Devil's Falls

Auburn State Recreation Area / Colfax / Foresthill / Yankee Jim's Road, California, USA

About Devil’s Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Devils Falls (or Devil’s Falls) was an attractive 50-75ft roadside waterfall along the historically-rich, dusty, and twisty Yankee Jim’s Road in the Auburn State Recreation Area between Colfax and Foresthill.

I learned about this waterfall as a drive-to entry in my Ann Marie Brown California Waterfalls book, but it turned out to be a bit more adventure than the roadside location might suggest.

Devils_Falls_024_04102021 - Devil's Falls
Devil’s Falls

Indeed, the Yankee Jim’s Road had a bit of an outlaw and gold mining history as it was said to be named after a horse-stealing outlaw who found gold in the area and built a corral for the stolen horses.

Eventually, other people found gold in the area and were onto his horse-stealing ways, which ultimately drove him out of this canyon.

He was ultimately hanged in Southern California when he was caught stealing horses there.

Anyways, back to the waterfall, I was able to see the Devil’s Falls right off the road shortly after crossing the historical Yankee Jim’s Road when I drove the stretch from Colfax to Foresthill.

Yankee_Jim_Road_021_iPhone_04102021 - Approaching the historical Yankee Jim's Bridge traversing the North Fork American River
Approaching the historical Yankee Jim’s Bridge traversing the North Fork American River

Most of the people driving this road appeared to spend their time by the creaky-looking Yankee Jim’s Bridge over the North Fork American River.

Devil’s Falls was about 0.6-mile east of the Yankee Jim’s Bridge.

Even though I could see the waterfall from the car while driving the road, there were a couple of pullout spots on either side of its seasonal creek.

That was where I got out of the car and checked out the waterfall more intimately while also noticing the tunnel underneath the road eventually spilling deeper into Shirttail Canyon.

Devils_Falls_002_04102021 - Context of the Yankee Jim's Road and the Devil's Falls
Context of the Yankee Jim’s Road and the Devil’s Falls

In addition to the bridge, I noticed another seasonal waterfall in Mexican Gulch 1.5 miles further to the east of the Devil’s Falls.

Unfortunately, during my early April 2021 visit, that waterfall was trickling or dry considering that year was a drought year.

Authorities

Devils Falls resides in the Auburn State Recreation Area between Colfax and Foresthill in Placer County, California. It is administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. For information or inquiries about the area 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: auburn state recreation area, yankee jims road, yankee jims bridge, colfax, foresthill, devils canyon, north fork american river



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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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