Posted on

Waimea Valley/Falls (Oahu, Hawaii)

Address: 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712

Waimea Valley/Falls is located on the North side of the Island of Oahu. The place is open 7 days a week from 9 am- 5 pm. Waimea Valley is known for its spiritual significance to Ancient Hawaiians. The Valley was awarded to the Kahuna Nui (high priests) in the early days. The Waimea Falls also known as Wailele Falls is a natural rain-fed 45-foot waterfall that is 30 feet deep and located within the Waimea Valley. Visitors/locals can swim and get closer to the waterfalls but it is dependent on the daily waterfall conditions. The 2 main attractions in the Valley are the lush green Botanical Garden and the Waimea waterfall.

We drove for about 1 hour and 15 minutes (38 miles) from our Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel to Waimea Valley/Falls via HI- 99 North. Our drive to Waimea Valley was very scenic, and fun, as we passed through the Dole Plantation, Haleiwa Town famous for Matsumoto Shave Ice/Giovanni Shrimp Truck, and Laniakea Beach where you get to see turtles on the beach. We arrived in Waimea Valley at around 2 pm and the free parking lot was almost full. We drove slowly as the free parking is made up of gravel and sand. There is also another beach parking lot at the entrance but charges a parking fee. The main entrance to the Waimea Valley has signage and is right across the Waimea Bay Beach.

We had to pass through the Waimea Valley Visitor Center, Cafe, and gift shop before we finally reached the main entrance to the Valley. At the entrance booth, we paid $25 for adults ages 13 and up and $14 for kids ages 4-12 years old. It took us about 30 minutes to walk from the main entrance to the Waimea waterfalls. It was a fun walk as we had to go through lush-greenery Botanical Gardens, had to cross a few bridges, and saw a wide variety of beautiful, exotic, tropical plants and fruits along the way. The distance to the waterfalls is about 3/4 miles one way and 1 1/2 miles roundtrip. We learned a lot about the Hawaiian culture in the early days as we explored the historical botanical garden. There was signage everywhere that explains the history of each area we visited and the path to the Waimea/Wailele waterfall.

We knew that we were close to the waterfalls once we saw the Wailele snack bar and the last bridge where we saw the 450 ft waterfalls from afar. There was a public restroom and a changing room before and after the last bridge. We were so excited when we heard the gushing sound of the waterfall and were in awe as we saw the beautiful, picturesque Waimea waterfall. There were friendly lifeguards who handed us a complimentary, required lifevest before we swam in the waterfalls. There were a lot of rocks during our descent to the water. The aqua socks that we were wearing helped prevent us from slipping through the slippery rocks in the water. The water was cold at first but we got acclimated to it and the water was warmer as we got closer to the waterfall. The best part was when we reached the bottom of the waterfall and felt the mist and the gush of the waterfall closer to our heads. My daughter and I felt the water trickle into our heads and enjoyed every moment of it. It was a very exciting, fun experience to be able to swim and get closer to a waterfall. I brought my non-waterproof cell phone (wouldn’t recommend doing it, just in case you drop it into the water) in the water and took lots of videos/pictures near the waterfall. Be careful as the lifeguards had to call out on people who were swimming towards the corner where rocks may fall on you. The lifeguard called on everyone as they close the area at 5 pm.

Overall it was a great memorable experience for us to be able to swim underneath a waterfall. It is my daughter’s first experience swimming in a waterfall. I would highly recommend this place when you visit the Island of Oahu. We also learned a few things about the history of the early Hawaiian culture and lifestyle as we navigated through the lush greenery botanical garden in the Valley.

