Waterfalls
Auburn Waterfalls: Best Waterfall Hikes Near Auburn, California
Auburn is one of the best waterfall areas near Sacramento, but the waterfalls here do not all fit into one convenient category. Some are developed park destinations with viewing decks. Some are natural waterfall hikes in the American River canyon. Some are roadside-style seasonal falls along old Gold Country roads. Others are obscure,...
Black Hole of Calcutta Falls Guide: Auburn SRA Hike
Black Hole of Calcutta Falls is one of Auburn’s easiest waterfall hikes, but its unique name gives this short trail more character than you might expect. The route starts near the American River Confluence, crosses the historic No Hands Bridge, follows part of the Western States Trail, and leads to a seasonal waterfall hidden in...
Bunch Canyon Falls: A Rugged Gold Rush Waterfall Near Colfax, California
Bunch Canyon Falls is not the biggest waterfall in Placer County, and it is definitely not the easiest one to reach. But that is also what makes it memorable. Hiding in the steep canyon country near Colfax, California, this small waterfall sits in the rugged Auburn State Recreation Area landscape around Yankee Jims Road, Bunch …...
Devils Falls Near Yankee Jims: A Roadside Waterfall With a Name Straight Out of Gold Country
Devils Falls sits along one of Placer County’s old canyon routes, where Yankee Jims Road drops into the North Fork American River country between Colfax and Yankee Jims. The waterfall is not famous, heavily signed, or built around a formal trailhead. Its appeal has always been more unexpected than grand: water slipping down a dark...
Mexican Gulch Waterfall: A Hidden Roadside Cascade Near Yankee Jims
Mexican Gulch Waterfall feels like the kind of place you find by accident while chasing old roads and urban legends through Gold Country. One minute you’re winding through dry, rugged canyon country near Colfax, Yankee Jims and the American River; the next, the road reveals a pocket of shade, wet rock, moss, and falling water …...
Pennyweight Falls Trail: Hiking to a Hidden Waterfall Near Colfax
Pennyweight Falls is one of those Placer County waterfalls that’s often overlooked for other falls nearby. Yet, Pennyweight Falls is a wonderful addition to any Auburn State Recreation Area visit. Tucked below Colfax, near Iowa Hill Road, Mineral Bar, and the North Fork American River, the trail gives you a quick dose of Gold Country...
Codfish Falls Trail: Auburn SRA Waterfall Hike
Codfish Falls Trail is one of the easier waterfall hikes in Auburn State Recreation Area, but the drive to the trailhead is what most visitors remember first. The hike follows the North Fork American River before turning up Codfish Creek to a seasonal waterfall, with spring wildflowers, canyon views, river access, and a rough final...
Hidden Falls Regional Park Guide: Trails, Waterfall, Parking, and What to Know Before You Go
If you want a Northern California park that feels both easy to reach and surprisingly wild, Hidden Falls Regional Park is one of the best choices in Placer County. Set in the Auburn foothills, this 1,200-acre park combines rolling oak woodland, creek crossings, broad valley views, and a waterfall that gives the whole place its …...
Cascade Falls in Lake Tahoe: What to Know Before You Go
If you are looking for one of the best short hikes in Lake Tahoe, Cascade Falls Trail belongs near the top of the list. In fact, this hike rivals Eagle Falls Trail as a short distance trek to a fantastic payoff. Cascade Falls Trail feels accessible enough for casual visitors but scenic enough to …...
Eagle Falls Trail to Eagle Lake and Beyond: Hiking Guide Near Emerald Bay
Eagle Falls Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Lake Tahoe area, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many visitors know it as the trail to Eagle Lake, and that short alpine hike is easily the route’s biggest draw. But the trailhead is more than just the start of …...