Marin waterfalls gush after abundant rain
Sightseers are venturing to cascades from Mill Valley to Novato to West Marin.
On the hunt for Cascade Falls in Mill Valley, Stephanie Guaman knew she was making progress as the sound of rushing water grew stronger.
“I’m wondering how I can get closer,” Guaman said Friday. “It’s the smell of it, the sound of it, the experience of it,” that draws her to such adventures, she said.
“Connecting with nature, it brings you peace,” she said. “It’s like therapy.”
The falls in city-run Cascade Park “is a good one for people with young kids,” said Tony Boyd, operations superintendent. There is plenty of parking off Cascade Drive and it’s about a 10-minute venture to the waterfall and back, Boyd said.
“It’s a relatively easy hike,” he said.
From Mill Valley to Novato to West Marin, an exceptionally strong fall rainy season in Marin has hikers and families chasing waterfalls across the county. Since July, more than 43 inches of rain have fallen in the county, according to the Marin Municipal Water District. The average rainfall total for this time of year is about 24 inches.
On Marin Municipal Water District lands are two popular waterfalls — Cataract and Carson falls. Cataract Falls is inaccessible to cars because of emergency work on Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
Access to Cataract Falls is possible from the Laurel Dell Trailhead on West Ridgecrest Boulevard, said Adriane Martens, spokesperson for the water district.
Then it’s a 2-mile hike to access a view of the upper falls, she said. Parking is free and typically fills early in the day due to the trail’s popularity.
Access to Carson Falls is available from the Azaela Hill Trail parking lot on Bolinas-Fairfax Road, a section that is not impacted by the county road work closure. Parking is free. The hike to the falls is approximately 3 miles.
“Thanks to recent rains, both falls are in full display,” Martens said.
In Fairfax, a 25-foot cascade known as Fairfax Falls runs along the Old Railroad Grade Fire Road in the Loma Alta Open Space Preserve. The fire road is reachable from the Glen Drive trailhead or the trailhead at the summit of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
Elsewhere, accessible waterfalls abound that are safe to enjoy, and involve short hikes.
In Novato, Waterfall Trail in the Indian Valley Open Space Preserve leads to a gushing cascade. After parking, visitors can walk the loop around the ball fields, go through the open space gate and take the fire road. After a short walk, a sign on the left indicates the trail.
Another accessible waterfall in Novato is Buck Gulch Falls. Visitors can take Ignacio Boulevard west and head left on Fairway Drive until the road ends. A trail there will lead to the falls.
At the Point Reyes National Seashore, Alamere Falls has become tremendously popular via social media, but officials emphasize that it has many hazards and is only for accomplished hikers. It involves a 12- to 13-mile hike along steep cliffs and through Wildcat Canyon.
The 30-foot Dawn Falls in the Baltimore Canyon Preserve in Larkspur has several access points. In terms of parking, starting at Crown Road in Kentfield to the Southern Marin Line Fire Road to Dawn Falls Trail is the best option, said Ian McLorg, a county ranger.
“Dawn Falls is one of the largest and most spectacular,” he said. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes and keep a safe distance from the water. Visitors to any of the waterfalls are encouraged to stay on trails and avoid getting too close to waterfalls.
“It gets pretty slippery,” McLorg said.
