Pennyweight Falls in March 2016

Pennyweight Falls isn’t one of those waterfalls I set out to find. I had visited a friend in northern California, and he mentioned that there were a waterfall not far from him. As I was driving down Iowa Hill Road, which is relatively steep and a bit narrow at times, I noticed a waterfall off to the corner of my eye. I had to be careful, as sometimes I get a bit distracted by waterfalls, so I kept going, and then turned around. The road continues on for a ways, but I just wanted to find these waterfalls.

At the bottom of the road as you cross a bridge over the North Fork of the American River, you can see Slaughter Ravine Falls. It’s the more obvious of the two falls. Pennyweight Falls is the waterfall off to the side, and to view the falls better, you have to pull off to the side of the curvy road. Luckily, there was enough room to pull off. Another car was parked, and it seemed there might be some trail you could follow. I decided to get a shot of Pennyweight Falls, and continue on my journey. It wasn’t until later that I found out I had viewed a recorded waterfall.

Directions:

1. From I-80, take exit 135. (I was heading north on I-80.)
2. You’ll take a right on Canyon Way. (It’s a very short distance…could be a bit confusing.)
3. Continue on Canyon Way to Iowa Hill Road. Turn left onto Iowa Hill Road.
4. Follow Iowa Hill Road down to the Iowa Hill Road Bridge (with Mineral Bar on the other side of the river). Pennyweight Falls can be viewed from the last “sharp” curve before you reach the bridge.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: ~400′
Length of Hike: roadside

Where in the World is Pennyweight Falls?