Hiking in Northern California: Cataract Falls in Mount Tamalpais

San Francisco is filled with amazing hiking areas. Fort Funston, Twin Peaks and the Presidio are favorites with locals and tourists alike. But if you're willing to cross a bridge, there is another very accessible spot that will provide you with a mini-vacation - a place with a forest so thick you can't see the sky. A place with waterfalls and gushing streams with banks you can climb. This is Cataract Falls in the Mount Tamalpais area.

Mount Tamalpais, which is located in Marin County in Fairfax, is about a forty-minute drive from San Francisco. It constitutes part of the Northern California Coast Ranges and its highest peak, which is the West Peak, is 2,574 feet. Many areas of "Mount Tam," as most Bay Area natives like to call it, are protected as California State park land and other areas devoted to public use, such as the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. Mount Tam has many trails to hike for every skill level, some of which are paved and some which aren't. It is a popular area for not only hiking, but mountain biking and horseback riding as well. Because of its altitude, it offers amazing views of the Bay Area from just about every angle.

Of Mount Tam's many waterfalls (there are quite a few), Cataract Falls is one of the easiest to find and navigate. If you drive to the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, the trail is right there. Cataract Falls encompasses nine cascade waterfalls along Cataract Creek, which feed into each other. The streams are typically rushing fast and magnificent in the months of November through March, and then past that point they taper off a bit in both volume and speed. A good rain or two will typically boost the flow of the water, so after a good rain is the best time to check out the waterfalls.

It's difficult to get a great picture of Cataract Falls because of the dense foliage overhead. And the gushing streams and waterfalls pose their own photographic challenge because the water moves so rapidly. But the area has a mysterious quality due to the dim light, quiet and its seclusion. Whenever I'm there, I half-expect to see a hobbit pop out from behind a thicket of green and surprise me. Cataract Falls encourages fantastic visions of every kind! There is bright green moss growing on just about every tree trunk and rock, and the flora is amazing - there are tiny white-purple irises, huge banks of ferns, and large patches of clover, in addition to the majestic redwoods.

A word of caution - although this trail is rated as "moderate" in terms of hiking skill, it's a good idea to wear sturdy footwear to hike it. The green moss is especially slippery - if you're planning on boulder-hopping or getting close to the Creek to take that perfect photograph, you're going to need shoes with some traction. Two likely choices would be running shoes or hiking boots. There are many charming flights of stairs built into the terrain - some in concrete, and some a little more informal, such as a series of logs. In addition, there are massive tree roots that spread underneath and over the trail, and these require a bit of attention. This is not a trail for anyone who is physically disabled, because of the factors I've mentioned above. It's also a good idea to bring a hiking companion or two. Cataract Falls is a fairly isolated area with some very slippery surfaces, so it's best to have some kind of backup should anything happen. Every time I visit this area I always manage to fall at least once, no matter how careful I try to be.

If you're planning on visiting Cataract Falls, here are some directions for you. I borrowed these from Waterfallswest.com, which is Leo Turnbull's website of beautiful photographs of Mount Tam, which I recommend you check out as well:

"Take Hwy #101 to San Rafael, and take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exit. Drive 6 miles to Fairfax, and turn left on Pacheco Rd. (may be unsigned, there is a sign saying "Fairfax" at intersection). Take an immediate right on Broadway, then first left on Bolinas Rd. Drive 7.8 miles to Alpine Lake, and park at the hairpin turn just after crossing the dam. Parking is limited, find a parking spot somewhere off the narrow road. The trailhead is on the left at the hairpin turn....Alternatively, you can park at the other end of the trail, on West Ridgecrest Blvd. at the Laurel Dell picnic area. From the Mill Valley / Stinson Beach / Hwy #1 exit on Hwy #101 north of San Francisco, drive 1 mile to Shoreline Hwy. Turn left and drive 2.5 miles to Panoramic Hwy. Turn right and drive 5.2 miles to Pantoll Rd. Turn right and drive 1.4 miles to Ridgecrest Rd. Turn left and drive 1.6 miles to a small parking area on right. The trail is marked 'Laurel Dell'."

So if you live in the Bay Area, the next time you hit a brick wall at work and you don't have any vacation time left, don't quit. Take a forty-minute drive to Cataract Falls, wander around for an hour or two, and then head back to work. It'll improve your outlook and your health. If you don't live in the Bay Area -- well, then, what are you waiting for? Come visit the San Francisco Bay Area and you can hike Cataract Falls!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tamalpais

http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=256

http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/cataractfalls.html