The Route

This is a lovely, magical, fairytale waterfall hike. It's not an easy hike, from the trailhead it rises over 1100 feet in 1.8 miles and includes 592 steps (more about that in a minute). The trail is well maintained, though can be wet and smushy in spots. This is a very popular hike; the only negative, in my book. The whole hike is shaded and cool, and you're right next to the stream for almost the entirety of the hike. You have waterfalls after waterfalls, all the way up, and green amongst luscious green.

The parking is a little janky. There are only a few legal spots beside the road on a sharp hairpin turn. I went during the week and I was able to park, but, I imagine, on a weekend it could be monstrously annoying. The trail meanders on the edge of Alpine Lake until it hits the inflows of Cataract Creek. Then it goes up. Some of it is nice and gentle single-track through the woods beside the cascading stream that flows over rocks and falls. The stream burbles along in its own low-stress, unconcerned way. And then, stairs. When I said 592 steps, I meant stair-steps, not foot-steps. Some of them are actual wooden staircases, some made of rock, and some of railroad ties. Along the way you'll find plenty of places to rest, should you need it. There are viewing platforms beside waterfalls, benches to sit on and watch the forest, and jumbled rocks where you can perch right next to the stream.