Middle McCloud Falls
McCloud, California
Details
Distance
2.49 miles
Elevation Gain
243 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Lisa Bao
Middle McCloud Falls is a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole 4 hours north of San Francisco near McCloud California. This is a great spot for photography or picnicking. The Waterfall is 50 feet high and 80 feet across.
Just 4 hours north of San Francisco, McCloud Falls offers a quick hike and swimming hole for those looking for something less crowded than Burney Falls. McCloud Falls has 3 tiers, but the middle section offers the best views by far.
Getting Here
To get here, park at the Fowlers Campground which is roughly 5 miles east of the town of McCloud. Follow signs for the Lower McCloud Falls picnic area, veering right on the road.
The Trail
From the parking lot, it's an easy 1.5 miles on a paved trail. There will be a sign along the trail when you're about .5 miles away from the overlook. Once there, you can choose to admire it from afar, or climb down the hill to get up close and personal. Many choose to take a swim or jump into the chilly water, while others eat their packed lunch on the rocks while taking in the falls. Once you're done, continue along the trail towards Upper Falls, or head back out the way you came to get back to the parking lot.
Pick up food nearby at Mountain Star Cafe in McCloud. They'll wrap up sandwiches or wraps for your picnic.
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Reviews
We followed the directions and somehow ended up on the non paved trail to the bottom...with a stroller. Lol but we did it! It was only .5 miles which was great. The water was INCREDIBLE. Worth it! Just don’t bring a stroller
5.0
Incredibly beautiful!! A lot less populated compared to Lower McCloud and Burney. Definitely an awesome experience to be able to swim underneath the falls and check out the side pool.
5.0
We stopped here quickly on the last day of our week long northern California road trip last June. Falls had a really good flow and we had the place all to ourselves at about 8 am on a Friday morning.
4.0
My girlfriend and I made quick stop here on our drive to Crater Lake. The parking lot is easy to find and the trail is pretty quick down to the swimming pool. Even on a crowded summer day the area is large enough to find a rock to perch on top of and dry off in the sun after swimming in the frigid water.
4.0
This is a great secluded campground, especially beautiful in the fall where the leaves are red and golden. Not crowded in the least bit, but better visit quick, that's certain to change quickly.
5.0
Great waterfall and swimming hole with minimal effort required. Definitely bring your camera!
5.0
We hiked this on 2/13/16 and it was very snowy! We just about managed it in trainers although it was a little slippery in places! We hiked to lower falls first, then middle falls, and then upper falls and back along the road to the car. It was about 6 miles altogether and well worth it. If you're limited on time just do middle falls - it was incredible! When you park you need to head through the campground to the trail - it may be more clear without 3ft of snow but it took us a bit of time to find where we were going!
5.0
Seldom are we rewarded with such amazing scenery with so little work. Easy hike. I went in late October to see the fall colors and had the campground, trail, and falls all to myself.
5.0
Great place to hang out, swim around, and jump at! Tried helping a pal put up a first ascent of the wall to the right of the falls but wasn't able to - the rock was crazy loose.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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