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Cascade Falls

4.4 (41 reviews)

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Lyna N.

Love it, just chasing the waterfall... better to hike right after rainy season to catch a full waterfall, nice short hike anyone can do it...

Chris L.

"Secret Way In!" Yes, it's true--there's a secret, and legal way in to this park and up to see the waterfalls. The secret way in is from the south, via a "secret" trail called Pine Mountain Tunnel Road. The Tunnel Road used to be closed to public access, but no more! It is a perfectly legal trail, with easements crossing private property. So please be respectful when you cross that area. (There's a great history to Pine Mountain tunnel, involving a huge water tunnel bored through the mountain about a hundred years ago!) Most maps do not show it, but there is a trail from Pine Mountain Tunnel Road to Carey Camp Trail. I know for positive, because that's how I came to the Falls today! Even though the trail does not show up on most Maps, it is physically marked very clearly with official Park signs at the trailhead. You can bike on Pine Mountain Tunnel Road, but when you go to Carey Camp Trail, you have to leave your bike behind. I put mine next to some trees and hiked down in my mountain biking shoes on the Carey Camp Trail. The main trail to the falls takes you several times through the creek. The day that I visited, the creek was completely dry, but oftentimes you will need to take the bypass trail. Today, the waterfall was in full splendor! Really a big nificent sight to see. (For the geocachers in the group, there is a big geocache on the traul beyond the Falls.) As others have noted, there aren't any restrooms, and the parking on Cascade is very limited. That's why I took the tricky way in! However, I also discovered how poor my mountain biking shoes are for hiking on terrain.

Joan W.

Cascade Falls is a cute little neighborhood waterfall. If coming all the way from the city or East Bay specifically to do a waterfall hike it's probably better to do Carson or Cataract, but if you've been there done that and are looking for a short little hike this is a good option. The trail starts at the end of a residential street with extremely limited parking. Because of this it seems like more locals that live on Cascade drive do this hike. The waterfall takes about 20-30 minutes to get to from the beginning of the trailhead. During the rainy season there is a running stream adjacent to the path most of the way there which dries up in later months. During this time it can get quite muddy in some areas so it might be a good idea to bring hiking boots or pole. The waterfall is beautiful and lush. I think it's best to go a few weeks after the rainy season as it's still running heavily but the trails aren't as muddy. The falls dry up by the end of May.

Danny S.

Fantastic, easy trail. The best part is all the other trails that enter and leave the main trail, meaning you can take a shorter or longer route depending on how you are feeling. It will be muddy after rains, but that's kind of the point! Drive slow in the neighborhood.

Cascade Falls
Adrianna C.

I came here after doing some research on waterfall hikes in the SF area. Cascade Falls and the greater Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve was a really lowkey, relaxing hike. The trail is mainly flat, with some uphill/down hill areas. There are 3 parts where you have to cross over a stream/rocks but it's not too difficult to walk across. There are many trails you can walk, not just the trail to the water fall, which is nice if you're looking for a longer hike. Starting at the Elliot Nature Preserve entrance (off of Cascade Falls Drive) the walk to the waterfall is about 1mile one way (2mi round trip). I loved it. It's very family-friendly too as I saw a about 5 groups of folks with kids and strollers.

Kathy V.

Don't go chasing waterfalls...Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.. remember that song? Since El nino is around still, I figure why not find a waterfall. Cascade Falls was next on my list. The 2-mile round trip hike along the High Water Trail undulated on some minor hills with some minor dropoff exposure and some minor rock hopping on tributary streams. A simple hike but prepared for some muddy ground and some wet socks. The hike itself is not all flat, there are parts you will need to go up hill but anyone can do it! Stay toward the right of your path and you will hit the waterfall at the top. FYI.. do not use Google Maps for directions, it took me 10mins off from the drive onto some other hike. LOL USE YELP address.

Beginning of the hike along the creek
Caroline S.

This is a wonderful little-known dog-friendly hike, reminiscent of Cataract falls but much easier. The beginning of the hike follows along a beautiful flowing creek, you will pass through fern meadows and cross bridges. The waterfall is a decent size and is gorgeous. It's an easy 1.5 mile round-trip hike with only 250ft elevation gain. You can extend your hike through several connecting trails. We hiked this trail while it was raining, and I highly recommend doing the same or hiking just after a rain to see the waterfall in full force. Parking is tricky and very limited, so I recommend going early. No parking is allowed in front of the gate at the trailhead. Very limited street parking is available on the right side of the street only, in the pullouts off of the pavement (room for about 4 cars). No parking is allowed on the pavement or on the left side of the street. If no parking is available here, you may need to park about a mile back where there is curbed street parking. A garbage can and doggy clean up bags are available at the trailhead. There are no restrooms or water faucets available.

