Waterfalls around Big Rock Ridge
The Big Rock Ridge / Marinwood area - 6 preserves from Lucas Valley east to route 101. Bored Feet sells a decent maps of this area from Tom Harrison and from Pease Press (northeast Marin county) which show maybe half the trails in the area.
Only the best waterfalls in this region are listed on this page. See the complete list.
Arroyo de San Jose running east from near the summit of Big Rock Ridge to Fairway Drive
- waterfall at (38.06314, -122.59087):
Name: Buck Gulch Waterfall
taken 2011-03-13:
taken 2012-03-20:
Photos on other sites:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7888710@N04/6838895574/in/set-72157624454553084
Videos:
Also known as Fairway Waterfall or Arroyo de San Jose First Fall
Beauty: 9
Duration: 45 days after a significant rainfall
Height 37 feet
Biggest vertical drop 12 feet
Number of drops 2
Terrain: unofficial trail, frequently used
private land, no access problems
For more info, see waterfallswest.com
http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=554
Last visited 2016-03-23
id: bigrock.73
- waterfall at (38.06232, -122.59209):
Name: Arroyo de San Jose Second Fall
taken 2011-03-13:
Video:
Back in 2011 the landowner didn't seem to restrict access, but when I tried to visit this in 2016, I was stopped at the lower falls by a fence and an 'end of public trail' sign.
Beauty: 8.5
Duration: 45 days after a significant rainfall
Height 23 feet
Biggest vertical drop 16 feet
Terrain: unofficial trail, some difficulties
private land, public clearly not welcome
For more info, see waterfallswest.com
http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=554
Last visited 2011-03-13
id: bigrock.74
- waterfall at (38.06231, -122.59240):
Name: Arroyo de San Jose Third Fall
taken 2011-03-13:
Video:
No longer publicly accessible
Beauty: 9
Duration: 45 days after a significant rainfall
Height 35 feet
Biggest vertical drop 3 feet
Terrain: unofficial trail, some difficulties
private land, public clearly not welcome
For more info, see waterfallswest.com
http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=554
Last visited 2011-03-13
id: bigrock.75
- waterfall at (38.06183, -122.59325):
Name: Arroyo de San Jose Fourth Fall
taken 2011-03-13:
taken 2012-03-20:
some cascades at the top that aren't visible from below taken 2011-03-13:
seen from a distant ridge:
Video:
No longer publicly accessible, but it should still be possible to get a good view of it from the ridge 1/3 mile to the northeast, where there's a fire road on public land.
Beauty: 9
Duration: 40 days after a significant rainfall
Height 72 feet (broadly defined)
Height 55 feet
Biggest vertical drop 6 feet
Terrain: unofficial trail, some difficulties
private land, public clearly not welcome
For more info, see waterfallswest.com
http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=554
Last visited 2011-03-13
id: bigrock.76
Ignacio Valley Open Space Preserve
Unnamed creek ending near Pensacola Court
- waterfall at (38.05714, -122.57764):
taken 2019-02-20:
Videos:
Beauty: 7.5
Duration: 60 days after a significant rainfall
Height 26 feet give or take 3 feet
Biggest vertical drop 8 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
route: follow the creek downstream from the the uppermost falls
Last visited 2019-02-20
id: bigrock.33
Loma Verde Preserve
Unnamed creek near Carnoustie Drive
- waterfall at (38.05657, -122.56046):
taken 2014-02-09:
Video:
Beauty: 7
Duration: 8 days after a significant rainfall
Height 43 feet
Biggest vertical drop 12 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
route: Descending from the ridge is easier than scrambling up from Carnoustie Drive
Last visited 2014-02-09
id: bigrock.108
Pacheco Valle Preserve
Pacheco Creek
- waterfall at (38.04928, -122.55713):
Name: Pacheco Valle Falls
taken 2019-01-17:
upper half:
Videos:
I can only see one half of this waterfall at a time, so it doesn't look like 90 feet
Beauty: 7
Duration: 60 days after a significant rainfall
