Cataract Falls

Absolutely amazing hike, but pretty strenuous if you do the whole loop that goes past the falls, around the other side and back along the lake. Bring lots of water and snacks and makes sure you have plenty of day light. STRONGLY recommend going on a weekday as there is VERY LIMITED parking and on the weekends it fills up right away. The trail also has a lot of steps that are slippery and narrow so with crowds you’ll be stuck behind a slower person or find it hard to let an impatient person pass.
NOTE! As of April 29^th the Bolinas Fairfax road is closed from just past the Meadow Club/​Azalea trail parking lot due to mudslides so you can’t get to the trail head at the bottom of the falls by the lake following google maps direction. There may be a way to start from the top and come down, but save yourself the trip out to the locked gate. This closure is supposedly for months according to this article.

As of 4÷14÷16 the road to the trailhead is closed. Check road closures before you go. Waze and google maps didn’t show it either.

Amazing! It was a rainy day but I really wanted an amazing hike. I drove here from way south and the drive was beautiful. Once I got to the trail I was so surprised that there were other people there considering the weather, but it wasn’t over crowded.
Breathtaking views, lush, colorful. It was the perfect day. The rain wasn’t even a problem since the trees cover most of the trail.
I recommend this hike to all my friends and you should go too!

With El Nino sporadically blessing us with rain, I would say this is the perfect time to visit the beautiful Cataract Falls. They are probably full-​bodied and more gorgeous than ever after these past 2 weeks!
There are various trailheads, and trust me, you can get lost, but we parked somewhere just a little after the Mt. Tamalpais State Park entrance — free parking.
And we hiked along the cataract trail for a couple miles and did an 8 mile loop that brought us through the woods, passed the lake, and then to the base of the falls which is where we started our ascent back to the car. My body was done! I would say there is an even distribution of incline and decline. There are stairwells (a little steep) that help guide you. The falls were to my right and I was trying hard to admire them even though I was becoming delusional… I’m definitely making this sound harder than it is. Please forgive me — not fit.still. HA!
Bring your lunch and enjoy it near the view spots. I would advise bringing at least 2 bottles of water with you and granola bars to get you through.

Cataract Falls actually consists of about 7 separate cascade along Cataract Creek. They are all in the neighborhood of 30 ft. to 60 ft., and are all quite different and quite impressive when Cataract Creek is flowing well. The best time to see these waterfalls is after a good rain. If it hasn’t rained in a while, Cataract Creek will probably just be a little trickle.
I came here with my two children after several days of rain and it was incredible.
The hike is an absolutely gorgeous hike along the creek through a forest of Redwoods. You are never far away from the next waterfall as you climb up and past the rushing creek. It is non-​stop excitement, but takes quite awhile to complete this hike because you are always stopping to look at the waterfalls and take pictures.
Parking is plentiful as you just park on the side of the road around the hairpin turn at the trailhead.

The drive here compared to Big Basin State Park wasn’t that bad. It was actually closer to us. The parking however is very limited — we got lucky finding a spot considering we left kind of late. There is actually no parking area, you just have to park at the sides of the road.
We unfortunately got here around the time the drought was in extreme effect so the falls weren’t as amazing as some of the photos. However, this place was still beautiful. We didn’t get to go all the way to the top because of time. We just made it to the picnic area — plus we didn’t come fully prepared with as much food as we thought! As far as difficulty goes, from what we hiked it basically reminded me of Big Basin State Park but I can’t say it for all the trails because we weren’t able to follow through the whole loop. Great workout nonetheless.
Another thing I loved about this hiking area is that dogs are allowed. We brought our dog and he LOVED it. We have decided to come back after it rains and when we are more prepared.

