CALIFORNIA

Tokopah Falls, Early Summer of 2008

The hike to Tokopah Falls is only 3.8 miles round trip. The hike is easy too (as long as it is summer and the trail is free with snow). The trail meanders through a forest of pines along the Marble Fork of Kaweah River. The slope is very friendly, in 1.8 miles, there is only 600 ft gain, so the ascent is very gradual. The last portion of the trail becomes rocky, but still very much manageable. As we get nearer the falls, we saw the Watchtower with some snow patches.

Watchtower, Early Summer 2008

At first, it was hard for us to believe seeing the snow that was so directly exposed to the simmering heat of the sun, and the temperature was about 70s. But then, The Sierras gets very thick accumulation of snow during winter that even in the summer, some snow still lingers.

Tokopah Falls, Early Summer 2008

Tokopah Falls has a total drop-off of about 1200 ft, however, because it goes down inclined and curving several times, viewing its full length is difficult making it look smaller than its height. It even appears smaller than Grizzzly Falls for me :), which has only a 75 ft drop-off. By the falls, there was a very human-friendly marmot (largest member of the squirrel family) who posed for the camera of everyone there.

Marmot @ Tokopah Falls

Marmot and the Watchtower

The trail ends at the base of Tokopah Falls, and I do not see any trails leading to the top of the falls. At the base of the falls however, the entire falls can hardly be viewed at since the upper section of the waterfall is covered by granite cliffs. The cliffs are steep and slippery however, that it is not advised to scramble up farther to see the entirety of the falls.

Sequoia National Park is defintely not only about the giant Sequoias, the park has a lot more to offer. It has pristine sub-alpine lakes, roaring rivers, waterfalls, and is a very nice mountain escape in California. This time of the year though, hiking in Sequoia means snowshoeing or cross county skiing.

More of Sequoia National Park to come…….

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