I decided to try and find the Leura Cascades and Bridal Veil Falls, and in the end, this was not that difficult to achieve.  I think on the way there, I just walked to the start of the trail, though I didn’t exactly realized that it was leading to the falls and the cascades.  I think I visited Bridal Veil Falls first, because I then remember hiking uphill and stumbling upon the Leura Cascades.  Both are along the same creek.  It was rather dark at the time, so it was somewhat difficult to capture the falls.  Sunset was quickly approaching.  It was an easy hop back onto the bus, and then a short walk to my lodging for the night.

Directions:
1) If in Katoomba, I would suggest taking the Blue Mountain ExplorerLink bus to stop 16 or 17. Both will lead you to the Leura Cascades and Bridal Veil Falls. If you start at 16, you can loop around to 17, and vice-versa.

Accessibility: 6/10 (there are some slippery parts here, though there are stairs, especially if you start at stop 17)

Where in the World is Leura Cascades?: map

Leura Cascades in May 2011

A small waterfall in Tucquan Glen (viewed from across the creek)

This is another one of those waterfalls that I’ve tried to decide whether to post or not.  There are much bigger waterfalls in Pennsylvania, many of them more interesting.  And yet water is still falling, and some of the drops aren’t insignificant.  It all of the drops were combined together to make a larger drop, it would probably garner more attention.

Even if you don’t go to see the waterfalls, visiting Tucquan Glen is still worthwhile.  I took my 14 and 11 year old cousins, along with my 5 year old nephew this past Saturday, and they really seemed to enjoy the trail.  The creek was shallow enough that one cousin and my nephew actually waded through part of the trail.  You will likely get wet no matter what, as there are one or two instances where you will likely cross the creek.

The trail ends at the Susquehanna River, and it is a really great halfway point for the hike.  Getting there can seem be easy or moderately more difficult.  If in doubt, stay within distance of the creek.  The blue blazed trail markers are sometimes easy to lose, and it often looks like you will have to cross the creek, only to find some other way to avoid it.  The last third of the trail is where most of the larger drops are, so exercise more caution along that portion.

Directions:
1) Tucquan Glen is easily accessed from many different directions.  I approached it from York/Red Lion.  We were on PA-74, heading southeast.
2) After a while, we turned left onto Holtwood Road (PA-372).  This can be easy to miss.
3) Cross the Susquehanna River, and then a mile or so later, turn left onto River Road.
4) Carefully drive a few miles along the road until you cross Tucquan Creek.  Shortly after that is a parking area on your right.  There is space for 7 or 8 cars, and on this weekend, it seemed to be mostly full.
5) Cross the road, heading north to where you can see the creek and the trail just across the creek.  Cross the creek and start your journey!

Accessibility: 6/10

Where in the World is Tucquan Glen Falls?: map

One of the larger drops in Tucquan Glen (June 2013)

Vermillion Falls in October 2011

If I remember correctly, I visited Vermillion Falls after visiting a waterfall in Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, which is further south in Minnesota.  The waterfall is centrally located in Hastings, Minnesota, which is east of Minneapolis/St. Paul.  The city is just near the border with Wisconsin.

For some reason, I remember it taking a little while to find the falls.  I think it had to do with confusing directions and GPS issues.  Once you find the parking area, it’s a very short walk to the falls.  The falls are not particularly easy to view.  At the normal viewpoint, it is rather complicated to get the whole falls.  I have seen pictures of the falls from other viewpoints near the base, but I couldn’t see any path to the base.  The falls were flowing well in October, though.  The same thing couldn’t be said for some of the other waterfalls in Minnesota at that time, so Vermillion Falls is a good choice for a year-round waterfall (at least when it’s not snowing!).

Directions:
1) There are multiple different ways to enter Hastings.  Headed east from Minneapolis, 160th Street E is a good option.  If heading north toward Hastings, US-61 is ideal.  US-61 also heads southeast into Hastings from St. Paul.
2) The parking area is on 21st Street E.  This road is just south of the intersection of 160th Street E (also known as Vermillion Street) and US-61.  If headed north along US-61 into Hastings, 21st Street E will be on the right.  If coming from 160th Street E, you’ll turn right, and then almost instantly turn left.
3) The parking area is for Vermillion Falls Park.
4) Walk to the falls!