We came here on a Saturday morning, arrived at 9am and got the last off-​the-​road parking spots. The parking spot was right by the trailhead next to Apline Lake. Parking is minimal here so come early. It’s a 1hr-​/​+ drive here from SF and road is really curvy. (If you’ve ever hiked Mt. Tam or Alamares Falls, it’s the same way there, but a little future.
We hiked about a total of 7.5 miles within 5 hours stopping multiple times for photo ops, snack breaks and lunch. We hiked the follow trails:
1) Cataract Trail — follow the waterfalls uphill mostly, where most people hike up
2) Laurel Dell to the picnic area with picnic tables and bathroom area (really really gross)
3) Retraced Laurel Dell Trail back to High Marsh Trail — you will get a really good view of the forest and skyview, A good amount of ups and downs on this trail.
4) Kent Trail — mostly downhill and can put a lot of pressure on your knees so be prepared. Very nice hike through the tall beautiful trees
5) Helen Markt Trail — starts off along the Apline Lake with a gorgeous view and the rest of the way is in the mts on a narrow trail
6) Back to Cataract Trail — downhill stairs, so again the knees!
Other FYIs:
— There is no porter potties or bathrooms by the trail head so use the restroom before coming
— THERE IS however a restroom on the way to the trail head located in the park ranger station
— certain trains may be wet from the falls so be careful when going down steps!
— bring plenty of snacks and water!
— bring ski poles if you’re planning on going on the hikes we went on!
— wear good shoes!
— bring extra shoes and clothes after
Overall, I really enjoyed this trail for its diverse scenery and terrains. If you’re planning on going just for the waterfalls — as in hiking to Laurel Dell and back then its a pretty easy hike. If you want more of challenge with a variety of scenery try the trails we took!

Seriously one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve been on in the Bay Area. Pretty easy hike down but the stairs back up will give you a workout!
The GPS leads you about ¹⁄₃ mile too far. Stop when you see the large parking lot on your right to access the Cataract trail.

Had the opportunity to go hike Cataract Falls this week and really enjoyed it!
Because of the recent rains in the area, the waterfalls were flowing pretty strongly. Between the lush, green scenery and the sound of the roaring waters as you continue to hike further up, it definitely put me at peace and enjoy what nature has to offer. The weather was cool and damp, so didn’t even break a sweat! Some people said the climb up is rather steep, but I didn’t find it too challenging.
Since it did rain recently, the path was rather muddy, so make sure to bring a second pair of shoes to slip into when you make it back to your car just to be on the safe side. Also, parts of the trail were especially slippery… ended up not once, but twice slipping — the second time over some rocks as I was trying to cross a creek to get to the other side. My hands and knees/​shins especially are sporting nice, dark bruises right now from the fall!
Didn’t do the entire loop because we got a bit of a later start there, however I would love to come back and do the entire thing. Once you reach the end of the Cataract Trail and go down a different trail, it got a lot less crowded.

My friend from out of town and I decide to go hike Cataracts Falls and it was pretty awesome.
I had read a few reviews about how the drought affected the waterfalls, but we went a few days after it rained and the waterfalls were flowing just fine.
The drive to the trail entrance itself is one long windy road through the hills. You’ll know your almost there after you pass the 8 mile marker and you cross a dam. Parking could get challenging as there isn’t a lot, and you just gotta find space on the side of the road or something. I saw people force to park on the other side of the damn and walk across and up the hill before they even get to the entrance.
The climb itself was good. My friend and I did the Falls part, and than afterwards, did some of the trail before deciding to head back. The beginning part is a pretty big incline up. I didn’t think the Falls part was challenging, but I was stopping everywhere to take pictures of different views of the waterfalls and to admire the view, so i had plenty of breaks. Plus it was really chilly and nice, so I didn’t even break a sweat. This probably be a totally different story if it were spring or summer.

Beautiful to hike after rainfall, although a little muddy and slippery. I underestimated the difficulty of this hike! It was quite strenuous with a lot of steep inclines and declines. I followed the trail routes suggested on
.
Started out parking at the Cataract Trailhead (typed this into google maps) and started with the CATARACT CREEK TRAIL starting out at Alpine Lake. Kept following it until I found the HIGH MARSH TRAIL. Then followed signs for KENT TRAIL then took a rest back at the Alpine Lake. Proceeded to HELEN MARKT TRAIL (tons of uphill battles) then finally found our way back to Cataract trail where it will lead you back to the trailhead.
We stopped a lot to take a picture of all the various waterfalls, nature, and variety of wild mushrooms, so this tacked on some time. The entire hike was about 7.7 miles and we Finished the entire hike in about 5 hours!

This is along the way when you’re hiking the cataract trail. Such a beautiful and relaxing sight to see after the somewhat grueling hike to get there. And because it was heavily raining the day before and lightly raining the day I hiked this trail, the waterfall was at full speed/​fury.

