Squaw Creek Falls

Squaw Creek Falls

Placer County, California

Description

Squaw Creek is a beautiful setting adjacent to the trendy Squaw Valley USA ski resort. The lower portion of the creek possesses many small (~5-15 ft), but interesting cascades as it makes its way into the skiing community and meadow. The higher in elevation the creek is, the more steep its slope becomes, which leads to larger drops in the creek. The largest (~50-75 ft) of these drops occurs on an exposed granite face, tucked a little ways away from the established trail. Because of this, I believe that not many people have taken note of this waterfall. To the best of my knowledge no one else online describes this waterfall (the World Waterfall Database has it marked). The lower section of the trail along Squaw Creek (sometimes referred to as the Shirley Canyon or Shirley Lake Trail) is pretty popular in the spring and summer, but most people don't make it up the granite face just below Shirley Lake and beyond.Location

Squaw Creek Falls: 39.2069 N, 120.2620 W

Lower Squaw Creek Falls: 39.2008 N, 120.2431 W

Middle Squaw Creek Falls: 39.2039 N, 120.2486 W

Squaw Triple Falls: 39.2071 N, 120.2618 W

USGS Topo: Tahoe City & Granite Chief

Directions

The locations (coordinates) of these waterfalls are approximate since it's been a few years since I was there and I don't remember the exact positioning of the waterfalls on Squaw Creek. To get to the trailhead take the Squaw Valley Road from CA-89 (~8.4 miles South of I-80), after ~2.3 miles curve left and cross over Squaw Creek Then, after ~0.1 miles curve quickly right and after ~0.2 more miles turn right to follow the loop in a CCW direction. The trailhead is another ~0.2 miles from this with limited parking on the side of the road. Follow the trail as it quickly comes to the side of Squaw Creek where I believe Lower Squaw Creek Falls #1 is the first "major" cascade you see. Lower Squaw Creek Falls #2 is just a little further upstream. Middle Squaw Creek Falls is further yet up the trail. Squaw Creek Falls and Squaw Triple Falls are found by continuing up the trail to where it climbs steeply up over a large exposed granite face (south of the creek) on its way to Shirley Lake (hike description here). When I "found" this waterfall I left the trail to the North until I came up relatively close to the creek again and followed my ears until I could see the waterfall. You know you're at the same part of the creek if there's a triple waterfall (if you're there when it's flowing) directly below Squaw Creek Falls coming from an ephemeral stream North of the creek (Squaw Triple Falls).