Lower Middle Fork Tuolumne Falls

Lower Middle Fork Tuolumne Falls

Tuolumne County, California

Description

Click to view photo(s)

This 182' waterfall exists just above the confluence of the Middle and South Forks of the Tuolumne River as three major drops. There is a nice bridge that crosses the river just below it and makes it possible for good views. The upper tier of South Fork Tuolumne Falls is also just upstream of this confluence. Unbelievably, these waterfalls receive much less attention than the much smaller and less interesting Rainbow Pool Falls upstream on the South Fork. In 2012, there was a rock slide across the road just below these waterfalls and the end of the bridge was taped off. The gate at the beginning of the road was also closed to cars due to the danger of more rock slides. This road is very narrow and steep, so I'm not sure you would want to drive down it anyway, but the walk is well worth the effort to see four waterfalls within 700' of each other.Location

Lower Middle Fork Tuolumne Falls: 37.8292 N, 120.0204 W

USGS Topo: Jawbone Ridge

Directions

From Big Oak Flat, follow CA-120 east for ~15.5 miles and turn right onto Forest Route 1N07 (just before the bridge over the South Fork Tuolumne River). Follow this road as it passes Rainbow Pool Falls and under the highway to a smaller dirt road that comes in from the left. Park across the road from the intersection (right side) and walk down the smaller dirt road for ~0.6 miles to the bridge. This waterfall is just upstream of this bridge to the right.