Hike to Wallace Lake via Greg Ball Trail

An alluring State Park for its massive waterfall display, Wallace Falls is a high traffic destination along Highway 2, but don't overlook Wallace Lake as the falls steal the limelight. Head East on Highway 2, once you enter the town of Gold Bar keep on the lookout for the State Park signs and turn left (right around milepost 28). From here the route is well signed and it is very easy to navigate to the large parking area. Bring your Discover pass for parking and hit the road early on weekends as this is a very popular area to explore and inherently becomes quite busy.

Follow the well-defined trail to the falls and when the route splits keep left, follow the trail past a toilet facility and onto the Greg Bail Trail; this is about 2.4 miles from where you started. From here you wind through the gentle hills with towering old growth overhead. In the distance you can catch the vigorous falls penetrating in your ears and keep your eyes peeled for sights of the river through the crevices of timber. You will run into an old road, take a right and follow to Wallace Lake. Trek along the left side of the lake for another half mile to reach a rocky beach where the sun shines directly upon the waterfront and Mount Index lingers above in the skyline. In my opinion this is where the best view is found and therefore the best place to eat lunch, chill out, and snap some photos.