Hiking to Tokopah Falls in California’s Sequoia National Park

Looking for more great day hikes in Sequoia National Park?
Visit my Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Hiking Guide for more incredible trails,
including Moro Rock, Crescent and Log Meadows, and the General Sherman Tree.

CURRENT INFO

For information about Tokopah Falls, visit the National Park Service website. Find reviews and maps on the AllTrails website. Good maps and trail info are also available in the book Hike the Parks: Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks by Scott Turner.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Since Tokopah Falls is located within Sequoia National Park, you must present an America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) or pay the $35 entrance fee (valid for up to seven days) when you enter the park. You can also purchase an annual pass at the park entrance. Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free pass — fourth graders and active military do! Fourth graders must print a voucher ahead of time to qualify.
• The Tokopah Falls trailhead is located in Lodgepole Campground.
• There is ample parking, as well as a restroom at the trailhead.
• A free shuttle bus stop is located near the restroom. If you prefer not to drive, you can take the shuttle between the Tokopah Falls trailhead, the General Sherman Tree, and the Giant Forest Museum. From the Giant Forest Museum, another shuttle takes visitors to Moro Rock and Crescent Meadows. We drove from Azalea Campground to the Tokopah Falls trailhead, then took the shuttle to the General Sherman Tree and Giant Forest. The adults really appreciated the break from driving and dealing with parking!
• Pets are not allowed on the trail.
• This is one of the more popular trails in Sequoia National Park, and can get crowded. Go early or late in the day, ideally on a weekday, to avoid an overly congested trail.
• As always, use caution when playing or swimming in and around rivers. The water level was quite low during our visit, so there were many safe places to enjoy the water. But conditions change frequently, and rivers can be dangerous. Always keep a close eye on children.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

Tokopah Falls is a gorgeous trail, taking you through stately forests and across rugged boulders, while never straying far from the Marble Fork Kaweah River. On a warm day, take time to explore the river and dip your feet (or more) in the cold, clear water. There are many beautiful spots to access the river not far from the trail. Tokopah Falls itself isn’t always the highlight on this hike, as the water flow can dwindle significantly in the summer. Regardless, the astounding beauty of this area makes it well worth the journey.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The ever-changing topography of the Tokopah Falls trail engages kids and adults alike. While our younger son, T, was disappointed that we didn’t have our lunch by the “big waterfall” (the area around Tokopah Falls isn’t the best place for a picnic), it would be hard to beat the picnic spot we found further downstream along the Marble Fork Kaweah River. Complete with its own mini-waterfall, it was like Paradise found. We splashed and waded in the water, and explored to our hearts’ content.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There is no shortage of things to see and do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Also in the Lodgepole area, a much more challenging hike leads to Heather, Emerald, and Pear Lakes. From Tokopah Falls, it’s easy to drive or take the free shuttle to the General Sherman Tree and the Giant Forest Museum and Visitor Center. The Giant Forest Museum is a good jumping off point for visiting Moro Rock with its stunning views, or taking a short hike around Crescent and Log Meadows. To explore more crystal clear rivers and view Native American pictographs, head south to the Foothills region of Sequoia National Park.

I recommend packing a picnic for your hike, as there are so many wonderful spots to linger along the Marble Fork Kaweah River. There are few restaurant options nearby, but the Wuksachi Lodge offers pizza and sandwiches with outdoor seating on a beautiful deck. While the atmosphere is lovely, the food is sadly mediocre and overpriced, but it’s good to know it’s there if you need it.

Lodgepole Campground, where you’ll find the Tokopah Falls trailhead, is a wonderful place to camp. Unfortunately, reservations can be hard to come by, and that’s putting it mildly. I attempted to reserve a site the very minute that they became available in 2021, but to no avail! But don’t worry, there are other good camping options. We made our home base at Azalea Campground in Grant Grove and loved it. Dorst Creek and Sunset Campground are other good choices.

It was another gorgeous sunny day in the Sierras when we arrived at the Tokopah Falls trailhead. Having already done a few shorter trails in Sequoia National Park, I was eager to head a little further into the Sierras. Tokopah Falls may not be a high Sierra trail, but it did promise a taste of these magnificent mountains.