H S.

Very limited parking so best to avoid weekends if possible. Easy walking with some stepping stones to cross the creek if you follow the fire road.

Eddy P.

My friend and I wanted to take advantage of the break in the rain over the weekend. We figured due to all the rain, the waterfall trails in the Bay Area would be born again! We yelped and found this beautiful trail! A nice drive to the trail head. We came on a weekday afternoon so parking was easy. No parking on the street and there is no parking lot. You got to find a turnout spot on the side of the road making sure to respect the neighbors . A nice, calm, easy and relaxing walk in the park. Beautiful river and amazing falls. Now is the time to go since the heavy rain keeps the Falls flowing good!

Pritika M.

I did not like this place...maybe coz I went right in the middle of summer. It was really dry. But I could imagine going here after the rain, it must be really really pretty. I missed it :( I decided to go here after watching the movie IT ... When we started hiking there was no one in sight. The only sound was a kid screaming so far away. Also there was this house right by the entrance which looks like this umm hoppers house in stranger things (lol). So i did manage to go half way but I got so scared, I freaked out and turned around. The whole time I had this thought running in my mind that o Lord what if I actually see a clown bahahahaha. Anyways I did manage to take so good pics. The side from where I entered there was no parking so u have to find parking in front of houses. I would want go back during rain, just to see thebflowing water and the waterfall.

left trail (longer of the two) | www.eddie-hernandez.com
Eddie H.

Cascade can be somewhat confusing. There are two sets of waterfalls that can be reached at each split on the fork in the road. One set is the lazy man's hike (which is the shortest hike I've ever traveled to see a waterfall, the other is a bit longer to get to ~15 minutes). Neither proved to be that great to look at. The larger of the two waterfalls is about 20 feet which is nothing special after you've seen all the best waterfalls in Marin like I have before this one. There are plenty of better hikes and certainly plenty of better waterfalls in Marin - call me a little snobbish but I know my hikes and waterfalls. Getting here can be a pain in the butt as you'll have to start this hike from a residential street that has prohibited parking at the end of the street. This is a very amateurish hike that can be perfect if you're a total beginner or looking for something quick and easy. =============== For more hiking recommendations: http://www.yelp.com/list_details?list_id=kc_cpimm3r3OA07lrBGKBA

Sheryl H.

No parking at the entrance, dried up creek, wide trails, quick walk, and small waterfall. Overall, I came here because Carson falls had a closure. No service in the area resulted in a nearby trail. I do recommend this trail for families!

Emily L.

Planned a Sunday hike for the cousins since everyone was trying to be more active this year. We had ages 4 months to 40 years old on this hike, so I picked a fairly easier hike. The way there was simple from San Jose. It took about 1 hour and 30 mins to get to the hiking grounds. This is basically someones back yard! There is only street parking and it fills up rather quickly. We got to the hiking grounds at 9:30am after frantically looking for parking for 5 vehicles. We had some disagreements about which route to take to get to the falls. It is less than 1 miles round trip, which is a good starter hike for our new comers. It had just rained that week, so the ground was moist and some parts muddy. We even had to cross the river in order to get back to some parts of the trail. Either way you take, it'll take you up to the falls. Compared to other falls in the bay area, this is not really a big one, nor were there any alternative trails to keep walking around. If I lived closer to here, I would come more often, but this was not worth the drive for me. It still is a beautiful hike! Do not, I repeat, do not, come off season. The falls will be none existent!

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Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Cascade Falls

Is it open?

Yes as of 20Sep2020

When is the best time to hike this trail?

Usually December through May are the best months and the best time of day is 9:00am-noon. Because it is not as hot in the day, easier to find parking and not to busy on the trails or at the falls.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Cascade Falls

Take Cascade Drive all the way until you see a sign for Cascade Falls, and prepare for a pleasant stroll!

