Lower Falls Lower Falls is the overlooked neighbor to Rainbow Falls. Both times I've been to this waterfall, it was peaceful and quiet as visitors often don't even bother with this falls or even know it's there. Still, this waterfall sits within the San Joaquin River just downstream of its more famous neighbor. So, you can bet that this is a year-round waterfall and beautiful in its own right. In order to reach the falls, I merely had to walk an additional 0.5 miles from Rainbow Falls (thus making the round-trip hiking distance a total of 2.6 miles). However, most of the walk was a continuation of the sun-exposed burn area and it was mostly downhill on the way there. Thus, it can be surprisingly tiring on the way back due to its upside-down nature coupled with the high altitude and the prevalence of fine dust particles (thanks to the sandy trail).
[Back to top]  Still walking within the burn area towards the waterfall View of the falls towered over by pine trees The uphill walk as we were leaving the falls Lower Falls as seen from its base back in 2001[Back to top] Top down sweep of the falls then sweeps to left ending with a look downstream
TRIP REPORTSFor more information about our experiences with this waterfall, check out the following travel stories.GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCESNEARBY WATERFALLSHave You Been To This Waterfall?
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In addition to views of the 30ft falls from its top, I was able to take a fairly straightforward scrambling path to the bank of the Lower Falls' plunge pool. On my latest visit in late August 2010, there were still mosquitoes here. But when I saw this waterfall back in September 2001, there no mosquitoes and that allowed for a few people to be chillin' at the top of the falls as well as an angler trying his luck at the base of the falls. 
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| First, thanks for this cool website its nice to know about hidden gems in our backyard. We went on May 24th, 2008 and had the pleasure of seeing a running stream all the way...[more] |
| We would climb up the falls along the crevice to the left of the falls all the way up then over to the chute to the left of the falls and run down the gravel chute...[more] |
| This hike is AMAZING! I was happy going through this trail with a few friends as it was quite pretty.The road up is a long one and there were...[more] |
| Glad to know there are waterfall lovers like myself. I am enjoying the website. I thought I would post to you a picture of a waterfall in California that is...[more] |
| I was so surprised not to see the Three Sisters Waterfall in Descanso, CA (San Diego County) on your list & then remembered it's a fairly well kept secret...[more] |
| I absolutely loved the scenery of this whole hike and destination. It was very confusing to get there and we had to make a few U-Turns, but it was definitely worth...[more] |
| About a year ago, I was given a newspaper article describing these hidden falls in Orange County. The article itself did not specify the exact location, so I did some hunting online...[more] |
| Here is what I can only assume is called "Emerald Falls" just north of Filmore in Southern California. (In Los Padres National Forest) I think it is hands down...[more] |
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