Accessibility: 10/10

Where in the World is Vermillion Falls?: map

Webber Falls in June 2013

I traveled to the Reno/Tahoe region this past weekend.  On Sunday, I had some time before heading back to the airport, and had stayed in Truckee.  Of all of the waterfalls in the region, Webber Falls seemed like the easiest to visit  in the amount of time I had available.

Webber Falls is about 15 miles or so outside of Truckee, though the drive is a little bit longer than that.  The drive itself is really beautiful, and in the end you’ll be rewarded with a really great waterfall.   I was actually more impressed with the waterfall than I originally expected to be.  (One of the books that I was using as a reference has the worst possible picture of Webber Falls.)  It is something like 65′ tall, and at the peak flow in late Spring, it’s really worthwhile.  As an added benefit, I was the only person there.  The bugs were rather annoying, though.

Now let me mention a few things about the falls that I feel I should mention before I forget.  In both books I was using (which I think were newer editions), the directions indicate there is a dirt road that leads down to the falls.  This is partially true, though this road is now blocked by boulders.  This means you should park on the side of the road at a dirt turnoff.  In the end, I actually think this is much more appropriate, as the final dirt road would not have been appropriate for a normal car.  Also, the hike is not any significantly further from the road.  Just make sure to follow the sound of rushing water.

Second, I don’t think I’ve seen much mention of how possibly dangerous the area around this waterfall could be.  While the hike is very short, it leads to some very steep cliffs that are almost all around the falls.  The terrain around the falls is not very firm, but surprisingly slippery.  I could imagine some reckless people being careless suddenly slipping, only to find that there isn’t much distance to the cliff edge.  I found that it was “easier” to head left to get better (and slightly safer) view of the falls.  Be careful!!!!!

Directions:
1) Take CA-89 north from the Truckee area.  (The signs weren’t very clear as I was going through Truckee.)
2) Go for about 14 miles north along CA-89.  Look for the sign to Independence Lake and Webber Lake.
3) Turn left onto this road.  After only a few yards, turn left again onto Jackson Meadows Road.
4) Drive a little over 6.5 miles along Jackson Meadows Road.  Look for a sign/road for Lake of the Woods.
5) Just a few hundred feet after this, there is a pullout on your left.  As I mentioned, there is a road after this pullout, but it is blocked.  (I found it easier to drive a little further down Jackson Meadows Road, and then turn around.)
6) From the pullout, head downhill, and essentially keep going fairly straight, maybe veering slightly to the right.  There is a loop “parking area”, and from there, the very short trail heads to the falls.

Accessibility: 7/10 (the hike the falls is very easy, but exercise extreme caution when at the falls)

Where in the World is Webber Falls?: map

Lake Falls in mid-April 2012

This appears to be my first post about a waterfall in Matthiessen State Park in Illinois.  This state park is nearby the more widely known Starved Rock State Park, which is known for its numerous canyons and seasonal waterfalls. Honestly, I had better luck with the waterfalls in Matthiessen State Park.  Since both parks are within miles of each other, take the time to visit both.

Lake Falls is the uppermost of the falls in the Dells region of the park.  Though not seen in this picture, there is some manmade object above the falls.  This has led to the suggestion that the falls might be a manmade product, though there is no indication of this (at least none that I can remember).  The falls are directly under Lake Matthiessen. There is an oddly complex trail system around the Dells, so just try to explore a little bit.  (A map of the park is here.)

The falls aren’t extremely tall, somewhere in the 20-30′ range.  In mid-April, there was some water flowing, which was more than could be said for some of the falls in the canyons at Starved Rock.  As with most of the falls in the area, I’d expect the falls to disappear as the summer progresses.

Directions:

1) Exit I-80 and head south along IL-178 toward North Utica (a small town).
2) Keep heading south on IL-178 past the entrance to Starved Rock State Park.  The entrance to Matthiessen State Park will be on your left (if you’re heading south).
3) Head to the parking area, and then start hiking in the Dells Area.  As mentioned above, the trail system is a little bit odd and complex, so just try and wander around.  It’s pretty difficult to get completely lost.

