Feather Falls

Near: Oroville
Distance: 8 miles
Elevation: 2,400 to 1,400 feet
Vegetation: Deciduous/Pine Forest transition
Last Visit: May 2020

 

 **Note: this hike was impacted by the North Fire Complex of 2020.  Check the Feather River Ranger District website for up to date information on trails**

I wasn't ready for Feather Falls.  From the few pictures I'd seen, I didn't really get a good sense of scale.  I was expecting a pleasant but not that impressive set of low-elevation California falls like maybe Murietta Falls or Alamere Falls.  But unless you're in the Yosemite Valley, you're not going to find any more impressive falls than Feather Falls.  In the spring and late summer, a large creek drops 500 feet down a cliff face viewed from an unobstructed platform built about 500 feet away from the falls on a steep ridge.

This was both a pleasant and problematic surprise.  You see, for our first return to the mountains in the Covid 19 shelter in place of spring 2020... I chose these falls as our destination.  Some minor falls away from any well known state or national parks seemed like a good bet not to be too crowded.  If I had just looked at the frequency of postings on All Trails, I would have realized otherwise.  This is a VERY popular hike, with all the extra annoyance that entails.  (Pot smoking teenagers at the falls, lots of cell phone boom-boxing, etc).   Also there is a lot of poison oak along the narrow trail, which is also on a steep hillside near the falls.  So social distancing is near impossible.  (Not that anyone besides us even bothered trying).  So if you're not up for big crowds (or your dog is unexcited about a lot of close contact with dogs going the other way on the trail), I strongly suggest you avoid this hike on pleasant spring weekends.  If I had it to do over again I'd come on a cool, damp, early spring day.

 

Rules

This trail is in the Feather Falls Scenic Area in the Plumas National Forest.  Dogs should be leashed at all times on this hike, both because that's the rules, and because you really don't want your dog going into the brush and getting covered in poison oak.

Trailhead

The Feather Falls Trailhead is a medium sized, developed trailhead at the end of a well paved but winding road.  There are pit toilets, no fees.  The parking lot is insufficient for use on busy spring weekends and the cars overflow well down the shoulder of the road about a quarter mile from the trailhead.  

Route Notes

There are two routes to the falls and overlook you can take in a loop.  We did it clock-wise.  The lower trail immediately drops  1,000 feet then slowly climbs back up around 600 feet to the overlook and spur to the top of the falls.  The upper trail is smoother and steadily ascends the remaining 400 feet back to the car.  Both trails are mostly well shaded and have a few very limited views across the Feather River Canyon to Big Bald Rock.  Both trails afford and opportunity to splash off in Frey Creek about a mile from the car.  So do the loop if you want variety, stay to the upper trail if you're feeling lazy and stick to the lower trail if you're looking for a workout.

When you get to the falls there is a spur down to the viewing platform and/or you can continue along a narrow trail to creek just above the falls.


CalTopo Map: https://caltopo.com/m/T04P

Photos

The trail has a few interpretive signs along the way.

Every trail in California below 4,000 feet needs this sign.

 

A bench along Frey Creek on the lower trail.

Partial view of Bald Rock Dome from the upper trail.

 

A view down the Feather River canyon from near the falls.

The falls from the viewing platform.

The creek above the falls.  A nice lunch spot.

Looking out over the falls to the viewing platform.

A California king snake crossed our trail.  These snakes aren't poisonous... but the feed on rattle snakes and this does seem like good terrain for rattlers.  So another reason to keep the dog leashed.

Frey Creek

Frey Creek is crossed by sturdy bridges on both the upper and lower trails.  A good spot to cool off the dog.