Let’s first get this out there: the California drought SUCKS. That said, thank you based lord for bringing us a decent rain shower because this made Cataract Falls a very, very lovely hike. Below are 4 steps to nirvana that will make your experience at Cataract Falls a very, very memorable one.
#1: The journey there.
Some Unilocalers have suggested that you don’t use the directions on the map. In all honestly, you can just type up «Cataract Falls Trail» on Google Maps and it will take you there. But for a breakdown, here’s what you do: If you’re coming from East Bay, get off the 101, make your way down 3^rd street until you hit Sir Francis Drake. Eventually you’ll see broadway and you get on broadway and make a left onto Bolinas Rd. You take Bolinas Rd about 8 – 9 miles until you pass a dam. Drive a bit more and you will find several cars parked on a hairpin turn. This is where the hike starts. It’s the sharpest turn you’ll see and it’s immediately after the dam. There’s no bathroom here, so BRING NAPKINS if you need them.
Note: Do NOT try going the long way from the north. You can get there through ridgecrest rd I believe, but the gate down to the start of the hike may or may not be blocked. We had to pick our friends up and stack 6 people to get back. Drivers beware.
#2: The generic route.
If you’re an avid hiker like me, you’ll probably search around this page looking for reviews that suggest the best hike. I honestly spent a good 5 – 10 minutes looking. Unilocalers all over kept suggesting, «Do the Loop Trail!» What’s this loop trail? After hiking about 7 – 8 miles through our own detours, we still don’t know this «loop trail.» My advice to you is, if you want a happy hike, take a picture of the map where you begin and just pick spots that interest you. You don’t need to listen to Unilocalers.
That said, we thought we went on the «Loop» and ended up following cataract trail. In all honesty, if you really want to go on a «loop» you can start and Muir and walk all the way here. We checked out the Laura route and unfortunately it was actually pretty short. I’ll talk about the great waterfalls down below, but I suggest you carve your own path…
#3: The roads less traveled.
I said up there not to listen to Unilocalers and to form your own path. However, check out alpine lake/​Bön Tempe Lake. It was about a 2 – 3 mile detour off from the usual Cataract path and we were so glad to have taken it. Water was CRYSTAL clear and so beautiful!
#4: The waterfalls (:
You came to Cataract falls to see the waterfalls right? Thank goodness there was some rain because there were steady streams flowing down throughout the paths. I suggest you put on that brave hat of yours and climb some of the rocks to get a good eye at the waterfalls.
Overall (aka everything else I haven’t said yet).
All in all, this was a very good hike. I love the fact that you’re so removed from civilization. There’s no reception, it’s almost freezing cold (see your breath all the way), and the rain just makes everything so cleansed! There’s so many logs you can climb on and walk on and various things to check out. We saw banana slugs, fungi, etc. Though I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite hike, I loved the many detours and the lake we saw at the end. I’d give it a ³⁄₁₀ for challenge and a ⁷⁄₁₀ for scenery!
have fun and prosper folks!

Ahh this beautiful yet harsh place. By harsh, I mean those long stairs that took a toll on my legs lol.
I came hiking here with my family last year, but it was before Winter and there wasn’t many waterfalls at the time. We were pretty disappointed because we really wanted to see those pretty waterfalls that we saw on the pictures! Anyway it was kinda difficult for us to find the entrance, or rather, the starting entrance of the hiking trail, but apparently there were two ways to go about it. We ended up going to the very top and made our way down, while NORMAL people started from the bottom and made their way up… oops. But anyway, the scenery was very beautiful, very serene and quiet, and almost magical.
I would definitely go back to see the waterfalls and river soon.

Cataract Falls was simply amazing and beautiful. This was my first trip as a hiker. Omg did I hike my butt off. Instead of hitting the hiking trail that everyone who goes there hikes. I took the dirt road that is right near the damn as soon as you enter Cataract Falls. I tracked about 2 miles on this dirt road and decided to venture about 200 – 300′ down to the river. Which I highly not advise. Me and my girlfriend went but she stayed on the dirt road. Anyways the views and pictures I took were simply the best ever!

After getting back to the damn. We obviously realized the we took the wrong path. Lol so we read the signs to the trail and off we went to view more amazing and beautiful sites, sounds, picture perfect views of this gorgeous trail.