Accessibility: 7/10

Where in the World is Lake Falls?: map

Hunter Creek Falls in late-May 2013

I’ve always been interested in waterfalls in unexpected places.  Nevada just seems like one of those places where you aren’t going to find many waterfalls…and I guess that’s relatively true.  And yet there are a few rather scenic falls scattered throughout the state.

I’m guessing Reno’s a pretty dry place.  So I was surprised to find out that there was a waterfall right near Reno.  After reading some of the reviews, I was initially concerned.   It sounded like this was a strenuous 5.6 mile round trip hike in unforgiving terrain.  Well, that really wasn’t the case.  I’ve experienced much more difficult hikes, and this probably ranks somewhere in the middle.

If you’re going to attempt this hike, two things REALLY help: sunscreen and water.  It’s bizarre.  The first 2/3 of the hike are out in the open sun.  The final 1/3 of the hike is like entering a different, forested world.  Without sunscreen, I would be in pain tonight, and yet I’m rather content.  And having a significant amount of water available made this hike MUCH more enjoyable.  To avoid any intense heat, start earlier in the day.  It got to about 80 degrees (on May 31), and it was manageable.

At 2.8 miles or so one way, the hike does seem long.  There is an up-down-up-down nature to the trail, but it’s never extremely steep.  Some of the trail is composed of large stones, which might cause the most difficulty along the whole hike.  But at no point are you suddenly climbing steep switchbacks.  The elevation gain/loss is spread out over the trail.  

Once you get to the final 1/3, enjoy the shaded, wonderful-scented scenery.  It is a truly different feeling.  At the end of May, wildflowers litter the whole trail from beginning to end.  And at the end of the trail is Hunter Creek Falls!  Now, it’s taller than it appears in some photos (about 30 feet or so), though its not huge.  It’s still worthwhile in the end!

Directions:
1) Caughlin Parkway can be accessed from South McCarran Boulevard at two different locations.  I entered at the southern “entrance.”
2) Continue along Caughlin Parkway to Plateau Road.  (If you entered Caughlin from the southern portion, Plateau Road will be on your left.)
3) Continue along Plateau Road to Woodchuck Circle on your left.
4) Continue along Woodchuck Circle until you reach the end of the road.  (It appears there is a continuation of the road under construction, but that was closed off, so you really only have one option.)  There will be a sign for the “Michael D. Thompson Trailhead”, and you will be in the right place.
5) Put on your sunscreen, grab your water/hat/camera, and start hiking.  If in doubt, just stay in sight/listening distance of the creek.

Accessibility: 3/10 (by no means the worst ever, just long)

Where in the World is Hunter Creek Falls?: map

Tunnel Overlook Falls in December 2011

Sometimes I wonder why I post about certain waterfalls, but I guess I’ll report (nearly) every waterfall.  Tunnel Overlook Falls is wildly easy to miss if you aren’t intentionally searching for it.  And even then, you still might not notice it with all of the beautiful scenery surrounding you.

I had entered the park and was driving along the Skyline Drive.  At one point you drive under a tunnel, and then there is an overlook directly after the tunnel (if you are heading southwest).  This overlook provides a spectacular view of the mountains.  If you listen closely, as I did, you will notice the trickle of water.  Right in a corner near the tunnel is this small waterfall.  It might not be truly natural, as it might be a byproduct of building the tunnel.  Even so, the water is coming from somewhere!  The falls might even be more interesting after a strong rainfall.  I wouldn’t go searching for this waterfall by itself.  The falls in White Oak Canyon are much more impressive, but you might pass this along the way.

Directions:
1) I entered the park at the intersection of US-211 and Skyline Drive.
2) Head south.  After a few curving miles, you’ll pass under a tunnel, and then an overlook will be directly after the tunnel.
3) Park at the overlook, and then search for the falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (be careful near the other cars!)

Where in the World is Tunnel Overlook Falls?: map

(Let me briefly mention Stornetta Falls, which was completely dry…The Stornetta Public Lands are still wildly worthwhile the visit, and the falls/lands are only about 35 miles from Russian Gulch Falls.)

I did have one bit of luck, though.  I was completely unaware of it, but it rained as I was sleeping, and I awoke to the promise of a slightly more interesting waterfall.  While Russian Gulch Falls was not at its peak flow (at least compared to other pictures), it was still flowing enough to classify it as a moderately interesting waterfall!

