Hike to Hidden Falls

Hike to Hidden Falls in the Sierra Foothills

Rain, sun, rain, wind, partial sun, rain … what’s a hiker to do? Go with the flow! Or rather, go to the flow. Hidden Falls Regional Park in the Sierra foothills near Auburn has 30 miles of multi-use trails, the most popular of which is the 2.5-mile (round-trip) route leading to Hidden Falls.

For an easy stroll, take the wide oak-lined service road toward South Legacy Way, which ascends the grassy hillside, with dramatic views of the valley beyond. At Deadman Creek, cross the bridge and head west onto the Hidden Falls Access Trail, a rocky path that creeps along the canyon’s edge.

You’ll hear the falls before you see them. Even pre-snowmelt, they’re at full gush thanks to steady flows from Coon Creek. A small observation deck will get you up close and personal, and a few hundred feet up the trail is a popular (i.e., crowded) spot for lounging on boulders, skipping rocks, and (in summer) taking a dip. It’s also a good turnaround point. Another option is to continue on, taking in the scenery from Canyon View Bridge or exploring the half-dozen other trails that converge here. Free flow.

BEFORE YOU GO: Parking reservations are required on all weekends and holidays, and passes sell out during busy times. No parking reservations are issued at the site. To reach Hidden Falls Regional Park, take Hwy. 49 north from I-80 in Auburn. After 2.7 miles, turn left on Atwood Rd., then right on Mount Vernon Rd. At Mears Dr., turn right and follow the signs to the parking lot. Parking is $8 for a full day and $4 for a partial day. Dog friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View