Mid Sierra Musings: Day Hike To Rancheria Falls: Sierra National Forest

Dale Matson

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Trailhead elevation: 7,550’

Overall elevation gain 322’ uphill outbound

Trail condition: excellent

Distance 2.0 miles round trip

Location: Huntington Lake area on right just before Kaiser Pass Road.If you see

a sign for the “Kokanee Work Center”, you are already past the turnoff.

From Fresno CA it is about a 1.5 hour drive on Highway 168.

This is a trail that is actually smoother than the drive in on the road to the trailhead. I recommend a high clearance vehicle for the one-mile drive to the trailhead. There is a potty at the parking area. The trail ends at the falls and climbing higher requires careful footwork and hands. The overspray from the falls makes the surrounding steep terrain and rocks slippery.

This year is an exceptional time to do this hike with a lot of bang for the buck so to speak. If you drive on Kaiser Pass Road (now open) you can see the falls looking south from one of the pull outs and actually hear it in the distance this year because there is so much water in Rancheria Creek. The creek eventually flows into Huntington Lake.