Height 90 feet give or take 12 feet
Biggest vertical drop 6 feet
Number of drops 2
Terrain: unofficial trail, some difficulties
For more info, see Secret Waterfalls of Marin volume 1
id: bigrock.19
Lucas Valley Homeowners Association
Unnamed creek starting 0.5 mile east of Rubicon Falls
- waterfall at (38.04039, -122.57527):
lower drop taken 2011-02-26:
looking down:
main drop:
main drop:
upper part:
the main drop is at least 10 feet
Beauty: 7
Duration: 10 days after a significant rainfall
Height 55 feet (broadly defined)
Height 30 feet
Biggest vertical drop 5 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2011-02-26
id: bigrock.61
Unnamed creek
- waterfall at (38.041782, -122.576871):
taken 2014-12-13:
Video:
Beauty: 7
Duration: 6 days after a significant rainfall
Height 22 feet give or take 2 feet
Biggest vertical drop 10 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2014-12-13
id: bigrock.140
Rubicon Creek
- waterfall at (38.04215, -122.58186):
Name: Rubicon Falls
taken 2017-01-20:
taken 2014-12-13:
cascades at the top taken 2011-02-26:
Videos:
Beauty: 7
Duration: 20 days after a significant rainfall
Height 20 feet (broadly defined)
Height 13 feet
Biggest vertical drop 6 feet
Terrain: unofficial trail, frequently used
For more info, see Secret Waterfalls of Marin volume 1
Last visited 2017-01-20
id: bigrock.67
Lucas Valley Open Space Preserve
Unnamed creek heading south toward Rubicon Creek
- waterfall at (38.04473, -122.58279):
taken 2017-01-20:
Videos:
Beauty: 7
Duration: 7 days after a significant rainfall
Height 14 feet
Biggest vertical drop 14 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2017-01-20
id: bigrock.120
- waterfall at (38.04356, -122.58250):
taken 2017-01-20:
Video:
Beauty: 7
Duration: 10 days after a significant rainfall
Height 29 feet
Biggest vertical drop 8 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
route: Best reached from downstream, on the west side of the creek. It's steep upstream from here.
Last visited 2017-01-20
id: bigrock.121
Unnamed creek heading southeast toward Rubicon Creek
- waterfall at (38.045300, -122.585609):
taken 2017-02-18:
upper half:
Videos:
Beauty: 7.5
Duration: 5 days after a significant rainfall
Height 37 feet
Biggest vertical drop 8 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2017-02-18
id: bigrock.157
Unnamed creek flowing south, a bit east of the lower half of the Luiz Fire Rd
- waterfall at (38.039761, -122.589098):
taken 2017-02-18:
taken 2019-03-03:
Videos:
Beauty: 7.5
Duration: 6 days after a significant rainfall
Height 24 feet
Biggest vertical drop 12 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2019-03-03
id: bigrock.154
Unnamed creek flowing west from near the top of the Luiz Fire Rd
- waterfall at (38.04678, -122.59032):
all but the upper part taken 2011-02-26:
upper part:
lower part:
Beauty: 7
Duration: 16 days after a significant rainfall
Height 20 feet (broadly defined)
Height 10 feet
Biggest vertical drop 2 feet
Number of drops 4
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2011-02-26
id: bigrock.70
Unnamed creek west of Grady Fire Rd
- waterfall at (38.04917, -122.60197):
taken 2019-03-03:
Videos:
The 2nd video shows the next falls near the top of this one
Beauty: 7.5
Duration: 14 days after a significant rainfall
Height 21 feet
Biggest vertical drop 12 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2019-03-03
id: bigrock.101
- waterfall at (38.04939, -122.60182):
taken 2019-03-03:
taken 2012-03-21:
Videos:
Beauty: 7.5
Duration: 14 days after a significant rainfall
Height 18 feet
Biggest vertical drop 17 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2019-03-03
id: bigrock.102
Unnamed creek south of the Big Rock summit
- waterfall at (38.04905, -122.60487):
taken 2011-03-16:
taken 2019-03-03:
the upper drop (barely visible in any of the other photos), seen from a few feet away from the top of the largest drop taken 2011-03-16:
Videos:
It's hard to see the whole falls from any one point.
