University Falls
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
6 reviews for University Falls
I am so glad that we ran out of ice and had to take a trip into town. While in a little shop in town, a lovely shop owner made us root beer floats and told us about University Falls!
We had a pretty late start (around 3), so by the time we got to the falls, it was gettin a bit chilly. The hike is pretty easy, only thing is the signs (spray-painted blue arrows) can be a tad hard to find, so you have to be careful of that. Oh and also, watch out for bmx bikers, and the area called the gauntlet...While trekking through the gauntlet, I felt like I was off roading...on my feet. But other than that, its a fun hike.
The waterfalls are the perfect prize for your hike! It kind of reminds me of Slide Rock in Sedona, AZ. The water is so cold it kind of paralyzed me for a couple of seconds everytime I got in. But it was all worth it. Its so fun! Next year, we'll be sure to get an early start, so we can hang out by the falls, and not have to hike back in the dark!
The first time I came here I got horribly lost and ended up hiking probably twice the amount it should have taken, but it was worth it in the end. The falls are cold and a refreshing treat after the hike. I've met some very cool people down at the falls, everybody seems to be in a great mood and having fun when they're there. In my experience, others were more than willing to help up get out of the bottom fall which was very kind.
Some dogs can go down the falls, but I wouldn't recommend bringing smaller dogs just in case they get hurt.
I would recommend lots of water and definitely bring some food because you'll be hungry when you get there. It's a lot of fun and worth the time. Just follow the blue arrows/ markers.
This place is not easy to find (my friend and I also got horribly lost on the trek) but perhaps that is for the best considering that high traffic tends to leach the beauty from these rare and magical spots. When I came here, there were a couple dozen other people out, all of whom shared the same friendly vibe. I was worried there would be a bunch of drunken idiots ruining the spirit with bad music and foul language, but people were nice and chill. If you go, it would be wise not only to bring swimwear (and a survival kit!) but also to remember that it is up to us to be good stewards of our planet.
"It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth, and in the contemplation of her beauties, to know of wonder and humility." - Rachel Carson, Environmentalist & author
This is a great hike and the amazing pools of cool mountain water are totally worth it. follow directions as it is easy to get lost and bring lots of water and some snacks.
Took my kid and my dog. The first part of the hike was good. We sat on a log and had a nice little lunch. We saw fish and otters in the creek. We didn't see any other people. At some point we somehow wandered off the trail and ended up on private property that apparantly belonged to a lumber company. We never found our way back and our 5.6 mile loop trail turned into 5 hours of wandering around and never seeing another human being. Did I mention that my cell phone had no bars? My poor kid was in tears and I was worried that we would end up sleeping in the woods with only a sheltie to protect us from the wild animals. Finally we heard a car in the distance and found our way to a road, where we flagged down a kindly couple who drove us back to our car. The moral of this story is that this trail is very remote and not marked, so if you go, go with someone who has a sense of direction, and bring emergency supplies just in case.
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HIke to the university falls a perfect spot for a picnic, where you can swim and slide down well worn rocks into pools. Bring a swim suit or quick-dry clothes and an extra pair of water-shoes. The hike down is easy, but the way back is pretty much all uphill.