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Phoenix Lake - Broken bridge- easy fix around the counter

Phoenix Lake

(73 reviews)

It's fairly impossible to review Phoenix Lake itself in so much as touching its surface qualifies…read moreas a punishable offense. But you can review the trail around the lake which steers you completely clear of touching the water at all. The trail around Phoenix lake's circumference is easy, taking less than 1 hour to traverse. Leashed dogs are welcome. It'd be difficult to get lost. I always hike it counter-clockwise. If you're coming from San Francisco to hike but what you really want to do is have brunch, the brief hike around Phoenix Lake will allow you to achieve both your goals. Owing to the drought, the lake has looked quite sorry in the past few years but right now it's looking quite nice. Less dirt, more water There's a small parking lot and port-a-potties at Natalie Coffin Green Park, the entrance nearest the lake and trails, but you'll rarely find parking there. Parking on the nearby streets is also generally prohibited (welcome to Ross!). The best way to enjoy this space is to park for free behind the Ross Post Office and walk yourself all the way down Lagunitas Road until you get to the park, the full parking lot, and the lake. The benefit is that you'll actually then get in enough exercise to justify your brunch. It'll take a bit longer but it's an easy stroll to the lake and back. The hike around the lake has its ups and downs but never even begins to qualify as difficult. I'm not generally a fan of such a short, non-strenuous hike but must admit that the lake was looking remarkably pretty on a recent hike.

Almost 4 mile trail. Absolutely stunning views. If you're a photographer (like me) don't rush…read morethese trails. Walking sticks are handy! Some Bicyclist have zero road side courtesy be very careful. Lots of locals who know these grounds very well. Newbies beware, and take your time.

Bon Tempe Lake - Coming back to the lake.

Bon Tempe Lake

(28 reviews)

This is actually just one of several reservoirs that make up the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. There…read moreare also creeks and a dam that add to the features. One of the main roads to get up there is just above the town of Fairfax in Marin County. It is a windy road but short, like 10 minutes or so. There are also a lot of bikers who like this area, so watch out on those narrow roads. Once you get closer to the park, the pavement stops and you will have to drive on large gravel for quite a bit, so don't be bringing your high end luxury car here. Lol Once there, an $8 parking fee through a kiosk awaits. I did a 6 mile loop starting at the dam and starting on Alpine lake. Easy start for the first mile or so, with most of it being lakeside. Then the middle 3 miles goes deeper into the forest cover and is more strenous, a constant climb that will speed up the heart rate. Love doing this amongst forest air. Deep in city confines...not so much. The descend will bring you back to where Alpine Lake and Bon Tempe Lake meets, by the dam. The top of hike is exposed and rocky but still gorgeous. Actually reminded me a bit of Tahoe with rocky trails and exposed blue skies. There will be a view of the lower elevations of Southern Marin County. There will also be many glimpses of neighboring Mt. Tam. And after that great morning workout, I was able to have a nice relaxing outdoor meal at one of the many charming independent restaurants in Fairfax, just 10 minutes down the road. Great way to start my stay-cation.

A post on NextDoor.com caught my attention. Someone had just moved to the neighborhood and was…read moreasking how they could hike without paying the $8 parking fee they'd noticed in some areas. The deluge of responses made it clear: if you're paying to park in Marin County, you're doing something wrong. With only a single exception in memory, I don't think I've paid to hike anywhere in the county and these days all I do is hike. But, if you want to hike the grounds of the Mount Tam Watershed it is true that there's a $8 cost to that. You can get around this by purchasing an annual parking pass or checking a pass out from the Marin County Library system. Bon Tempe Lake is my favorite hike within this area of the Mt. Tam Watershed. With an easy to follow, well-trod, 4.8 mile path around the lake's perimeter, and situated only minutes from downtown Fairfax, Bon Tempe is a quintessential Marin experience. You're in nature, beside a gorgeous, placidly serene lake yet only 10 minutes from a good brunch or latte. There's nothing difficult about the hike around the lake and though it isn't flat, it's elevations are quite gentle. If you need more, add a loop around Lake Lagunitas (the two paths intersect) to increase your hike by another 1.2 miles. Fishing is allowed here (but no swimming) and the parking area - for Bon Tempe in particular - fills up early on weekends. All the more reason to make time for Bon Tempe on a weekday. There's lots of hiking options here in the Watershed but for my money, the half-shaded-half-sunny path around Bon Tempe is the loveliest of them all.