The hike to the falls is amazingly breathtaking.  The forests surrounding (almost engulfing) the trail are stunning.  A number of wildflowers were in full bloom.  While there is some uphill/downhill motion, I still found myself arriving at the falls much sooner than I originally expected.  And that is after having to park at a more distant spot.  Arrive early in the day on a busy weekend if you want to park right at the trailhead.  The hike from the trailhead was about 2.5 miles one-way, and it probably falls on the easier side of moderate difficulty.  I almost remember feeling that it took longer on the way back, which is unusual.

Russian Gulch Falls isn’t particularly tall, nor is it the most enthralling waterfall.  But sometimes it’s the whole package that counts, and also just finding a waterfall in the first place.

Directions:
1) This is pretty easy to find.  From CA-1 between Mendocino and Fort Bragg, turn left (and then left again) to the entrance to park.  The park signs are pretty obvious.
2) Pay the $8 entrance fee, which is well worth it (especially when California state parks seem in danger of closing!?).
3) From the station, keep heading straight…Until you’re headed downhill on a one-lane road.  It’s pretty short.  Keep going past the campsites to the very end of the road.  If parking spaces are available, congratulate yourself.  Otherwise, backtrack.
4) Once at the trailhead, it’s 1.8 mile hike to the beginning of the Falls Loop.  From there, you can take a 2.3 mile path or the 0.7 mile path (both leading to the falls).  I chose the 0.7 mile path both on the way there and back, since I wasn’t feeling particularly adventurous.  It is nowhere near as steep as I expected it to be.

Accessibility: 6/10

Where in the World is Russian Gulch Falls?: map

Russian Gulch Falls in late May 2013

As I’ve said, it’s redeeming quality is that it is easy to visit.  Some of those smaller waterfalls, such as Twelve Foot Falls, Eighteen Foot Falls, and Horseshoe Falls, require driving down dirt roads for at least a few miles.  It’s not that the dirt roads are bad, but they are more isolated.  Dave’s Falls, and its upstream counterpart, Upper Dave’s Falls, around found right of US-141 just south of the village of Amberg. And while Dave’s Falls isn’t extremely tall, it is still an interesting drop.   Further north along US-141 are Smalley Falls and the very interesting Long Slide Falls.

Directions:
1) The waterfall is south of Pembine on US-141.  If you’re driving south from there, it’s only about 1 mile from the city, and the road to the park will be on your right.
2) Turn right onto County Park Rd., which leads to Dave’s Falls County Park.
3) The most prominent path leads to the lower falls, so wander upstream to get this view of the upper falls.

Accessibility: 10/10

Where in the World is Dave’s Falls?: map

Dave’s Falls in June 2009

‘Akaka Falls in March 2013

At 442′ tall, ‘Akaka Falls is one of the tallest easy-to-visit waterfalls on the Big Island of Hawaii.  There are a number of taller waterfalls to the north, but they require more effort.

Driving to the falls is a rather simple endeavor, though it is a slight but worthy detour.  Parking at the falls is interesting, to say the least.  You can park near the falls, and there is a $5 fee.  There was an electronic kiosk, and standing near the kiosk was a young man collecting money…In one way, it seemed suspicious.  At the same time, visitors seemed to want to ignore the entrance fee, even with the kiosk and signs!  You can park outside of the main area.  I think there is a $1 per-person entry fee in that case.

The falls are definitely worth visiting, though it can be a little bit difficult to photograph, depending on the angle.  The sun could have caused more problems if it hadn’t been for the lucky clouds that lessened the intensity.

There are a number of other falls nearby.  Kahuna Falls is downstream.  There are one or two smaller falls that most might not notice, but I found them to be pretty enough.

Directions:
1) From Hilo, head north on HI-19.
2) After a few miles, turn left onto HI-220.  There is a sign indicating the turn.
3) Head down HI-220 to what is essentially the end of the road.  You will veer right at one point.  There aren’t many other options.
4) From the parking area, head to the falls.  The loop trail is paved, but there are some stairs, if I remember correctly.

Accessibility: 9/10 (if you head directly the falls without going around the loop)

Where in the World is ‘Akaka Falls?: map

A small waterfall along the trail to ‘Akaka Falls