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A 97-year-old man in wheelchair enjoying the view of Crystal Creek Falls at the end of the paved trail. Photo courtesy of Ross Perry.
Difficulty Level
Flat, paved, easy.
Trail width is approximately 10 feet to the falls viewpoint. A steep, narrow dirt path then leads down to the base of the falls and natural pool.
Length
0.5 miles one way.
Elevation
No change.
Special Features
Two picnic tables and BBQ grills just before the waterfall.
A natural pool at the base of the waterfall is popular for carefully dipping into onm hot summer days.
Directions
From Highway 299 in the western section of the park, follow Crystal Creek Road for two miles and then turn left into the Crystal Creek Falls trailhead and parking lot. A vault toilet is available at the parking lot.
Description
Walk the flat, wide, paved trail behind the access gate for about 0.5 miles until you reach a picnic and barbecue area. Crystal Creek Falls is just beyond. While a good view of the waterfall can be enjoyed from the pavement, an informal dirt trail leads down to the base of the cascade. With significant shade, this area is popular for water play and relaxation on hot summer days.
Behind the small cement building to the right of the waterfall, an informal, unmaintained trail leads to the upper falls. Use caution if you choose to walk this steep and rocky route and be extra careful to avoid brushing up against or touching poison oak.
As you look at Crystal Creek Falls, you will see a small concrete structure on the right. This building houses an overflow valve for the Trinity Division Tunnel, an 10-mile tunnel that moves water from the Trinity River watershed into the Sacramento River watershed via the Judge Francis Carr Powerhouse and Whiskeytown Lake. The valve is used on occasion when letting water out through Carr Powerhouse is not an option or when tunnel inspections or maintenance work needs to be conducted. The excess water from the tunnel then spills into Crystal Creek.
When the overflow structure was built, the Bureau of Reclamation slightly rerouted Crystal Creek. The creek was moved about 50 feet to the left to make a shortcut over the creek, creating this picturesque waterfall. This makes Crystal Creek the only “man-made” waterfall in the park.