Beauty: 9
Duration: 30 days after a significant rainfall
Height 75 feet give or take 10 feet
Biggest vertical drop 20 feet
Number of drops 3
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
route: From the just east of the Big Rock Ridge Summit, follow the large ridge that goes south-southwest a half mile. Before it reaches a level section with a few trees on the ridgetop, traverse east 0.1 mile and follow a smaller ridge down about 0.2 mile. Follow a deer track to the creek on the east side of this ridge.
Last visited 2019-03-03
id: bigrock.77
- waterfall at (38.05184, -122.60472):
taken 2011-03-16:
looking down from the top:
Beauty: 7.5
Duration: 28 days after a significant rainfall
Height 20 feet (broadly defined)
Height 12 feet
Biggest vertical drop 10 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
Last visited 2011-03-16
id: bigrock.92
Unnamed creek starting 3/4 mile east of Big Rock near a mudslide, flowing west-northwest
- waterfall at (38.04899, -122.61194):
taken 2011-03-16:
lower drops:
taken 2011-02-22:
view from top:
view from top:
rock outcrop that helps find the falls if you're reaching it from above; trailhead with the Big Rock in the distance:
Videos:
the main drop is 30 feet high
Beauty: 7
Duration: 3 days after a significant rainfall
Height 63 feet (broadly defined)
Height 30 feet
Biggest vertical drop 3 feet
Number of drops 4
Terrain: fields, no trail
route: a simple but exhausting route is to go to the Big Rock Ridge summit and follow the largest ridge southwest from it (that would be on the left as you fast southwest from the top). After passing a part of the ridge that has ups and downs and a few trees on the ridge, you will reach a steep descent with a conspicuous mudslide. Head right (west) just above the mudslide, and descend on a small partly grassy ridge somewhat near the stream that flows down from the mudslide until you find a rock outcrop close to the stream
Last visited 2011-03-16
id: bigrock.43
Unnamed creek starting on the southwest side of the Big Rock Ridge summit, flowing southwest
- The top half of this waterfall consists of two independent creeks, which merge halfway down the waterfall at (38.05327, -122.61112):
taken 2011-03-14:
the west fork, and part of the lower section taken 2011-02-22:
the east fork, and much of the lower section:
the east fork, seen from the top of the west fork:
the upper half, seen from the top of the west fork:
the upper half, seen from the top of the west fork:
the upper half, seen from the top of the west fork:
the west fork, the top of the east fork visible at the bottom:
looking down from the top of the east fork:
Videos:
each creek flowing into this waterfall has another waterfall near enough to this that I'm using the same gps coordinates for all three. On the Tom Harrison map of Big Rock Ridge (2007), it's at L in Lucas Valley Preserve.
Beauty: 9
Beauty: 8 (including beauty of the hike to the falls)
Duration: 20 days after a significant rainfall
Height 37 feet give or take 3 feet
Biggest vertical drop 12 feet
Terrain: woods, little or no trail
route: From the Big Rock trailhead, follow the Big Rock trail 1.0 mile. When it passes under a few small oaks shortly after the switchback, head straight uphill. When you reach a ridge (in the middle of another group of oaks), find a deer track that traverses east just above the bushes. You should pass above a medium sized rock outcrop. Cross the creek on a deer trail at the top of a 10 foot waterfall that is somewhat hidden in bushes. The terrain is somewhat difficult here, but most other parts of the creek have steeper terrain with bushes. Traverse to the southeast until you reach the next ridge. Look for a field with some small rocks at the upper end. Head straight downhill through that field, and find a deer track at which to cross the creek. Follow the creek a short ways downhill and the waterfall will stop you.
Last visited 2011-02-22
id: bigrock.48
Unnamed creek starting 1/4 mile west of the Big Rock Ridge summit, flowing south-southwest
- waterfall at (38.05486, -122.61307):
taken 2011-02-22:
seen from 1/4 mile south - the upper falls visible in the lower half of the photo:
Beauty: 7
Duration: 21 days after a significant rainfall
Height 30 feet (broadly defined)
Height 25 feet
Biggest vertical drop 6 feet
Terrain: moderate brush, little or no trail
Last visited 2011-02-22
id: bigrock.60
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