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    Cataract Falls Trail

    4.7 (257 reviews)

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    Trail entrance
    Pammy C.

    One of the toughest but rewarding hikes. The drive there was very windy. Take it slow!Parking is very limited and was somewhat scary for me with the narrow roads. The hike starts out flat for maybe the first .10 mile(?). Then it's all uphill. But the beautiful views of the lake and the various waterfalls definitely made it all worth it. Plus there are stairs that help you with the climb! We didn't make it all the way to the end but probably turned around at a mile in. But the experience was great. Don't forget to wear good hiking boots and lots of bug spray!

    Julia D.

    This hike is beautiful! Be prepared for a steep hike, but totally worth it. I would say if you have any trouble with steep hikes to bring a walking stick. We did about 2 1/2 miles round-trip and I believe you can go much further. The water surrounding the trail is a stunning site. There is no swimming/plunging. I was pretty disappointed to see that people had left trash behind. The area seemed very secluded for there to be so much trash, it was upsetting. Whatever you bring in bring out! Do not leave your trash! Do not litter! Other than that, bring plenty of water and enjoy the wonderful waterfalls!

    Lakeside at base.
    D.wight L.

    Tough climb but super serene and refreshing. Trail is in the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed but starts at a much lower elevation than the hikes near Bon Tempe Lake. Here you start low and end up high, then back down. There's a beautiful lake (a piece of Alpine Lake)at the base surrounded by trees and reflects the sky effortlessly. Once on this trail it only does one thing...it climbs and climbs and climbs. No meandering trails that weave through a hilllside in a gradual fashion. Here it is pretty much in a straight fashion, many are steps whether wooden or stone. A few other trails intersect here so one can extend a hike to different areas. Gotta be savvy with maps for that. A little over a mile up. About 1000 feet of elevation gain. I can usually hike a flat-ish mile in a half hour. Here it took me over an hour. I had to take several breaks as some stretches were pretty draining. But after the first stop or 2 I just used those breaks to really breathe in the clean air and absorb the tranquil surroundings. Lots of pools of water, basically a stream going down this hillside so lots of trickling sounds and even a few spots of rushing waterfalls. The flow of water is probably more vigorous in the spring after a seasons worth of fresh rain. Late summer it was quite mellow but relaxing. At the top is just a flat meadow next to the rocky stream. There's a couple of picnic benches up there. At first I was a bit underwhelmed as usually after a good climb there's usually a rewarding view overlooking something. Here not so much as you're still in the middle of a forest. But as I refreshed myself near the stream I just watched these blue jays glide from the trees to the stream. And monarch butterflies fluttered in patches of sunlight to bask in the heat. And an occasional breeze would shake down small dried leaves like a gentle snowfall, as the tranquil silence enveloped me like a long lost embrace. All the strenuous efforts of the climb, all of a sudden felt mute, justified...satisfied...amazed.

    Cataract Fall Trail
    Ivory B.

    Mountain Tam's Cataract Falls trail is my favorite hiking trail in Marin. The trail follows Cataract Creek as it cascades down Mount Tamalpais and flows into Alpine Lake. About 4 mile out-and-back trail near Stinson Beach, California. Cataract Falls Trail is considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 hours, including the time to stop for lunch. At the start of the trail, I feel like it's the cardiac trail, as the steps will take you straight up with the elevation gain of 1300 ft! The steepest part of the trail is treacherous uphill at the beginning. Don't worry as the beautiful scenery and the waterfalls will ease your elevation gain. It's a serious hike! Beautiful hike with an incredible views. Totally worth the climb for sure. Enjoy!

    Banana slug
    Analisa H.

    My go-to spot to hike with my boys. So many waterfalls and cute spots to picnic. They love dipping their feet in the water near one of the falls. We've spotted lots of creatures along the way including deer, banana slugs, and chipmunks.

    Ferns
    Connie W.

    Met up with friends at end of May for a day hike. Started at Rock Spring parking lot, potty available. Total 6 miles, first 1.5 miles is easy flat with spars people on the trail. After Laurel Dell picnic area, it is a constant descend with lots of waterfalls and pools. Entire trail was pleasantly shaded in the forest. My one con was lots of people which is not convenient for the single track trail

    Joan W.

    There are many waterfalls in Marin, but I feel this is the most impressive one. The hike encompasses numerous large waterfalls instead of just one along the trail. The best time to go is after a heavy rain when the water is gushing. Parking is very hard on Bolinas Road, it's best to come early. There is also an entrance on Mt. Tam, but it adds about an extra mile to the hike. The hike isn't that long but it does take a while because it's uphill all the way and there is a lot of stopping for photos. It can get crowded on weekends after a heavy rain. It's not a hard hike but it kinda creeps up on you and something to think about if you have bad knees for the descent. It's very shaded the whole way with tons of greenery, ferns and moss, You feel like you are in a fairytale forest.

    After a few days of rain
    Jennifer N.

