Cascade Falls!

May 23, 2017 by Tim Hauserman

It’s the middle of spring after a winter that really delivered the rain and snow, which means it’s time for…waterfalls! One of the best around Lake Tahoe is Cascade Falls. It’s just a mile hike out to the falls and once you are there you are not only treated to the sight and sound of the thunderous falls, but also to a taste of the granite wonder of Desolation Wilderness and its snowcapped peaks, as well as views of Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe.

The trail to Cascade Falls starts at the Bayview Campground, above Emerald Bay. This is the one bugaboo about this hike, you will certainly not have the trail to yourself. Anything that is near Emerald Bay will be a busy place. Get on the trail early and during the midweek if possible. And don’t dilly dally as the flows will be at their peak for just the next few weeks.

The Cascade Falls trail rolls across an open forest, before starting a long traverse along a steep slope. The trail is well built and with just a gentle grade, but it is full of steps which go up and over granite boulders, so be ready to give your knees a workout. Views of Cascade Lake open up right away, which is privately owned, with just a few homes perched along it’s shore. About halfway to the falls, you catch a nice glimpse of the water cascading down the cliff in one main channel and a few braids.

Just before reaching the upper edge of the falls, the trail peters out on an open expanse of granite. From here, there are lots of options. You can head to the edge of the crystal clear bustling creek which feeds the falls, climb up higher on the gentle slope for better views of Tahoe and Cascade, or wind your way down to the edge of the falls.

It’s a bit tricky finding the right spot to get your best picture. After various attempts I found the best angle was along the rocky ridgeline about 100 yards north of the falls looking back. But wherever you look, the view of the rushing water, and the high snowcapped peaks of Desolation Wilderness above is worth the walk.