This hike straight up kicked my ass.
There is not much water in the waterfalls due to the drought. However, it is a beautiful hike regardless.
The first mile up the Cataract Falls Trail from the Alpine lake side is pretty brutal. It is very steep, with lots of stairs. My wife and I hiked just over 10 miles in about 5 hours with the first hour being spent on only the first mile of the Cataract Trail.
There are several loop hikes at this location, in addition to the out and back hike, so you can choose a distance that is right for you.
It is also worth noting that there is a large parking area at the other end of the Cataract Falls Trail called «Rock Springs». I followed the directions of other Unilocalers and parked on the Alpine Lake side just past the dam. The disadvantage of parking on this side is that there is no parking lot and minimal parking available on the side of the road. However, the advantage of starting on this side is that you can get the uphill part of your hike over with early and end your hike with a less strenuous downhill trek.
You can find directions to the Rock Springs Parking area here at Bay Area Hiker:
My wife and I hiked the Following Route:
Cataract Trail to Rock Springs
Rock Springs to Simmons Trail
Simmons Trail to Benstein Trail
Benstein Trail to Kent Trail
Kent Trail to Helen Markt Trail
Helen Markt Trail to Cataract Trail
You can also take the High Marsh Trail or the Laurel Dell Fire Road routes to cut the hike down to around 8 or 5 miles, depending on which side you’re coming from.
My best advice would be to use hiking poles or a hiking stick. The downhill can be pretty tough on the joints. I didn’t use either and my knees were pretty sore afterwards. Also take plenty of water. My wife and I went through 2 camelbaks in about 8 miles.

I hiked the Laurel Dell trail (3 miles total there and back) to see Cataract Falls over the weekend with two of my friends. The pictures we had seen of the falls looked amazing, but unfortunately when we got there, there was no water because of the drought!
On the plus side this was a pretty good workout. I wouldn’t say it was extremely hard because it was a pretty short hike, but there were a lot of stairs and it was mostly uphill, with a little bit of flatter land in between inclines. While hiking up, you pass a small waterfall and go over 3 bridges, so there are still good photo ops! We ended up hiking up to the picnic area (the Falls are supposed to be right before you hit the picnic area) and rested for a little before we headed back.
Parking/​directions were easy for us. We used google maps and surprisingly, it took us right to the parking area! Just remember not to park anywhere on the dirt or else you will be ticketed. Also fyi, there’s a lot of bikers around so be careful when driving/​turning!

Yes, this hike is hard, but from the way people were reviewing it on Unilocal,I thought it was going to kick my butt. But it didn’t. Lots of stairs? Yes. But the nice thing about the stairs is that they’re kind of spread out throughout the hike. And if I could do this hike while six months pregnant, so can you.
DIRECTIONS: (Siri will take you to the wrong place)
Once you enter the town of Fairfax, you will see a gas station called North Bay Gas. Take a left.
Directly behind the gas station is Broadway. Take an immediate right. And I mean IMMEDIATE
drive down Broadway until you reach the intersections of Broadway and Bolinas. Take a left onto Bolinas.
Drive down Bolinas road until you get to the dam. Be very careful, as bikers come fast around the corners. Drive over the dam. About ¼ of a mile past the dam is the cataract falls trailhead. Park anywhere on the side of the road, but DO NOT let your car be even an inch on the roadway. You will receive a $ 68 ticket.
THE HIKE:
You have three options for the hike.
1. Hike to Laurel Dell and back. This will take you about 3 hours.
2. Go past Laurel Dell and continue up the Cataract Trail. If you cut across a huge meadow near the end of the trail, and take a little side trail, you will see amazing views of SF and the bay
3. The Loop. This hike will take about 6.5 to seven hours to do the entire loop.
For the first half of the hike there are a lot of waterfalls, and pools. It’s very shady, so dress in layers, especially if you know you’re going to be hiking past 4:00 pm. Bring water, and snacks. But be aware there are no restrooms or garbage cans along the trail. If you like variety in your hike, I recommend taking the Loop. It switches from waterfalls, to redwoods, to meadows, to vista points, and at the end, there’s a beautiful marsh. Wear sturdy shoes. The trail can get a little slippery.
So if you’re looking for a day trip, or just want to get away, I recommend doing this hike. The hike is never dull, or boring, and challenging enough, but not to the point to where you’re cursing everyone around you.