Tips: Ensure that you pack bottled water to stay hydrated, and wear aqua socks especially when you want to get closer to the bottom of the waterfalls to prevent slips and falls from the rocks. There is a lifeguard on site who will also provide a complimentary lifevest to each person that will swim on the waterfalls. Stay away from the side of the waterfalls as rocks may fall on you. Bring a towel to dry yourself and there is a changing room near the bridge and an outdoor shower to wash. There were benches for people who doesn’t want to swim and a small gift shop to buy water gear. Always remember safety first and don’t do anything unsafe or beyond your comfort level. We even pack a first aid kit just in case of an emergency. They also have a Luau at one of their restaurant onsite. The shuttle that will take you from and to the waterfall wasn’t running or available during our visit. ATM is located inside the gift shop.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Waimea Valley/Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel, tour, and activities near Waimea Valley/ Waimea Falls.

Click the banner below to book your Hawaii activities or tour packages.

HawaiiActivities.com - Top Hawaii Tours & Activities

Posted on

North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve

Address: 2488 Cherokee Road, Oroville, Ca. 95965

North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is located in Butte County and about 3 hour drive from San Francisco via I-80 East and CA-70 North. North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is about 3,300 acres, elevated basalt, and created by ancient lava flows with beautiful colorful wildflowers, waterfalls, and vernal pools. There are a lot of non-native plant species and are good for hiking, wildlife, wildflower viewing, and hunting.

We arrived at the North Table Mountain at around 9:00 a.m. and parked outside of the parking lot on the side of the road. The parking lot inside the property was completely full by the time we arrived. We carried and brought our backpack with all the necessary items such as drinking water, food or light snacks, a first aid kit, sunscreen, and mosquito repellant. We saw about 15 porta-potties situated near the entrance and a few warning signs stated that you need to purchase a CDFW license online to enter the reserve and private property. A few waterfalls are located at the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve such as the famous Phantom, Beatson, Hollow, and Ravine Falls.

It is easy to get lost at the North Table Mountain so we downloaded and follow the map on all trails. From the entrance, we choose the trail on the left and walked along the Creek all the way to the first fork or trail split. At the first trail split, if you go straight it will lead to the Ravine Falls and the right will take you to the Phantom Falls. We proceeded to the right and walked through a few meadows with beautiful wildflowers and a few cows. On the second split trail, there was another sign to Ravine Falls or to the Phantom Falls. The trail path to Phantom Falls will lead you to a Private Property with barbed wire which you have to go around it. While the path to the Ravine Falls is a challenging hike/trail since we had to climb over a few downed trees, cross a few creeks, walked through a narrow trail path, and hiked through the downhill and an uphill path leading to the Phantom Falls. After ascending from the Ravine Falls we passed through a private property gate and made a left. From the private property gate, we hiked for at least 20 minutes and arrived at Vista Point which gave us the best view of Phantom Falls and its beautiful surroundings. The Vista Point is made up of rocks and it’s near a cliff. Be careful as most of the trails have a lot of sharp rocks, mud, and dirt. We took a lot of pictures along the trail and saw a couple of people hiked all the way down to the bottom of the falls. There were a lot of people still arriving when we left at around 1 p.m. and it was hard to maneuver since the road is narrow and lots of cars parked on the side of the road. It took us about 3 1/2 hours out and back from the entrance to the Phantom falls which also includes stopping and taking pictures along the trail.

Overall, we enjoyed the challenging hike at North Table Mountain. We visited the Ravine Falls and Phantom Falls which are the two most visited waterfalls at North Table Mountain. There were a lot of people during our visit and we wore our masks while walking or close to other people due to Covid safety requirements.

Tips: Try to get there earlier before 9 a.m. to avoid the spring and summer crowd. And park your car closer to the entrance or on the side of the road for easier access going out. Wear good hiking shoes to prevent you from twisting your ankle due to a lot of big, pointed rocks along the trail. We visited the Reserve during the first week of Spring and saw all the beautiful wildflowers throughout the trail and the abundant water flow from the waterfalls.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel or place to stay near North Table Mountain.

