broadway. Here's a public album of snow capped peaks on a brisk late winter Sunday. It's the time the falls are really flowing. Don't be fooled either, there's endless hiking and loops up here that go for days. You can hike to the falls, or you can also hike around the falls up the falls down the falls my oh my what a good day. pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111894&id=1211590808&l=f7194cb3f7 read more

See all

Nice and not too grueling 3 mile round trip hike with the view of the waterfall at the end as the reward. Its best viewed after it rains as you can see the water flowing. Finding it might be a little difficult but detailed instructions on how to get there are located here: http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/carsonfalls.html I had a very relaxing time on this hike especially since it was a surprise hike and lunch date and I would recommend it to others. Its not very crowded either so I felt it was almost like we went on a private hike and picnic. read more

Trail muddy after rain, falls had less water flow than expected but were still pretty especially the lower viewpoint. Trail mostly along fire roads and not particularly noteworthy. Good informative signage and nice footbridges. read more

We took the Azalea Hills route and what was supposed to be about 5 miles turned into 8 miles because my friend led us off trail and lost. The shaded areas are super pretty with the giant redwoods and makes a pleasant hike. Once you're out in the sun though, its dry and rocky...reminded me of Mission Peak in Fremont. Expect it to be all uphill in the start but after that it's not that bad at all. Unfortunately, the falls had no water when we went so it was just a giant rock with some leftover moldy looking water at the bottom. No falls at Carson Falls for us =( but it was still a decent hike. read more

See all

4 falls totaling about 80 feet high. Short hike less than 2 miles each way. The incline can be a bit strenuous for older folks so just walk slowly. As with all falls it is best viewed after a good rainfall. Nice quiet place usually not crowded at all on weekdays. Great place for photography, post card views. Excellent for picnics too. To get there from US 101 in Marin County, exit San Anselmo/Sir Francis Drake. Drive about 5 miles west on Sir Francis Drake to Fairfax. Turn left on Pastori, right on Broadway, and left onto Fairfax-Bolinas Road. Drive about 4 miles on Fairfax-Bolinas Road to the parking lot on the left side of the road has about 10 parking spaces. The whole Carson Creek area is a really nice place to explore. read more

Carson Falls - Carson Falls after a rain, near Faifax. Beautiful place to go to get away from it all for the day. - Hiking Near Me - Bolinas, California

This is a hike to do during the Winter or Spring seasons. Why? In the summer, the waterfalls dry up and there's not much to see if that's what you're there for. As others have mentioned there isn't much tree coverage so it can get rather hot on sunny days. On the day I went in the Summer, the waterfall was but a mere trickle and others told us they could see a few frogs. This is a pretty decent hike, with wider trails and some steep inclines early on and then a descent to the falls. Prepare to share part of the trail with bikers. The views are beautiful and bugs were not an issue. This trail is nowhere near as populated as Cataract Falls, which is further down the Fairfax-Bolinas Road. The parking lot is located across from the entrance to the trail, which isn't very well marked. Look for the metal gates. read more

Beautiful hike with a lot of trails to choose from. Bring your dog, great dog-friendly hike! We got there late- around 10:30 on a weekend and there was surprisingly a lot of parking available in the dirt across the street from the trail head. The trail to the falls is less than 2 miles, but you have to hike up a pretty steep incline initially with no shade. It gives you great views of the bay, Mt.Tam, and the lake though! After you get up the steep part you head down to view the falls by taking Oat Hill Road to the left. Then take Little Carson Trail to the right. We went late January and there wasn't a lot of water, but it was bigger than expected, so still nice. When you reach a bridge, head to the left and you can view the upper falls. Then cross the bridge and head down the stairs to get a view of the lower part. You can go down to the pools at the base of the falls. The trail continues all the way down to the lake- it's mostly shaded and follows a stream, so it's very scenic but long and a steep hike back. The hike back up from the falls is pretty steep but definitely worth it. There was a huge tour group behind us for most of the hike, which made it less enjoyable. I hope that's not a regular thing. Would love to go back super early when it's fully flowing. We got back around 3pm and there was zero parking available, so go early! read more

See all

Pretty spot and it's dog friendly, though be sure to keep them on leash. My pups spotted a decent size rattle snake across our path. It's a great but burner, but not fun during the dead of summer. Pretty, great views and waterfalls (if you go across the bridge & down the rock steps.) Enjoy! read more

Good number of options of hikes to choose from in this area. Dog friendly trails. Biking and walking both. A bit challenging on a sunny day as there is a lot of open trails and are also quite steep in some areas. Be on a look out for snakes though! read more

Carson Falls - Falls within 2 miles of starting the 8 mile long scenic and moderate hike - Hiking Near Me - Bolinas, California

Meh! Not impressed with the waterfall at all. It took about an hour each way. The hike itself is good. There is a steep hill, you get a great glute and leg workout...just disappointed! The article I read made it sound amazing. read more

I was extremely disappointed upon my arrival. Road closure! Both routes. After Yelp & online research there was nothing noted that stated Carson falls was closed. read more