We arrived around 9am and easily found a parking spot, although it was clear that many others were already on the trail. Tokopah Falls is a very popular spot. It’s a moderate, four-mile trail, making it doable for a wide range of hikers, and is especially popular with families. Aside from the fact that it’s only four miles, the trail offers plenty of opportunities to explore along the Marble Fork Kaweah River. If the full hike is too much for your little ones, it’s still worth hiking part way to find the perfect spot to picnic and play along the river. Heck, there are some beautiful swimming holes just upriver from the bridge at the start of the trail.

The first part of the trail follows the river before heading into the forest. As we walked along the river, we noticed campsites on the opposite side. These shady walk-in sites above the river at Lodgepole Campground are highly coveted, and I could see why. What an incredible place to camp! For those who don’t want to walk to their site, Lodgepole offers many car and RV campsites as well — if you’re lucky enough to finagle a reservation!

Further along, the trees opened up to provide a few glimpses of the phenomenal Sierra Nevada Mountains. The mighty Watchtower loomed above us. For the more adventurous, a trail along the face of the Watchtower leads to a trio of gorgeous alpine lakes. I admit I originally hoped to hike this higher trail as well, although I knew it would be a stretch for five-year-old T. Ultimately, I changed our itinerary when we failed to score a campsite at Lodgepole, and chose to focus on other hikes. It all worked out in the end, and now I have another dream hike to look forward to should I ever return to Sequoia National Park.

As we continued, the trail grew rockier. While most of the hike was shaded, we emerged into an open area as we neared Tokopah Falls. Colorful wildflowers near the trail drew my attention momentarily away from the towering granite cliffs.

This was the most challenging section of the trail. Sharp rocks protruded from the dirt path, making it imperative to watch your feet. The landscape changed from evergreen forest to a jungle of giant granite boulders. Steps built from stone slabs found in the natural environment eased the way forward, but soon we were squeezing through narrow gaps among the boulders to move ahead. We emerged to a view of Tokopah Falls… two narrow streams of water trickling down the mountainside.

OK, so Tokopah Falls wasn’t exactly impressive, but the scenery surrounding it sure was. T had been eagerly awaiting this moment, hoping we would take a lunch break near the “big waterfall” as he called it. We found, however, that the area around the waterfall isn’t ideal for a picnic. For one thing, it can be relatively crowded with onlookers. For another, the rocks here aren’t the best for setting up a picnic. Space is limited, and it isn’t a place most will want to linger long. We stopped for a snack, deciding that it was too early for lunch, anyway.

After snapping some photos and finishing our snack, we headed back through the boulder tunnel. T was quite vocal about his disappointment that we didn’t stay for lunch. Apparently, this wasn’t something he could easily forgive. For more than a mile, he voiced his complaints. I was thankful when J came running up to us with some good news.

“We found the perfect picnic spot! There’s even a waterfall!” he enthused.

T wasn’t convinced, but I got him to head across the river with his brother. Below us was Michael, proudly showing off their find. Perfect picnic spot indeed! We eagerly clambered down to a flat rock near the edge of the stream to stake our claim.

Sure enough, a graceful waterfall cascaded down among the rocks. Below it, a shallow pool beckoned, just the place to dip our feet. Our lunch of cheese, crackers, and salami felt like a feast in such surroundings. Even T had to admit it wasn’t bad, although he made it clear that the waterfall wasn’t “big”. We enjoyed a leisurely meal, then explored the rocks and fallen logs around us before moving on.

Before long, we exited the forest near Lodgepole Campground. This was the home stretch, but we couldn’t resist going off trail one more time to explore this beautiful section of the Marble Fork Kaweah River. We crossed smooth granite slabs laced with shallow pools, then spied a small swimming hole in the gully below. Another group had already discovered this spot, and were enjoying a swim in the cold, clear water. I imagine that in the spring this place was gushing, with water pouring over the rocks as the river rushes through the valley. Now, it was quiet and serene, exposing much of the rocky riverbed to the summer sun.

At the trailhead, we crossed the graceful stone bridge once more and returned to the parking lot. It had been an incredible hike, and we still had the rest of the afternoon to explore more of the amazing Sequoia National Park. Needless to say, I could hardly wait!