Fairfax Open Space Preserve - White Hill viewed from Azalea Hill Trail

Fairfax Open Space Preserve

(6 reviews)

Okay, so here's my story. Film Night In The Park was showing "Rocky" one Saturday night in…read moreSeptember. Neither the Hunny nor the girl wanted to see it, so it was just me going to Central Marin to see this cheapo movie that became one of the most inspirational and biggest moneymakers of the 1970s. But I got there early so I could get some hiking in. The goal: White Hill. I drove down Glen Drive to the end, hiked for roughly half a mile, and at the fork in the trail, took the wrong fork: I went right instead of left. And ended up on this sharp uphill fire road that took me to some big, wide views of Fairfax. Nothing really special here, if you don't count the reservoirs as special. What you do have is a place to work those quads, build that cardio, and test your endurance as you attempt to get to the top of those hills to the north. And the trail does take you to the top, if you can make it. An unobstructed view of Mt. Tam, several neighborhoods of Terra Linda and San Anselmo, and the open space of San Geronimo Valley can all be seen from this trail. So really, it's typical Marin County outdoors, more unshaded grasslands than dark forest. This could be a good picnic area. Either you or your special someone can go for a few hundred feet, then down a narrow trail to your left, to come to a dense flat forest where you can spread out the blanket, pour the wine, and enjoy your vegan sandwich and organic fruit (hey, this is Marin County). Or you can huff and puff for as far up as you want, and then put out the blanket and eat something more substantial as you two enjoy the view. Fairfax Open Space Preserve is another option for outdoors lovers, but there are better choices out there. BTW, I had to turn around after an hour, the movie was about to start. But I did have that famous Bill Conti song on my mind. Because going up that hill is tougher than the staircase leading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Good running destination from Forest Knolls.... 8 mile round trip. It's a great start for…read moremarathon training!

Dawn Falls - Dawn Falls Trail

Dawn Falls

(48 reviews)

Dawn Falls Trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back trail near Larkspur, California. It's considered to…read morebe a moderately challenging route. It will take about an hour to walk through this beautiful redwoods round trip to the Dawn Falls. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running. The best part of the Dawn Falls trail is that it's not crowded but you may still see a few other people while exploring. This trail is open year round but the best time is from January through November. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. However, I do see local dogs roaming without their leashes. Only a few parking spots deter many visitors. However, if you will be willing to be patience, there will on a parkingspot for you. This trail is maintained so clean here, so please no littering! Enjoy!

*****pay attention *****…read more Word, to the ignorant drivers who have never been on switchbacks DO NOT come here. As you blast down the very single car lane, not paying attention and laughing away isn't cute. Be mindful of cars and pediatricians. Believe it or not its not all about you! The road to the trail is all kinds of messed up. It's a single lane through a neighborhood with very little turnouts. Believe it or not, there are huge redwoods along this road. If you have never been on a road like this, please park at the bottom of the road!!! PLEASE! Even the folks who were walking up the road to the trail aren't alert. It's sooo fun to be surrounded by people who believe it's all about them yes, im being harsh, but it was that bad!

Lake Lagunitas

Lake Lagunitas

(26 reviews)

It was absolutely Beautiful. We hiked around the lake. It was an easy hike and so fun. They have…read morelots of picnic tables and so many trees. You have to pay for parking and it's at the station a little before you actually park I gave the lake five stars but the road to get up there two stars. It's a very skinny road and only one car can pass with two way traffic. Yikes.....But we made it and it was worth the trip!

Such a cool place -- and it's one of those locations that not too many people go to unless they are…read morein the area. Somewhat of a "locals" spot for hiking, biking, and trail running. In addition, it's also a beautiful drive up! The road eventually becomes one-lane, so drive slowly when the road bends. People like to drive a little faster than they should on it, unfortunately. The parking is ample. After you pay the entrance fee, you'll see several opportunities to park on your way down the road. The main Parking lot is all the way at the end where the bathroom and shelter/picnic area is. There's also a neat creek and man-made waterfall over here as well that comes from the reservoir up top. The hike itself is really fun. We hiked up to the top where the reservoir is and really loved the view. My Apple Watch says that our walk around the perimeter of the reservoir was roughly 2 miles. I wouldn't call it a hike, per se, but it was a nice, leisurely walk in a beautiful place which is just as nice! There are tons of redwoods, oak trees, and wild flowers here, but also poison oak. The trails seem pretty well-maintained, so there isn't much need to worry about poison oak as long as you don't wander too far off the trail. Great for kids, as there isn't much incline on this trail. I would definitely come back and try more of the trails here.

Carson Falls - Parking area

Carson Falls

(26 reviews)

Carson Falls are epic! Carson Falls drops about 80 feet…read more 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?

This is a case where the journey is more important than the destination…read more 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.

Cascade Falls - parks - Updated May 2026

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