Posted on

Yosemite Falls (lower level)

Address: Yosemite Village, CA 95389 (near Yosemite Valley Lodge)

The Yosemite Falls is the most popular and most visited falls at Yosemite National Park. It is formed by creeks tumbling into the Yosemite Valley into the Merced River down below. The water comes from the snow that is above 6,000 feet during winter, creating a reservoir of water. Yosemite Falls is 2,435 feet from the top to the base and the highest falls at Yosemite National Park. The Yosemite Falls is composed of three waterfalls or drops which are the top, middle and bottom falls. The waterfall is at its peak flow in May and the water flowing through the falls usually stops in late summer and fall.

We drove for about 5 hours from San Francisco via US-140 El Portal to Yosemite National Park entrance. We stayed for two days at Yosemite Valley Lodge which is inside the park and about a 10-15 minutes walk to the base of Yosemite Falls. There were a lot of visual signs leading to the upper and lower falls. There is a public restroom available onsite and a shuttle bus stop #6 situated in front of the park. But the Yosemite National Park shuttle bus is currently not in service due to Covid-19 safety restrictions. There were a lot of people wearing masks but it is challenging to practice social distancing due to a large crowd.

When we arrived at the entrance we immediately took a picture of the beautiful Yosemite Falls with the three waterfalls or drops which are visible from a far. When we got to the base or viewing point area of the Yosemite Falls we were mesmerized by the Majestic beauty and the very loud roar from the waterfalls. The view area was crowded with lots of people wearing masks, posing, and taking pictures but it was very challenging to practice social distancing due to large crowds. We took a family picture on the bridge with the Yosemite Falls as our background. Some people were considerate, taking turns in taking a picture.

After the bridge, we merged to the left and proceeded towards the base of the waterfalls to get a closer look and feel the water mist from the bottom of the falls. We had to go through a lot of huge, wet, and slippery granite rocks. We were just wearing regular running shoes which made us slipped through some rocks. We forgot to change into our hiking boots which is highly recommended when going through the slippery rocks to prevent slips and falls. As we got closer to the falls we heard the deafening loud noise from the falls, saw a beautiful rainbow, and was soaked from the water mist coming from the waterfalls. We took lots of pictures and videos closer to the Majestic and beautiful Yosemite Falls.

Overall it was a great experience for us to experience again. It is my daughter’s first experience of visiting Yosemite Falls with all the waterfalls flowing. We also saw a lot of people with their smaller/younger kids on a stroller as the trail is paved and easy.

Tips: Ensure that you pack lots of bottled water to stay hydrated, wear hiking shoes especially when you want to get closer to the bottom of the falls to prevent slips and falls. Wear a waterproof jacket to minimize getting soak and to keep you warm as the weather is unpredictable. Bring a sanitizer to clean your hands after holding on to the slippery rocks, and a small cloth to wipe yourself from the strong mist. Always remember safety first and don’t do anything unsafe or beyond your comfort level. We even pack a first aid kit just in case of an emergency.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Yosemite Falls (lower falls) after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Posted on

McWay Falls(Big Sur)

Address: Highway 1 Julia Pfeiffer State Park Big Sur, Ca. 93920

Mc Way Falls is the most photographed falls in California and is picturesque during sunset. It’s an 80-foot tall waterfall that flows year-round from the McWay Creek located on the coast of Big Sur. It’s one of the tidefalls in California and the only other one is Alamere Falls in Marin. The Cove to the waterfalls is not accessible on foot due to hazardous steep rock on its descent. In 1961, the McWay Falls was designated a park reserve and was donated to the government.

It took us about 3 hours (153 miles) drive from San Francisco to get to McWay Falls via US 101 South, SR 156, and Hwy 1. The drive was very beautiful, scenic, winding, and relaxing once we got to hwy 1 which is also called Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). We arrived at McWay Falls around 10:30 am and found out that Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park parking lot was already full. We were lucky to find an open parking spot along Hwy 1 and saved us $10 for the parking fee. You can either pay $10 to park inside the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which has easier access to the McWay Falls trail or park along hwy 1 and walk down towards the trail which is a little bit dangerous or safety issue.

