Grizzly Lake Falls
Trinity County, California
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Trinity County, California
- Access status
- Wilderness trail; strenuous
- The walk
- About 11.5 miles return to the meadow; 13.8 to 14.6 miles return to the lake
- Ground & access
- Steep, strenuous trail with large elevation gain; rocky scramble to the lake.
From Cecilville, take the paved road to China Gulch; it becomes gravel road 37N07, about six more miles to China Gulch Trailhead. The steep China Spring Trail climbs to Hunters Camp, then drops into Grizzly Creek canyon and follows the creek. About 5.7 miles in, the meadow below Grizzly Lake gives a view of the 600-foot falls from the lake. Reaching the lake needs a hard scramble. Return the same way. Usually done as an overnight trip.
Plan your visit
China Gulch Trailhead (road 37N07 from Cecilville) by China Spring and Grizzly Creek trails to the meadow below Grizzly Lake Falls
The Outbound puts the meadow below the falls about 5.7 miles in; the 11.5-mile figure is derived by doubling. Lake figures: Hiking Project 13.8 miles, The Outbound 14.6 miles.
Steep, strenuous trail with large elevation gain; rocky scramble to the lake.
Where to start
China Gulch Trailhead at the end of road 37N07; The Outbound says there is plenty of parking.
Timing & water
The Outbound gives June through October as the best season.
Before you go
Free wilderness permit and campfire permit required to enter the Trinity Alps Wilderness per Hiking Project.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Upper Canyon Creek FallsPublished trail route and mileages documented; long wilderness hikeTrinity County, CA3.8 miS
- Middle Canyon Creek FallsWilderness trail with use trail to the fallsTrinity County, CA4.3 miS
- Canyon Creek FallsPartial guide: base route unmaintained; exact drop probable, not confirmedTrinity County, CA5.7 miS
- Kickapoo WaterfallPartial guide: roadside view only; pullout not identifiedTrinity County, CA14 miNE
- Gray FallsResearched visit notesTrinity County, CA25 miSW
- Burnt Ranch FallsTrinity County, CA26 miSW
- Johnson Creek FallsSiskiyou County, CA32 miN
- Crystal Creek FallsOfficial NPS accessible trailShasta County, CA32 miSE
- Whiskeytown FallsOfficial trail route and parking documented; entrance pass requiredShasta County, CA33 miSE