With that all said, the falls is reported to have a main drop of somewhere around 100ft with plenty of disjoint smaller cascades to bring its cumulative drop to a figure that might be more like 150ft or more. It has got a rather short-lived flow so we actually timed our excursion for February (though we were lucky the weather calmed down on the day we happened to be doing this hike). Speaking of which, you might want to rethink doing this hike/scramble if it's raining because there are plenty of difficult spots requiring clinging and climbing onto rocks (that can easily be slippery when wet) while going up steep gullies (that can easily be muddy or flooded when wet). All the while, you're trying to minimize skin contact with the ubiquitous poison oak.

Once you manage to make it to the base of Tangerine Falls, you can take a look behind you and check out the nice ocean view. When we were there, we also saw hangliders hovering overhead right above the falls! I heard from a group of locals that caught up with us here that it usually gets pretty crowded at the narrow ledge at the overlook. And when we headed back to the trailhead, we noticed at least 7 or 8 different parties headed to the falls. So despite the "adventure" you have to go through, it's still a popular hike and one you're probably going to share with some people.

From the trailhead (see directions below), you'll encounter a trail junction a few minutes into the hike. Make sure you turn left at the signed West Fork Cold Springs Trail sign near a bench at this junction (thereby leaving the Cold Springs Trail, which you were on to start the hike). There, you'll cross a creek then continue the trail as it follows a bunch of water pipes. If you're observant, you might be able to spot Tangerine Falls through the foliage high up on the mountains ahead of you.

Somewhere near the middle of the hike, there'll be an unsigned fork on the right descending to a dry creek bed. When we were there, we had to go around a landslip by going briefly downstream on the dry creek bed then turning left to get back above the landslip and where the trail eventually follows more water pipes.

After the last (third I believe) stream crossing, the water pipes start to disappear and eventually the trail will also disappear near some rock scrambles. From there, you're on your "adventure" and have to do some steep scrambling to get up to the base of the waterfall. If you don't have the benefit of following others (as was the case with us because we were the first ones that day), you'll have to persist despite doubts that this isn't the trail. But if you've been paying attention to your surroundings, you should be able to notice the falls and let that be the motivating factor to keep going for the better view.