Mossbrae Falls

Although it is only about 50 feet high, Mossbrae Falls has been widely acclaimed as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in California and perhaps the entire United States. Unlike most waterfalls, it is not produced by a river or stream that rushes over a precipice into a collection pool. Instead, it is what is known as a "seeping" waterfall. In other words, its waters come from subterranean springs within the rocks high above.

At the very top of the falls, the source can not bee seen through the trees and brush, but it pours forth through cliffside moss and foliage, dividing as it falls to produce cascades by the hundreds a wall of showers some 150 feet wide. Depending on the season, the leaves through which the water passes can range from verdant green to brilliant oranges and reds, creating one of the most picturesque scenes imaginable.

However, photographs alone do not do Mossbrae Falls justice. There is also the sound of myriad rivulets, which can be heard even before they are seen. Part of the trail leading to the waterfall runs along railroad tracks and the gushing water can easily be mistaken for an approaching train.

Mossbrae Falls is located off Scarlett Way (Shasta Retreat), which can be reached by taking Dunsmuir Avenue south for 0.7 miles from the Dunsmuir/Siskiyou Exit on Interstate 5. Upon reaching the railroad bridge, park and follow the tracks upstream. The falls are on the right.