From the Ranger Station or entrance, there was a public restroom on site, and across it was a stair that leads to the Mc Way Falls trail. The wide dirt trail to the McWay Falls is about 0.6 miles (out and back) from the State Park parking lot and it took us about a 15 minutes walk. From the stairs, we passed through a short tunnel beneath highway 1 and made a right turn that led us to the waterfalls viewpoint or overlook. There was also a fenced area that is off-limits to visitors due to safety concerns. (soil erosions)

There were a lot of tourists/people at the viewpoint area and we all took turns for a photo opportunity. The view of the waterfall is mesmerizing with the crystal clear blue-green color of the water overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Be careful and watch your step when in the area for safety. The McWay Falls is a good place to see or a quick stop when you are driving through the Big Sur area.

Tips: When parking on hwy 1 watch out for oncoming cars as you don’t have enough space on the side of the road and try to park your car properly or correct orientation. It’s easy to get side-swiped when getting out of your car or walking on the side of the road. McWay Falls is after Partington Cove if you are coming from the North. The $10 parking fee for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is also good for the other parks along Big Sur. Partington Cove is also a good place to visit while in the area.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about McWay Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Posted on

Minaret Falls

Address: Minaret Falls Access Road, Mammoth Lakes, Ca. 93546

We visited Minaret Falls in August and it’s about a 150 feet fall, close to the Devil’s Postpile. And it’s a 1.5 miles one-way moderate uphill hike through the Forest. There is a “Minaret Falls” signage before reaching the Devil’s Postpile. You will cross a bridge over the San Joaquin River with a great view of a meadow and the river. This area is an awesome photo opportunity for everyone. We used a hiking pole that helped us with the uphill trek to the falls. The hike will lead you to pathways that are close to the edge of the mountain with a beautiful view of the Sierras.

We went through a lot of rocks, fallen trees, and bushes as we get closer to the bottom of the falls. We were the only ones at the falls when we arrived which gave us a lot of photo opportunities. But be very careful as some of the rocks are not stable and slippery. We used our hiking poles to stabilized ourselves while going over the rocks. I was taking a selfie shot as I felt the waterfalls suddenly gushed more water behind me so I decided to move away from it as a safety precautionary. (I’m scared cause I don’t know how to swim) LOL. We saw a few hikers along the way on our way back so don’t forget to yield or give way.  Please bring lots of water and sunscreen especially during summer and late in the afternoon. But the waterfalls and the scenery made it all well worth the challenging hike.

Tips: It’s about a 30 minutes drive from the main gate to the trail’s parking area. After paying at the entrance gate, be careful driving to the parking lot as the road is narrow, winding and downhill. You have to yield to the car going uphill as they are closer to the edge. There is also a sign that says that you are entering Bear County so watch out for bears. Please stay hydrated and bring a hiking pole.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Minaret Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Posted on

Nojoqui Falls Park

Address: 3250 Alisal Road Goleta, Ca. 93117.

The Nojoqui Falls Park is located in Santa Barbara County. The beautiful park features the Nojoqui Falls, ball fields, BBQ grills, picnic tables, and public restrooms. The park also offers reservable picnic tables/areas for larger groups or corporate gatherings. It is about 15 minutes away from the town of Solvang.

From Solvang, we took US 101 South and exited or turned left onto Old Coast Highway and made a left onto Alisal Road. We drove through a combination of the paved and unpaved roads for about 10-15 minutes. We even saw a nice winery and a few horse ranches along the way. When we reached the park entrance, we drove all the way up to the upper parking lot in front of the waterfall’s hiking entrance. The upper parking lot area is smaller, rough, rocky, and unpaved. But there is a clean public restroom closed to the parking area. We saw signs posted at the beginning of the hike which included “watch out for mountain lion, direction to the falls, dogs must be leashed.” Walked through the trail for about 10-15 minutes and passed through 2 short bridges, climbed a moderate uphill, and finally reached an area close to the base of the waterfalls. There were warning signs that stated “the trail is closed, keep out due to hazardous conditions such as falling rocks and landslide. Some people crossed or passed the warning signs but it will be at your own risk. There were about 40% of water falling through the falls at the time of our visit. The Nojoqui waterfall is about 80 feet and some people say the word “Nojoqui” is Chumash meaning honeymoon place.