Overall:
Solid day hike. Good workout. Fairly steep trail in the beginning. Most trails are in the shaded woods area. Lots of people during peak times (i.e. weekends).
Directions:
Look at other Unilocaler reviews for driving directions. I followed those listed by Jonathan Y.
Parking:
Park on the side of the road. Be sure your car is not even a little bit on a main road, as you will get a parking ticket. Several cars had tickets when I went this past weekend.
Hiking Trails:
— The most popular hike is the ~3 mile out and back hike to Laurel Dell Picnic area. This has an up close view of the waterfall.
— There are other longer hikes, one which is which a ~8 mile loop hike (Cataract Trail — High Marsh Road — Kent Trail — Helen Markt Trail — Cataract Trail).
Hiking Terrain:
— The first part is steep yet doable. It’s not a constant steep incline, as there’s parts that are level. It’s a rocky area, so be careful with your footing.
— Best to go a few days after it rains so the waterfalls are in full effect.
My Experience:
— We did the ~8 mile loop, and it was pretty varied terrain. Once we got off the main Cataract Trail, the crowds really cleared up. It was nice hiking in tranquility. There were lots of ups and downs, mostly in the shaded wood areas. We were in the meadows for about 10 minutes (on High Marsh Road). There’s a section on Kent Trail where you see Alpine Lake, which lasts for about 5 minutes. I was disappointed by the brevity of it, and I wish this portion lasted longer. Including rest time, the hike took about 5 hours.
— We didn’t end up going to the Laurel Dell Picnic Area (.5 miles from the main Cataract Trail), yet I wish I had to see the waterfall up close. Next time!
Misc Notes:
— There are no bathrooms or trash cans on this trail, so prepare and pack accordingly.
— Got knee issues? Be prepared! I brought hiking poles which really helped. Hiking shoes also make a huge difference with footing. Downhills can be aggravating, so just pace yourself.
— There is no phone reception in this area. Mine as well put your phone in airplane mode to save batteries while you’re taking photos.
— Want to stop by a grocery store to pick up snacks? Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax is on the way and a great option. i always stop here post hikes to use their restroom and refuel. They have great food options– deli, salad bar, bakery, hot food items, etc. It’s basically a local Whole Foods.

Hands down, one of the most beautiful and satisfying hikes I have been to in California. I’m going to write the technical details first before I wax emo-​ly poetic, because the hike is that gorgeous and I need to get that of me, double rainbow style.
Exit Sir Francis Drake Blvd off the 101 and go towards the town of Fairfax. Turn left at the first gas station you see, which a lot of hiking sites say is Valero but I think has since changed. Immediate right onto Broadway, left on Bolinas Rd in a block and go down for 8 miles. You will cross a dam and very quickly find a parking area at a sharp, hairpin turn. Park, trail head is next to the dam. Be careful — the last 8 miles is very windy, with multiple cyclists to watch out for.
You have two choices: 3 miles out and back to the last section of the falls, or a 7.7 mile RT hike. This review is for the latter. Cataract trail is pretty steep, not horrible but it’ll give you a decent work out. The rest of the trails switch back and forth between incline/​decline and you will definitely have to be willing to work up a sweat. I always average 30 minutes per mile for a hike with more than 2 people, allowing time for pictures and breaks. With just two of us, and a decent amount of pictures at a brisk pace we were able to do 25 minutes per mile.
The trail begins lush and green, taking you ever higher alongside a series of swiftly flowing, rushing waterfalls. Stairs, both wooden and stone, overladen with moss and cracked with heavy use intersperse with a well-​trodden dirt path. The heady scent of fresh water and sharp, piercing, satisfying wilderness fills the air as dappled sunlight cascades around you in bursts of gold and warmth.
Once you leave the Cataract trail and step onto the High Marsh Trail, the noise of other hikers quickly fade away and you find yourself surrounded by a forest silence, broken only by the sound of your own breath. The tall, wooded glen you are in will break into an open hill, sloped with wild grass and shrouded by a rolling fog. It is beautiful and mysterious and lonely, and as the path before you meanders further into the hills you cannot help but be humbled by the wild reverence before you.
The High Marsh Trail will eventually take you onto the forested Kent Trail, wavering between open, hilltop trails and strange, wooded paths. You’ll find blood-​red, mahogany-​like, smooth branches that loom and watch above you. As you wander North, Kent Trail will break west and emerge on the shores of an immense, blue-​green lake. Alpine lake lies before you, waters unbroken and far shores dotted with trees, beckoning.
It is quiet here, and beautiful, and you find that for a time you need not be anything more than a witness.