Dawn Falls

Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve / Larkspur, California, USA

About Dawn Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Dawn Falls was kind of an unusual waterfalling experience for us in that it was nestled in a part of Marin County where there were numerous high-priced residences built amongst towering coastal redwood trees.

It seemed like an unlikely place for a pleasant Nature outing (let alone a waterfalling excursion) given the developments, but it just goes to show you how Nature can yield pleasant surprises.

Dawn_Falls_072_04192019 - Dawn Falls
Dawn Falls

I actually visited this 30ft waterfall twice – a first time when it was not flowing in May 2016, and a second time when it was flowing in April 2019.

Each time I’ve done this excursion, I took a different trail.

The first trail involved hiking through Baltimore Canyon before climbing up to the Dawn Falls.

The second trail started from a trailhead above Baltimore Canyon before descending to Dawn Falls.

Summarizing the different approaches to Dawn Falls

Dawn_Falls_064_05222016 - Mom towered over by coastal redwood trees in Baltimore Canyon on our first time hiking to Dawn Falls
Mom towered over by coastal redwood trees in Baltimore Canyon on our first time hiking to Dawn Falls

The Baltimore Canyon route pretty much meandered amongst the towering coastal redwood trees, which were plentiful within this canyon.

This trail meandered for 1.25 miles to reach the Dawn Falls (2.5 miles round trip).

It took my Mom and I a little under 90 minutes to complete, but we really took our time as we basked in the peace and quiet of the canyon floor.

Most of the hike was flat except for the final climb up leading up to the foot of the waterfall in the last quarter-mile or so.

Dawn_Falls_022_04192019 - Looking into Baltimore Canyon from the Crown Road Fire Road
Looking into Baltimore Canyon from the Crown Road Fire Road

Of the two hikes to reach Dawn Falls, I’d argue that this was the more atmospheric of the two even though the hike was longer.

On the other hand, the other trail started from a different trailhead above Baltimore Canyon.

This approach involved briefly hiking along the rim of Baltimore Canyon on the Crown Road Fire Road.

It eventually reached a trail junction with the Dawn Falls Trail, where it then descended to Dawn Falls barely a half-mile from the trailhead.

Dawn_Falls_084_04192019 - Looking into the coastal redwood trees of Baltimore Canyon as the morning sun was rising
Looking into the coastal redwood trees of Baltimore Canyon as the morning sun was rising

Continuing downhill beyond Dawn Falls, would have reached the head of Baltimore Canyon and its groves of redwood trees.

Dawn Falls Trail Description – hiking to the falls via the Baltimore Canyon Route

From the trailhead at the end of Madrone Ave, we followed the steps that left the pavement and descended towards Larkspur Creek.

Almost immediately, we were surrounded by coastal redwoods.

Upon crossing the bridge, when we saw there was water in Larkspur Creek, that gave us hope that Dawn Falls ought to be flowing.

Dawn_Falls_017_05222016 - Following the wide and gently uphill trail through Baltimore Canyon flanked by tall coastal redwood trees
Following the wide and gently uphill trail through Baltimore Canyon flanked by tall coastal redwood trees

On the other side of the bridge traversing the creek, we then turned right and followed the now-signposted Dawn Falls Trail further upstream deeper into Baltimore Canyon.

Throughout the hike, we were flanked by the majestic coastal redwood trees.

Indeed, it became readily apparent that many of the Bay Area’s place names like Redwood City further to the south were inspired by such trees.

Anyways, we shared the relatively flat trail going slightly uphill with a handful of local joggers who probably use this trail for their morning run.

Dawn_Falls_038_05222016 - Mom keeping left to remain in Baltimore Canyon and not take the Ladybug Trail on the right
Mom keeping left to remain in Baltimore Canyon and not take the Ladybug Trail on the right

Roughly a half-mile from the trailhead, we encountered a trail junction with the Ladybug Trail.

We kept left to remain on the Dawn Falls Trail, and a few minutes afterwards, we noticed a few feeder creeks coming from our left that would cross the trail and feed Larkspur Creek.

Unfortunately, the further up Baltimore Canyon we went (beyond these feeder creeks), Larkspur Creek grew more and more quiet.

Eventually by the time we reached the head of Baltimore Canyon (and an even denser grove of coastal redwood trees), it was almost as if Larkspur Creek went completely dry during our mid-May 2016 visit.

Dawn_Falls_061_05222016 - Mom hiking between a succession of coastal redwood trees within Baltimore Canyon on the longer and atmospheric approach to Dawn Falls
Mom hiking between a succession of coastal redwood trees within Baltimore Canyon on the longer and atmospheric approach to Dawn Falls

Anyways, this was confirmed as we climbed steeply up the continuation of the trail as it left the floor of Baltimore Canyon.

Then, the trail followed the canyon’s sloping contours towards the top of Dawn Falls, where it was indeed merely trickling.

It was from this point that we realized that we probably could have gone another half-mile further up the canyon to the other trailhead (for the shorter way of doing this hike).

After having our fill of the Dawn Falls, we went back down the hill and then back the way we came.

Dawn_Falls_083_05222016 - Looking back at the narrow and ascending trail rising up out of Baltimore Canyon and heading towards Dawn Falls
Looking back at the narrow and ascending trail rising up out of Baltimore Canyon and heading towards Dawn Falls

Along the way, we got to soak in the experience of Baltimore Canyon and its redwood forest once again.

Dawn Falls Trail Description – hiking to the falls via the Crown Road Fire Road

Like with the first trailhead at the end of Madrone Ave, the end of Crown Road was also flanked by homes with limited parking space for non-residents.

In this particular instance, Crown Road appeared to allow for parallel street parking on one side (the side closer to the downhill slope).

Then, the trail resumed behind the gate blocking vehicular access onto the Crown Road Fire Road.

Dawn_Falls_013_04192019 - Following the Crown Road Fire Road skirting the head of Baltimore Canyon
Following the Crown Road Fire Road skirting the head of Baltimore Canyon

Beyond the gate, the trail veered right then followed the contour of the hillside providing panoramic views (against the morning sun) towards Baltimore Canyon as well as some of the homes perched above it.

I also noticed some attractive wildflowers in bloom along this panoramic stretch of trail.

Eventually after about a quarter-mile or so, the trail reached a junction with the Dawn Falls Trail.

I proceeded to go left down the narrow and steep trail as it descended a series of steps and switchbacks.

Dawn_Falls_036_04192019 - Some purple wildflowers blooming alongside the Crown Road Fire Road
Some purple wildflowers blooming alongside the Crown Road Fire Road

After another quarter-mile of this descent, I finally reached the brink and some angled frontal views of the Dawn Falls.

It didn’t appear possible to safely scramble down from the trail to the front of Dawn Falls for an even more satisfying experience.

Therefore, I explored further down Baltimore Canyon to the redwood trees at the bottom of the descent.

Then, when I saw that it was undesirable to do the stream scramble upstream all the way to Dawn Falls due to the amount of deadfall, I decided against pushing through that.

Dawn_Falls_048_04192019 - Descending the narrow Dawn Falls Trail from the Crown Road Fire Road approach
Descending the narrow Dawn Falls Trail from the Crown Road Fire Road approach

So all in all, this Crown Road approach went for about a mile round trip, and it took me around an hour.

Authorities

Dawn Falls resides in the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve near Larkspur in Marin County, California. It is administered by Marin County Parks. For information or inquiries about the park as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: baltimore canyon, open space preserve, larkspur, marin county, bay area, northern california, waterfall, redwoods



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Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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