Hidden Falls-Placer County

Location

Hidden Falls: 38.9662 N, 121.1776 W

USGS Topo: Gold Hill

Directions

To get to the trailhead, take the Grass Valley exit from I-80 (#119B) and take CA-49 North ~2.7 miles before turning left onto Atwood Rd. Follow Atwood Rd ~1.7 miles to the Mt Vernon Rd. Zig-zag your way for ~2.7 miles before turning right onto the Mears Rd (should be signed for Hidden Falls Regional Park). Follow this through another zig and zag and turn right into the park after a further ~0.8 miles (from the Mt Vernon Rd). Follow the road down to the parking area and trailhead. This waterfall requires ~2.6 mile round-trip hike (other sources quote it as 3.0 miles round-trip) with 400'+ of elevation gain/loss. Following a dirt road down you cross over Deadman Creek and Whiskey Diggins Canal ~0.7 miles from the trailhead. The trail to the waterfall is to the left at the first intersection. You will encounter a few more trail intersections but as long as you stay left you'll stay on the quickest route to the falls (not including smaller side-trails). There is a trail map at the trailhead which you should look over before starting the hike to make sure you do not take a wrong turn. At ~1.3 miles from the trailhead you reach the viewing platform built directly in front (to the W) of the waterfall (the above picture was taken from here). There are a couple of other good viewpoints for this waterfall as well with the best being below and to the right of the platform (steep and somewhat treacherous, travel at your own risk).

Video