Overall, it was a beautiful waterfall, easy hike, and a nice trail. We loved the fact that there is a closer parking area, public restrooms, a family-friendly park and lots of things to do.

Tips: Bring some bottled water and wear comfortable shoes. Last 200 feet to the falls is closed due to landslide and have warning signs. Wear your masks and practice social distancing due to Covid. It can get crowded near the waterfalls but people were giving way. Watch out for slippery rocks and trails. There is a nice winery (Folded Hill Winery) with a variety of farm animals that is near the Park.

Let me know if you have any questions and what you think about the Nojoqui Falls Park after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site to your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Posted on

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

Address: Burney Falls, 24898 Hwy 89 California 96013

Burney Falls is a 129-foot falls and the most beautiful and breathtaking waterfall. It is about a 5 hours drive from San Francisco and it’s located in Shasta County. Burney Falls is located inside Mc Arthur State Park. Parking day use is $10 per vehicle and it includes a trail map. We arrived at Burney Falls at around 9:30 am and there were a lot of parking spaces still available. There were a few parking spaces that are paved which are located after passing the park entrance and in the back area near the public restrooms and gift shop. While the rest of the parking areas are made up of dirt and gravel. We visited Burney Falls twice once in Aug. 2020 and May 2021.

We parked behind the gift shop and the public restrooms. We walked for about 10 minutes to the entrance of the falls. We took the paved downhill trail on the right side and walked for about 10 minutes which led us to the bottom of the waterfalls. There were a lot of photo opportunities along the trail. Once we were on the bottom we went through a lot of slippery, sharp rocks and a steep descent to get closer to the waterfalls. We wore our masks and tried to maintain our distance from others. There were a lot of people taking group pictures and selfie pose near the middle of the waterfalls. We felt the waterfall mists when we were closer to the waterfalls and the water is cold but with a beautiful blue and greenish color.

We saw a “Falls Loop” trail sign near the bottom right of the waterfalls. We hiked thru the waterfalls loop which is about 1.2 miles roundtrip and encircles the waterfalls. There is a great photo opportunity on the first bridge with a large downed Redwood Tree in front of the River. The Falls Loop is a dirt trail that has a few switchbacks and a moderate ascend to the top. We also passed through a Rainbow Bridge before the end of our trail hike which led us back to where we started.

After our fun short hike, we purchased a Burney Falls Huckleberry jam and Twizzlers at the gift shop. There are a lot of clean public restrooms available near the gift shop store. And I highly suggest getting there earlier because there were a lot of cars looking for a parking spot by the time we left at 1 p.m. We purchased Polish hotdogs, nacho cheese, veggie burger, ice cream at the gift shop and ate it outside on one of the picnic tables. Overall, it was well worth the long drive from San Francisco and witnessing the amazing and beautiful Burney Falls.

Tips: Get there earlier before 10:30 a.m. to find parking and to avoid the crowd. Wear hiking boots, bring water bottles and a thin jacket just in case of the weather change. You can purchase hot foods at the gift shop such as a polish hotdog, nacho cheese, veggie hamburger. Raw hamburgers are available and you have to cook them yourself. Some people bring their own food as there are a lot of picnic tables available throughout the park. There was traffic on Hwy 89 when we left at 1 p.m. due to people trying to get into the park entrance but a Park Ranger was present and asking people if they were going straight or going to the park to alleviate the traffic.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Burney Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Posted on

McCloud River Falls (Upper, Middle, Lower)

