This waterfall can dry up in late summer so it's best to come here during the peak of the spring thaw around late May. However, we were here on Memorial Day Weekend in 2005 (when California received record precipitation) and snow still lingered here. It is also possible to look down upon this impressive cascade on a different, more strenuous trail to the Watchtower, which leaves from Wolverton. But that latter option was something we haven't tried so we can't say more on that.

Assuming you've found the correct trailhead (see directions below), the trail pretty much follows the Marble Fork Kaweah River the whole way to Tokopah Falls. Most of the fairly benign elevation gain occurs towards the end of the hike where the trail becomes rockier. But throughout most of the hike, it's mostly flat and is always within earshot of the river (which can be raging in the Spring). You'll start to see the Watchtower across the river around the half-way point of the hike, and as you continue on, you'll see it in various shapes as your view angle changes.

Eventually, after ducking and going around boulders near the end of the trail, you'll be right at the official end of the trail where you can get a pretty clean view of the closest drop of the long cascade. But you get more fuller views of the falls on the approach from the bouldery part of the hike.

Once at the falls, you can also look downstream towards the rugged Tokopah Valley while also looking at the pointy Watchtower. Depending on the time of year, you might also spot a surprise ephemeral waterfall coming down a slope near the base of the Watchtower. There might also be other ephemeral waterfalls closer to the Tokopah Falls due to the snowmelt.