Directions: Hwy 80 to Auburn, exit Hwy 49 north. Proceed 2.7 miles to Atwood Rd and turn left, go another 1.7 miles to Mount Vernon Rd and continue straight on Mt Vernon for 2.7 miles to Mears Dr, turn rt, go .5 miles to Mears Pl and turn rt and then go .8 miles to the park. There are many signs along the way.
Staging area: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT RESERVATIONS ARE NEEDED TO PARK ON CERTAIN DAYS. GO TO THE ABOVE WEB SITE FOR MORE INFO. Day use only, holds approx 7 rigs. Can accommodate large rigs and has a parking section for cars. There is anan over flow area, it is fairly large but on a slight slant.There are also some picnic tables near the staging area - great place for a picnic. For more information and a link to maps visit www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/Facility/Parks/hiddenfalls.aspx.
Dogs: allowed on leash
Trails: As of May 22, 2013 there are now 23 miles of multi purpose trails - easy to moderate. Lots of shade. Some single track, some wider. Trails very well marked with signage at almost every trail intersection along with a map showing where you are. Some of the trails are designated "disabled access". Poison Oak is abundant but the trails are all kept up and cleared so it's rare to find poison oak actually on a trail. New section opened May 2013 - There is a mixture of single track, wider trails and gravel roads - all multi purpose and ranging from easy to difficult ( I have found their difficult trails to be ones with more of a climb to them, but not extremely steep nor very technical - hikers and bikers will notice the climb more than the horses will). Some of the trails offer quite a bit of shade. There are 2 access gates for the new section, the smaller gate, located on South Legacy Way is located in a narrow area and could be a bit tricky to open and close ( May 2015 gate has been taken off this section). The gates must remain closed as there are are cows and wild pigs in the newly opened section. Also watch out for any barb wire that may be laying around off the trail - always a good thing to be on the look for. There has been a lot of work done on these trails and work still being done. You may encounter work trucks on some of the road like sections and bridges. There are 2 bridges spanning over 100 ft - the Canyon View Bridge and the Salmon Run Bridge plus several smaller bridges. FYI - The Creek Side Trail has some very narrow spots and the trail is already eroding away - please use caution, apparently there is no room to make it any wider - as of July 2013 this is now a one way trail.
Water: there is a water spigot with buckets for drinking ( as of May 2015 there is no water)
Restroom Facilities: 2 flush toilets with running water ( May 2015, toilets are closed and 4 port a potties have been bought in)
Other info: there are several beautiful waterfalls of various sizes and creek access where horses can drink. There are also some picnic tables near the staging area - great place for a picnic. Deadman Creek Falls, the main waterfall, is approx a 30 minute walk from the parking area, horses are not allowed at the falls and are stopped with a narrow opening in the fence approx a 1/4 mile from the falls. Lots of hikers, mountain bikers and families use these trails. Some of the trails are probably not great after a lot of rain, looks like they would be slick, other sections that are harder pack should do well after a rain. New section - This section also has a large overlook near the Canyon View Bridge, one of the longer bridges. Horses can not ride to the overlook.
Fees: none
See "Trail Pictures" tab located to the left of page for photos and more information.
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