Address: Mc Cloud Falls Road, McCloud, Ca. 96057

The Mc Cloud river runs through 3 basalt rocks waterfalls and ends on a lush meadow. McCloud waterfalls have 3 areas where you can park, walk to Vista Point and enjoy the different sections of the waterfalls. The top of the falls, middle falls, and lower falls.  Each area or section has a parking space and public restroom available. The Upper falls parking area is less crowded than the middle and lower falls which are both very popular. It’s about an hour’s drive from Burney Falls by taking CA-89 North. We visited Mc Cloud River Falls twice one in August 2020 and May 2021. We only get to explore the lower and middle falls on our first visit while we explore the Upper and Middle falls section on our second visit.

We first visited and parked on the Upper Falls section and walked for about 5-10 minutes to the Vista Point with railings installed for safety. We took a lot of pictures on the Upper Falls Vista Point and my daughter even played with the cold river water near the parking area. We then drove for about 5 minutes to the Middle falls parking area and walked for about 5 minutes to Vista Point. We then walked a little further down on a narrow dirt trail that led us closer to the Middle Falls. We navigated for at least 20 minutes on the downhill trail by passing through wooden stairs, few switchbacks, a downed tree, rocks, and dirt. When we arrived at the Middle falls, we still navigated through a lot of big and slippery rocks or boulders to get very close to the waterfalls. We were lucky enough to have witnessed a few cliff divers that were jumping off from the top of the waterfalls.

During our first visit, we parked in the lower falls area. We saw a few people swimming and diving into the water from the edge of the falls. We then proceeded to hike up towards the middle falls for about 0.7 miles one way on a dirt trail. We had to pass through a campsite area, trees and followed the sign to the Middle Falls. The Middle Falls is breathtaking and has a very nice wide cascading waterfall effect. We saw a few people swimming in the cold river water.

Tips: Please wear hiking boots, bring a water bottle and hiking pole if you are hiking the trail down to the Middle Falls from Vista Point. Wear your mask and practice social distancing especially in the Middle Falls. You may bring your own food and use some of the picnic tables available around the area.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Mc Cloud Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Posted on

Mist Trail in Yosemite (Vernal Falls)

Address: Yosemite Valley, Ca. 95389 (Trailhead starts near Curry Village)

The hike to the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls is the signature hike at Yosemite National Park. The hike from the entrance to the first bridge overlook of Vernal falls is about 0.8 miles one way (400 ft. gain) with a combination of a paved and dirt trail but a very steep and challenging trail. The hike to Vernal falls via the mist trail is about 2.4 miles roundtrip with a gain of 1,000 ft and to Nevada falls is 5.4 miles roundtrip with a gain of 2,000 ft. You have to go through 600 slippery, wet, narrow granite rocky steps to the top of the Falls. The best time to visit is during the waterfall peak season from April -June to experience the effect of the mist from the waterfalls. President Barack Obama visited the bridge with the first glimpse of the Vernal Falls in 2016.

We arrived at the dirt and rocky parking area near the entrance to the Mist Trail at around 9 a.m. We changed into our hiking shoes as the trail will be rocky, steep, and slippery. We packed bottled water, ponchos, energy bars, and a hiking pole. The parking area is near Curry Village and the Happy Isle shuttle bus stop #16. We had to pass through a bridge and made a right to the entrance of the Mist Trail. From the entrance, we hiked on a 0.8 miles very steep paved and dirt trail that leads to the first bridge with the first site or glimpse of the Vernal Falls. We had to stop consistently and rested through our ascend as we gasped for air and water break. We took a few family pictures along the way through the trail with a gorgeous view of the mountains and the rivers below. The view from the bridge of Vernal Falls is very fascinating and beautiful. There is also a water fountain refill station at the bridge that wasn’t available that day but the public restrooms were open.

