Updated July 2026
Cascade Falls
Cascade Falls tumbles roughly 200 feet down granite above Cascade Lake near Emerald Bay. A short, mostly level trail from the Bayview Trailhead reaches the top of the falls, with the final stretch crossing rocky granite slabs.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cascade Falls drops about 200 feet. That makes it the 87th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 89% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Cascade Falls via Bayview Trail reaches it about 1.5 miles (out-and-back), rated easy. The nearest town is South Lake Tahoe. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (USFS) for closures and current conditions.
Late spring (snowmelt). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More California waterfalls
- Alamere Falls · 40 ft
- Bassi Falls · 109 ft
- Berry Creek Falls · 70 ft
- Big Falls · 500 ft
- Bridalveil Fall · 617 ft
- Burney Falls · 129 ft
- Carlon Falls · 35 ft
- Cataract Falls
Sources
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