Cataract Falls

Beautiful trail with gorgeous waterfall views almost all trail long, and lush moss covered trees. Muddy this time of the year, after rains! Parking was challenging to find in the afternoon. The trail is strenuous giving constant climb and elevation gain but totally worth it. The drive through Mt Tamp till the trail head is gorgeous!

This is a gorgeous hike in Marin county. It took about two hours for the out and back, almost 3 miles total. The hike in is primarily uphill with a lot of stairs so that first half took a bit more time than the return. There’s waterfalls all along the route and lush greenery, with little sections throughout to stop and enjoy the views. I’d say the hike is moderate as the stairs up and 1,000 feet of elevation gain is a bit strenuous. Overall an enjoyable and beautiful hike that I’d recommend!

Fairly easy to access if you start from the trailhead near the Alpine lake. Short trail runs along the lake which will soon take you to the falls and the creek. The parking was limited so you’d want to get early in the morning if you’re visiting on weekends.

Be aware there is basically NO CELL SIGNAL there. So download the trail map ahead of time. Great place to hike a few days after the rain to experience the waterfalls. Be prepared with at least a bottle of water and a few good snacks. A complete loop on the assigned trails is 6 miles. To do the whole loop, you are looking up to 6 hours…..this coming from an amateur hiker like myself. Good portion of the day. Recommend hiking shoes/boots especially after it has rained a few days prior. Many parts of the trail have gentle ups/downs, also will encounter some steep inclines/decents. Views of the falls along the way and creeks are great. Plenty of photo ops/rest areas along the way.

There's lots of uphill and downhill. Very narrow walkways and can get very crowded with tourists. Dog friendly trail. Keep in mind there will be dogs that don't do well with other dogs on leash, so be prepared for the narrow, awkward passing and the barks and growls. Beautiful hike, though.

One of the best post rain hikes in the Bay Area! We did our hike starting at Rock Spring Trailhead, which makes this an Out & Back, 7.5ish mile hike. Took us a total of 4 hours. we went on saturday 2/3/24, & I don’t know if we lucked out, but reviews kept talking about how busy the trail & “good luck with parking” but when we went it was pretty empty?!?? Mind you, we even got there late (12:30pm), so I was expecting to struggle to find parking, but I found one almost right away. (Not sure if going late is a perk at this trail?) ALSO, at the Rock Spring trailhead parking lot, I didn’t see anything indicating we needed to pay?!? (No booths, or drop boxes, or anything) so looks like parking may have been free from there- unclear lololll Anywho, hike was gorgeous! Never ending moss & waterfalls!! I would say the first half of the hike (like before you hit all the steps) is more like ~Easy to Moderate~, & it’s the 2nd half (especially on the way back) that’s ~Moderate to Hard~ cus of how steep it is! I’m currently working on getting back into shape (so currently not in awesome shape) & I was heavy breathing the whole way back Bathroom access was your typically porta potty/outhouse situations but we don’t mind those, we were happy there was even any :) Btw, just a note! the end point of this trail (like before you have to turn back) is the Cataract Falls trailhead. So technically you could do this trail backwards. I would only recommend it if you wanna get straight to the good stuff right away! Anywho, 10/10 def recommend! Follow me on insta if you wanna get more deets :) @heyitssmalls

At the start of this trail there is a very nice mirror lake and this is the best part of the hike. There are two ports potties near the start. Trail it self is moderate to strenuous with lots of stair steps many made of stone and quite a few nicely made steps. There is almost no water in Jul. I would think there will be more water in the months up to May.

It is a popular destination within the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, part of the Marin Municipal Water District's protected lands. The falls are known for their scenic beauty and lush surroundings, featuring a series of cascades along Cataract Creek. The Cataract Falls Trail offers a picturesque hike through a shaded canyon, with several viewpoints along the way to enjoy the rushing water and peaceful atmosphere. The trail is moderately challenging, with some steep sections and stairs, but the rewarding views of the falls make it worth the effort. Most importantly— please carry a mosquito repellent spray.