From the bridge, we then proceeded to hike another 0.5 miles on a very steep trail to the beginning of the Mist Trail. After a few minutes, we arrived on a split trail, the left side will lead to the Mist Trail and the right side will lead to the John Muir Trail Loop via the Clark Pointcut off which is a few miles longer than the Mist Trail and it will also lead to the top of Vernal Falls. We proceeded to take the famous Mist Trail which was a very steep and narrow path. When we arrived at the Mist trail, there were a lot of people climbing through the granite steps. The view of the beautiful Vernal Falls, the loud roaring sound of the falls, the wet and slippery granite steps was picturesque and intimidating. We already felt the strong water mist coming from the falls at the bottom of the granite steps. We slowly ascended up through the narrow, wet, and rocky granite steps with our hearts beating quickly as we are very cautious. We took some great pictures and a short break on some areas on the stairs. We only made it to about 30% of the climb (600 steps total up to the top) and we decided to descend back as the steps are so slippery, too many people going on both ways, too much water mist and we were scared of the height. It took us about 3 1/2 hours roundtrip since we have to stop a lot to take pictures, rest to drink water, and eat snacks.

Overall, it was one memorable challenging hiking experience. The struggle, challenge, uphill descent, sore muscles, and fear of heights were all worth it. The view of the Vernal Falls, the loud roar of the falls, and the scary wet, narrow granite steps is one experience that we will never forget. There were a lot of families with little kids also climbing through the Mist Trail. We will come back again in the future to go all the way on top of Vernal falls and be well prepared for the challenge.

Tips: Make sure that you bring lots of water, snacks such as energy bars, poncho as you will get soaking wet, wear good reliable hiking boots to prevent ankle sprains or slips, a First Aid Kit, and hiking poles. Don’t do anything unsafe and out of your comfort level. There were a few deaths relating to people slipping or falling in the river and ending up getting carried over by the strong current. Safety first in mind and wear your masks, social distancing is hard to implement on the granite steps as they are very narrow and people go up and down on both ways. And not all steps have guard rails on the side so all you would see is the bottom of the cliff.

Let me know if you have any questions or comment on what you think about the Mist Trail after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Posted on

Mossbrae Falls

Address: Mossbrae Falls, California 96025

Mossbrae Falls is a 52 feet falls and is located in Dunsmuir, California in Shasta County. The waterfalls are not high but very wide and have lots of greenery. To get to the falls there are 2 ways that I know of. One is trespassing illegally at your own risk through private property at Shasta Retreat Center and a Railroad track owned by Union Pacific. You can’t park inside the Shasta Retreat Center. Some locals informed us that you can also access the falls via the Hedge Creek Falls trail by crossing a river. Hedge Creek Falls is about 5 minutes away from the Shasta Retreat Center.  There is also a street sign that says no parking inside the retreat center and no Mossbrae Access. You can easily miss the Shasta Retreat Center’s entrance since it is situated on a corner. If you reach the Yak’s Restaurant or the Chevron gas station you went too far.

Once you get to the Shasta Retreat Center entrance which is on Scarlett Way. You have to walk downhill and make a right turn towards the bridge. After you pass the bridge you will land on railroad tracks and there is a sign that says private property trespassing is prohibited  The moderate walk/hike along the Railroad track is about 1.2 miles. The right side of the Railroad track is wider and closest to the river. Watch out and listen for oncoming trains and wear good hiking shoes due to lots of very sharp and large rocks along the tracks. Bring bottles of water and sunscreen during summer because there are no shaded areas along the tracks.

Before you reach the bridge there is a trail on the right side through the trees that will lead to the waterfalls. You will be able to see and hear the waterfalls while you are on the trail. The water is very cold and the rocks are slippery. And there is a huge rock or boulder in the middle of the falls which is a great photo opportunity but it is difficult to go on top of it. Bring your lunch and just enjoy the scenery. Remember that you are trespassing on private property at your own risk and may receive a fine or get hit by a train. Enjoy!

Let us know if you have any questions or what you think about Mossbrae Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Thank you and have a great day.