Rancheria Falls

Sierra National Forest / Huntington Lake, California, USA

About Rancheria Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Rancheria Falls was a surprisingly popular waterfall in the heart of the Sierra National Forest near Huntington Lake.

The waterfall itself featured a 150ft cumulative drop over a couple of main tiers before a series of cascades comprising the rest of its height.

Rancheria_Falls_033_07102016 - Full view of Rancheria Falls from further downstream
Full view of Rancheria Falls from further downstream

Actually, as you can see from the photo above, it’s conceivable that it could be even taller if you count all the cascades further downstream!

Given how out-of-the-way it was from the typical Yosemite route via Fresno, it blew our minds just how busy the hike to get here was.

We imagined that most visitors to this area were Central Valley weekenders looking for recreational opportunities at both Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake.

Perhaps this impressive waterfall was the perfect excuse to do something more Naturesque with the family that involved water and didn’t cost anything extra

Hiking to Rancheria Falls

Rancheria_Falls_008_07102016 - Dad on the gentle mile-long trail to the Rancheria Falls though the brown trees were a very worrying sign about the health of the forest
Dad on the gentle mile-long trail to the Rancheria Falls though the brown trees were a very worrying sign about the health of the forest

Our hike was a pretty straightforward 2 miles round trip from the trailhead (see directions below) to the base of the main drop of Rancheria Falls.

It was a pleasant and easy hike, which certainly helped its popularity.

In any case, the trail gently ascended among a lot of impressive pine trees as well as some blooming wildflowers adding a bit of color to the scene.

Where the tree growth had opened up, we noticed some granite peaks (the kind we’d associate more with Yosemite National Park) in the distance.

Rancheria_Falls_019_07102016 - Looking towards some granite formations protruding from the mountaintops from the Rancheria Falls Trail
Looking towards some granite formations protruding from the mountaintops from the Rancheria Falls Trail

Our most recent visit here in July 2016 followed a very severe drought throughout California so we could see evidence of where dead pine trees were eaten from the inside out by bark beetles.

Apparently, Global Warming managed to either create or exacerbate these conditions as the longer and hotter Summers resulted in the kind of conditions ripe for massive tree die off.

Normally, the bark beetles would have a natural population control from cold temperatues when the temperatures dip outside the Summer.

Meanwhile, trees would naturally create the sap to keep the bark beetles at bay, but only if there’s sufficient moisture to yield the sap.

Rancheria_Falls_021_07102016 - The Rancheria Falls Trail flanked some granite rocks and boulders as we got closer to the waterfall
The Rancheria Falls Trail flanked some granite rocks and boulders as we got closer to the waterfall

Anyways, aside from the brown trees resulting from this condition, the scenery here was otherwise mostly green.

The hike was mostly quiet as we wouldn’t be hearing Rancheria Creek until almost the very end.

That was when the trail made a bend and meandered right up to the base of the main 50ft drop of Rancheria Falls.

From this spot, it was hard to get an all encompassing view, and the steep and rocky terrain downstream ensured that we’d have to be content with the limited view of the falls from the official trail’s end.

Rancheria_Falls_046_07102016 - Mom and Dad at the base of the main drop of Rancheria Falls
Mom and Dad at the base of the main drop of Rancheria Falls

However, we did notice quite a few younger individuals who continued scrambling steeply alongside the waterfall to get to its top.

That said, I also noticed further back on the main trail an informal that descended to a rock outcrop that produced the photo opportunity you see at the top of this page.

This contextual view of the falls made it clear that there was way more to Rancheria Falls than the limited view you get from the official trail.

It made me wonder whether the 150ft height figure might be underestimating it a bit.

Rancheria_Falls_071_07102016 - Looking back at other people approaching the main drop of Rancheria Falls while I was looking for a way to better experience the entirety of the waterfall
Looking back at other people approaching the main drop of Rancheria Falls while I was looking for a way to better experience the entirety of the waterfall

As far as lighting was concerned, both times we visited this waterfall were at the height of the day from late morning to high noon.

Under these lighting conditions, the sun was pretty much right on top of the falls, which made viewing and photographing it a bit challenging.

I’d imagine that if we were to time our visit for better lighting conditions, then mid- to late afternoon would probably produce better backlighting.

We’ve never had the opportunity to stick around late enough to test this theory, but maybe one of these days when we’d stick around to enjoy the lakes here better, we’ll give it a try.

Surprising Popularity

Rancheria_Falls_087_07102016 - Mom and Dad returning to the now-busy trailhead for Rancheria Falls
Mom and Dad returning to the now-busy trailhead for Rancheria Falls

When we returned to the trailhead in the late morning of our July 2016 visit, this was when we realized just how popular Rancheria Falls was.

We had encountered large groups of people of all ages heading to the falls.

Indeed, we noticed plenty of families with kids as well as seniors doing this otherwise quite easy hike.

Even when we made it back to the trailhead parking, we were amazed at how full it was, especially when we were only one of about a half-dozen or so cars here when we first showed up.

Rancheria_Falls_002_scanned_06022002 - This was how Rancheria Falls (the main drop) looked like when we first visited back in June 2002
This was how Rancheria Falls (the main drop) looked like when we first visited back in June 2002

I recalled that the first time we visited this place in 2002, it wasn’t nearly as popular as it was on our latest visit.

Anyways, when all was said and done, we had spent under 90 minutes away from the car, but easily less than an hour of this time spent was hiking the trail itself.

We simply took our time and enjoyed both the scenery as well as the impressive waterfall display.

Everything about our experience here literally coerced us into slowing down and just enjoying ourselves.

Rancheria_Falls_002_07102016 - Looking back at the dirt road leading to the Rancheria Falls Trailhead
Looking back at the dirt road leading to the Rancheria Falls Trailhead

Perhaps the hardest thing about reaching this waterfall was the somewhat rough dirt road lasting for about a mile away from the Hwy 168.

I didn’t recall the road being this rough when we first made our visit back in 2002, but then again, things can change over time and perhaps my memory wasn’t very good from 14 years back.

In any case, you read a little more the drive down below in the directions.

Authorities

Rancheria Falls resides in Sierra National Forest near Huntington Lake in Fresno County, California. It is administered by the USDA Forest Service. For information or inquiries about the reserve as well as current conditions, visit the USDA website or their Facebook page.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: fresno, huntington lake, shaver lake, sierra national forest, sierra, california, waterfall, lakeshore, big creek



Visitor Comments:

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Another view of Rancheria July 24, 2024 12:18 am by Richard Estel - If you drive up the Kaiser Pass Road above Huntington a few miles, after the 2nd switchback there is a straight stretch with plenty of room to pull over. Here you will get a great view of the falls. It's best seen via a telephoto lens picture or with binoculars. This shows a pretty good… ...Read More

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Another view of Rancheria July 24, 2024 12:18 am by Richard Estel - If you drive up the Kaiser Pass Road above Huntington a few miles, after the 2nd switchback there is a straight stretch with plenty of room to pull over. Here you will get a great view of the falls. It's best seen via a telephoto lens picture or with binoculars. This shows a pretty good… ...Read More
Since 1962 (Rancheria Falls) July 22, 2009 1:09 pm by Nina - I have been coming to Huntington Lake since 1962 (bragging rights, which long time visitors are apt to tell anyone who will listen). We usually stay a week at Lakeview Cottages on the other side of the lake. At least once during that week, we would trek to the falls. It is an easy hike,… ...Read More

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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

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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