    Cataract Falls is one of those quintessential, must do Bay Area hikes. But because of that, the trail has become even more popular and difficult to navigate over the years. I usually go once a year and have found that parking at the Rock Spring lot, following the creek and going downhill allows for easier parking, a peaceful hike through the woods in the first portion but an uphill return trip. Winter is the time to go after a good, steady rain but that does make the trail slippery. I find that hiking poles are a must for this hike. I came twice, recently. On 12/26/23, I parked at Rock Spring, arriving around 9:30 and had the falls nearly to myself. The woods were mossy green and mushrooms were sprouting up everywhere. It had rained but the not a lot, so the falls were flowing-but not too strongly. Still, it was a wonderful, peaceful hike. Yesterday, 01/15/2024, I came back and took a friend, who's never been and parked at the bottom, near Alpine Dam. It was a later arrival than I hoped on a holiday Monday, but before 11 and parking was available along the road (there's only a few spaces and then some sketchy roadside parking.) Our way up was lovely-not too many other hikers and after some heavier rain, the falls were wonderful-everything so lush and green! My only complaint is not so much the influx of people, the later it got on trail-it's good to see people get outside and enjoy nature. What made the hike less pleasant as more people arrived, is the general lack of trail etiquette and unprepared hikers. People just barreling down narrow, steep trails and not being aware of trails users trying to keep their footing was a big issue. There were others who were going off trail and it was surprising (but maybe not) to see some trail goers wearing white tennis shoes or other footwear with no traction. They were slipping past other hikers, causing unsafe passing conditions. So, if you go, stick to weekdays and non-holidays if you want more solitude, come prepared for slippery muddy conditions, be respectful of those around you and nature, itself. This is a beautiful, special trail in the winter months and worth the windy drive up in to the Mt Tam watershed.

    Amanda H.

    The Cataract Falls Trail is beautiful but watch your steps. It's incredibly slippery muddy and steep in some areas. There's also a fallen trunk that you'd have to duck under. A stair master hike in the nature. There's only one bench the whole hike.

    Trina H.

    By far the most magical hike I've ever taken. We went in February and the water was gushing! I've never seen such a long trail of water falls from top to bottom...the 1.5 hike is no joke. It's slippery and super steep but well worth it!!! It took us three hours round trip. Also be aware that parking is very limited. Still worth it though!

    Ziad A.

    Long trail. Used the all trail app to do a 12-13 mile loop. Cataract falls came first Then alpine lake Then the major lake Alpine Lake and Table Rock via Willow Camp and Matt Davis Loop on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/alpine-lake-and-table-rock-via-willow-camp-and-matt-davis-loop?sh=uyvtjx

    Sinovia G.

    Super pretty waterfalls and trees. Well maintained path and clear steps pretty difficult hike though it was rough but worth it!

    Alpine lake
    Karalina H.

    It was a steep climb with many many stairs but we definitely saw some very cool views. It's very shady and lots of green. I recommend you wear good hiking shoes cause I fell on my way to the water. We got a great workout out of it. The only problem is parking. We had to walk like 6 minutes down to the trail cause it was very busy. Also, we expected a better view at the top of the trail, not just some picnic tables, which was a little disappointing. But overall it's a great hike!

    Had to carry the pup down steep rocky parts

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    A beautiful hike! The falls and the scenery make for a great day. Go early to get good parking and wear decent hiking shoes.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Cataract Falls Trail

    Are dogs allowed in or not?

    Yes! I saw many dogs on the trail when I walked it

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    Review Highlights - Cataract Falls Trail

    There's a beautiful lake (a piece of Alpine Lake)at the base surrounded by trees and reflects the sky effortlessly.

    Mentioned in 22 reviews

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    Bon Tempe Lake - Coming back to the lake.

    Bon Tempe Lake

    4.5(28 reviews)
    3.8 km

    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.

    Photos
    Bon Tempe Lake - Morning Blues. (That's Mt Tam out yonder)

    Morning Blues. (That's Mt Tam out yonder)

    Bon Tempe Lake - Start to climb. Through redwoods.

    Start to climb. Through redwoods.

    Bon Tempe Lake - Gloomier morning, but it cleared up within an hour.

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    Gloomier morning, but it cleared up within an hour.

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

    Fairfax Open Space Preserve

    4.2(6 reviews)
    8.6 km

    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!

    Photos
    Fairfax Open Space Preserve - The preserve, as seen from White Hill

    The preserve, as seen from White Hill

    Fairfax Open Space Preserve - View from near the top.

    View from near the top.

    Fairfax Open Space Preserve - Newly graded fire road.

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    Newly graded fire road.

    Dawn Falls - Dawn Falls Trail

    Dawn Falls

    4.5(48 reviews)
    7.6 km

    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!

    Photos
    Dawn Falls
    Dawn Falls
    Dawn Falls

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    Lake Lagunitas

    Lake Lagunitas

    4.5(26 reviews)
    3.8 km

    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.

    Photos
    Lake Lagunitas
    Lake Lagunitas
    Lake Lagunitas

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    Carson Falls - Parking area

    Carson Falls

    3.9(26 reviews)
    4.3 km

    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.

    Photos
    Carson Falls - Super windy on a sunny day

    Super windy on a sunny day

    Carson Falls - Trailhead

    Trailhead

    Carson Falls - Posting

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    Posting

    Cataract Falls Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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