Beautiful falls, completely night and day different from Cataract falls, which is deep green and "hobbit like" in the winter months. Carson falls is open and rugged, and if you are a photographer, it is rich with opportunity during the week when there are less people. Very worth the hike on an overcast day. Here's a picture of the lower falls: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lfiedlerimages/4318700504/ read more

we were intending to go to Cascade falls but the road was closed and instead opted for Carson falls which is where we saw lots of cars parked (we were unaware of Carson falls). This turned out to be a pleasant treat as we headed out on the trail- a bit rocky and very muddy, 2 infants in toll in offspring carriers, a view of Alpine lake and trekking poles on hand. The views were spectacular, and the beauty of the falls was stunning. Carson falls was gushing with water, loud and amazing. What a nice sidetrack to our planned hike. We were pleasantly surprised and glad we decided to park and take a look. I can see why this hike is seasonal, but with all the recent rain this was a nice way to spend the morning- very few folks on the path even though it was a Sunday. read more

If you prefer views to scenery, want a reward after a hard hike and do not care about tree cover, Carson Falls is the hike for you. In my personal opinion, Carson Falls is overrated, even after the trail improvements but Carson Falls is still nice. I remember clambering down the old trail where I checked and double checked every step. First, kudos to the Marin Municipal Water District for fixing the trail! From the beginning, the drive to the Pine Mountain Road Trailhead is on Fairfax Bolinas Rd from Fairfax. The parking lot for Pine Mountain Rd is just right for a trailhead this size. Go on the fire road that goes to the right of Fairfax Bolinas Rd (coming from Fairfax) and you will immediately be surrounded by views of the entire bay area (and on the clearest of days, you will catch the Sierras.) Who knew that Mt. Tam's East Peak was not the only place where you could see 160 miles away in Marin? You may ask, "Why am I not in there?" when you look at the shore of Alpine Lake to see a forest with tops of Douglas Firs and Redwoods. Where are you? On a chaparral covered mountain with only a few trees that gets very hot in the summer (and spring.) Then the hike involves climbing up a steep chaparral covered hill for ten minutes. Turn left on Oat Hill FR to begin the steep descent (which should loom ahead of you later.) Take the nearest trail and before you know it, you reached Carson Falls. Personally, I have no major problem with Carson Falls but many hikers I know talk about as if it is the best waterfall in Marin County. Yes, Carson Falls resembles a good waterfall because it is long and it appears to never end. Unfortunately, there are no trees surrounding it. When a waterfall is in a forest, it gives out a tranquil vibe and you feel that you found the most beautiful waterfall on earth. Also, that waterfall would have a feeling of isolation while Carson Falls is isolated but does not give off the green wet forest feeling waterfalls such as Cataract do. Overall, take this hike for the top notch views and take it in the winter after a rain for the small cascades of Carson Falls. Remember, this hike is a scorcher in the summer and the fact that Carson Falls is a nice waterfall holds no water unless it just rained. read more

Stunning views of waterfalls for 2 miles straight up! Pups love it but be aware of ticks during the season. It's a mostly vertical climb, so it will get your heart rate up. But plenty of places to stop along the way to rest and have a nice lunch. read more

Had a nice hike today up to Carson Falls. I knocked off one star because they closed the road due to recent bad weather. The road can get closed next to the Meadows golf course. It was about a 10 mile hike out and back with a fairly steep climb, the fit bit showed a elevation of approximately 140 floors. Easy terrain hiking up a fire road and down switchbacks. Best view is on the left, just before the bridge...best to go after a rain. read more

This is a great hike. It's 1.9 miles each way. Make sure to bring lightweight hiking shoes and wear sunscreen. I'd also bring a camera because there are spectacular views. It's the perfect hike if you're looking for a bit of a workout as there are inclines both ways. The best time to go is early Spring after the rain when it's sunny and breezy. read more

We hiked up to Carson Falls and thought it was nice. The hike took about an hour and it was pretty steep, there were a lot of rocks and it was easy to slip. There wasn't a lot of shade so I recommend to wear a hat and use sunscreen.Carson Falls wasn't as big as I expected it was more of a stream than a waterfall but still quite beautiful. If you go wear sneakers because in other shoes it is easier to slip and be careful not to fall. I slipped a few times on rolling rocks. To get to Carson Falls it takes about 1.6 miles. read more

The Falls themselves are spectacular, if you can manage to go at a time when there aren't tons of people all swarming around them like ants. I tried to go yesterday b/c there has been tons of rain lately so I figured (a) the Falls would be at their fullest and totally gushing and (b) since it was raining and cold on this particular day, the throngs of party people from SF wouldn't be swarming around like bees before honey, ruining the effect.... well as it turns out not just one but TWO of the roads in there were CLOSED. Is the weather that BAD that they have to completely close the road???? Someone please explain this to me. Anyway at that point it was getting late and it was too late and too cold and miserable to find a way to run/hike in there from somewhere else, which I normally wouldn't mind doing if the weather hadn't been so shitty (I had already run 8+ miles in the rain up at the West Peak and was soaked and fed up). Summary: Falls are 5 stars, but 3 stars overall b/c of the stupid road closures when weather's shitty and stupid crowds when weather's good.... LOL!!! And also some of the trails are confusing. UPDATE: I went back a week after the shitty rainy day. It was warm and beautiful and it was a weekday, there were only a few people at the falls. One lady was sunbathing on the rocks topless, ugh. LOL! read more

what a fantastic place - a magical spot right in our own backyard. Be sure to check it out this winter.