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    Cascade Falls

    4.4 (41 reviews)

    Cascade Falls Photos

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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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    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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    Peri Park - From the foot bridge

    Peri Park

    4.4(19 reviews)
    0.3 km

    One of my favorite parks as a kid, and now one of my favorite parks to bring my own kids to…read more Péri Park in Fairfax has a calm, tucked-away neighborhood feel with giant redwood trees, lots of shade, and a softer energy than bigger playgrounds in Marin. Quick guide below. One thing I really love is that it has separate little kid and big kid play areas. Sometimes parks with toddler sections accidentally make the older-kid area feel boring... but not here. The bigger playground is still genuinely fun and adventurous for older kids too. The toddler playground is designed for ages 1-5, while the larger play structure is designed for kids ages 5-12, which makes this a really good option for siblings with different age ranges. There's also a shallow creek behind the park that families bring their kids to explore. It's only a couple inches deep in some areas, so children can safely splash around and play in the water while parents supervise nearby. That little creek honestly feels like part of the magic of this place. The park also has swings, climbing structures, slides, picnic tables, and enough space for kids to explore without the entire area feeling chaotic or overstimulating. ------ QUICK GUIDE Good for: * Toddlers (ages 1-5) * Bigger kids (ages 5-12) * Siblings with different ages * Slower nature-style park days * Families looking for shade What matters: * Playground: yes -- separate little kid + big kid areas * Shade: YES. Giant redwoods throughout the park * Seating: benches + picnic tables * Bathrooms: available onsite * Creek access: yes -- shallow creek nearby for supervised water play * Parking: neighborhood street parking * Terrain: wood chips/dirt-style playground surface * Dog-friendly: not inside playground area ------ Pro tip: Bring extra clothes if your kids want to play in the creek afterward.

    I stumbled across this quaint little park on a trip to Fairfax. I'm glad I did, because it made…read morefor a welcome break after a long drive. There's a well maintained baseball field and batting cage on one side of the creek. On the other, there are tennis courts, a playground, and a nice shady area to unwind. There was a cool breeze blowing, and birds chirping in the trees. I think it's one of the most peaceful, relaxing parks I've visited in a while. I hope you like it too!

    Photos
    Peri Park - Stunning wildlife!

    Stunning wildlife!

    Peri Park
    Peri Park - Peaceful creek

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    Peaceful creek

    Imagination Park - Sign and beautiful floral display at the park

    Imagination Park

    4.3(17 reviews)
    2.9 km

    In the quaint little town of San Anselmo, CA (which happens to be tucked in between San Rafael and…read moreFairfax) lies "Imagination Park". For those that choose to visit, this is a very tiny park with only a couple of benches for sitting. Do not expect to see a playground nor is there even a water fountain or public restroom. And keep the dogs at home as this is not a pet-friendly park. The space itself is equivalent to that of a backyard of a standard house. Located right off of San Anselmo Ave. and tucked right in between Magnolia Ave. and City Hall Ave. in downtown San Anselmo, this park eventually came to life back in June 2013. This idea was spearheaded by film director George Lucas who directed mega blockbuster films such as the entire Star Wars Saga, the Indiana Jones franchise as well as American Graffiti. It is very easy to find as the location itself is just steps away from the San Anselmo Public Library as well as the Town Hall. I came here on a warmer than normal summer day on 7/15/2023 at around 4:10pm. After parking my SUV just a block away, I was awed with the beautiful collection of pink/lavender flowers with the plaque that reads Imagination Park directly above it. But the real treat here is the life-size statues of one of Star Wars most recognizable and beloved characters, "Yoda", And directly on the other side is a statue of Harrison Ford who played "Indiana Jones" in all 5 of the movies spanning from 1981-2023. While you're here, its nice just to let your imagination run wild (hence the name "Imagination" Park) and just appreciate how influential George Lucas is in all of his movies. He actually used to have a residence in San Anselmo before relocating to the more private and open Lucas Valley. So for all you movie fanatics young and old, do yourself a favor and check this place out if you're in the area. My rating, a unanimous five stars.

    Once again, I've warned you my fellow Yelpers and random visitors perusing the Yelp app, don't set…read moreyour expectations too high when it comes to the size of the park. It's situated next to the San Anselmo Library, extremely small and not what you imagined (no pun intended). There are two statues here - Yoda and Indiana Jones, don't expect anything else. Be respectful when visiting this park. It's a lovely hangout spot like one of the Yelpers mentioned, go get some coffee and sit here and reminisce, or do whatever you want to kill time. It's definitely not a park with monkey bars and swings for the kids, so carry on. No hiking and no trails. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood and chillax. 'Til next time ~ cheers and see you on Yelp soon! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/imagination-park-san-anselmo?select=c6MF24JXpCU3GQUUhgfMDQ

    Photos
    Imagination Park - Posing a picture with a Yoda statue

    Posing a picture with a Yoda statue

    Imagination Park - Posing a picture of a Yoda statue

    Posing a picture of a Yoda statue

    Imagination Park - Yoda and Indiana Jones fountain

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    Yoda and Indiana Jones fountain

    Cascade Falls - parks - Updated May 2026

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