Cataract Falls

Cataract Falls, Marin County — What to Know Before You Go Finally made it out to Cataract Falls! Just search "Cataract Falls" in your GPS and go — it's a little over an hour's drive from the Bay Area. One thing to watch out for: parking. It's free, but there are only around 20 spots, and I ended up too close to the road — got my first parking ticket of 2026 for it. Learn from my mistake and park properly clear of the roadway. The Trail The trail starts up a set of stairs, and you don't have to go far before you're already passing little waterfalls one after another. The whole way, it's the classic "small bridge, flowing water" spring scene — genuinely one of those walks where work and everything else just melts away for a bit. If the weather's good, this is exactly the kind of day to get out and walk it. We went counterclockwise, which front-loads most of the climbing in the first half. Along the way there are several falls, and you're basically walking with the sound of water the entire time — the air is damp and fresh, like walking through a natural oxygen bar. On the weekend, we did Cataract Falls via Rock Spring Trailhead, the full 5.6-mile route. Part of it follows the creek downhill for a bit over 3 miles until it flows into Alpine Lake — it's a little rough on the knees by the end, but the creek forms all kinds of little waterfalls along the way that make it worth it. Good for Dogs The trail is shaded the entire way and very dog-friendly. Ours got to cool off in the creek whenever they got tired, which they clearly loved. The View on the Way Out Coming back out of the hills, you get a view of the San Francisco skyline with the Golden Gate Bridge peeking out from under a layer of clouds — genuinely a stunning way to end the hike. Quick Tips Navigate straight to "Cataract Falls" — no need to overthink the destination. Parking is free but limited (~20 spots) — don't park too close to the road, or you might end up with a ticket like I did. Going counterclockwise front-loads the climbing early on. Trail is shaded the whole way and dog-friendly, with plenty of creek access for them to cool off. We did the Rock Spring Trailhead route, 5.6 miles round trip — plan for a few hours if you're taking your time. Spring is a great time for this one — full creek flow and everything green.