RIFLE FALLS STATE PARK - RIFLE COLORADO

Description - Rifle Falls State Park is in Colorado NE of Rifle, Colorado. Thev48-acre park has a triple waterfall. The falls is a lush area of trees and greenery kept moist by the spray of the cascading triple waterfall (http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/RifleFalls).  Mysterious limestone caves beneath the falls entice spelunkers and other curious visitors to explore their dark depths.Spray from the falls can be felt while picnicking at the tables near the falls.  

Accessibility - "In 1998, the park underwent a face-lift: new pavement, picnic tables, interpretive signs and increased handicapped access." The trek to the falls is only a short jaunt from the parking lot. 

Address and directions -  Follow the signs from town. The park is 13 miles north of town. A small fee is required to enter the park. Camping by tent or RV is available. Park Office - 5775 Highway 325 Rifle, CO, 81650  Park Hours - 7AM -10PM. Anglers And Campers Have 24 Hour Access Office Hours - Varies - Can Visit Rifle Gap's Office For Needs 7am - 7pm Daily. Phone - (970) 625-1607 Email - Rifle.Gap.Park@State.Co.Us 

Fall Type - a triple 70-foot waterfall flowing over a travertine (a mineral formed by a compilation of hots or spring waters) dam on East Rifle Creek.

Nature 

 

SMITH FALLS - Smith Falls S.P. Valentine, Nebraska

Smith Falls State Park was established in 1992. Smith Falls is located on the Niobrara River. Of the 180 falls on the 20-mile stretch of the Niobrara River Valley, Smith Falls is the tallest waterfall in Nebraska. The spring-fed fall drops 70 feet then flows into the Niobrara River.

Smith Falls State Park is 4 miles down a gravel road off of Highway 12. You'll wind through corn fields, see wildlife like, turkeys, deer, squirrels, rabbits, and buffalo. You'll cross a couple of cattle guards, and wonder to yourself, "Where in God's country are we going to again?"

DIRECTIONS:  Driving directions for Smith Falls SP from Valentine you go 15 miles east on Highway 12 to the Smith Falls State Park sign, then turn right. Travel 4 miles south on a gravel road to park.
A state park permit is required. Stop in the office to obtain one, then drive through the campground to the walkway that leads over walk bridges and across a historic truss bridge that spans the river. Once across the bridge, a short walk to a boardwalk leads to the falls.

The park is open April 1 - November 30.

ACCESSIBILITY: A walkway leads over walk bridges and across a historic truss bridge that spans the river. Once across the bridge, a short walk to a boardwalk leads to the falls.

 TYPE OF FALL:  Fan

WHITEHORSE FALLS, OREGON

Whitehorse Falls is a Punchbowl Fall located at milepost 65.9 on Highway 138. A gorgeous sturdy decking leads to an overlook. Wheelchair access is easy. The 15-foot falls is located on the Clearwater River in the Umpqua National Forest.

Waterfall Type:  Punchbowl - descends from a constricted width of a stream, empties into a pool below.

Directions:  Turn north at Whitehorse Falls Campground entrance on Hwy 138 at milepost 65.9.

SUSAN CREEK FALLS, OREGON

Susan Creek Falls can be found on North Umpqua River in Umpqua National Forest in Douglas County, Oregon. The waterfall is a Fan type fall that drops 50 feet over moss-covered rocks.  The falls can be accessed by an easy path that is well-maintained by the Bureau of Land Management. The 3/4 mile trail to the waterfall is evenly graded and is accessible by wheelchair; however, manual help may be needed for endurance to make the distance.

Directions: The trailhead is directly off of the parking lot located at milepost 28.2 on Highway 138. A Susan Creek Day-Use Area is across the highway. Picnic tables and restrooms are available at the day-use area, trailhead, and below the waterfalls.

Waterfall Type: Fan - descends vertically while maintaining some contact with the rock surface with an increasing width of spray.

McARTHUR-BURNEY FALLS STATE PARK - Burney, California

Over a million years ago, volcanic activity created Burney Falls and its landscape. 100 million gallons of water flow through Burney Falls everyday.

The 129-foot Burney Falls was named after Samuel Burney. McArthurs settled in the area in the late 1800s. Then descendants of the McArthur's saved the waterfalls and area from development and donated it to California state in 1920.

Address: McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, 24898 State Highway89, Burney, CA 96013 * (530) 335-2777

The upper falls overlook is directly off of the parking area. A short paved path leads to a stone wall that overlooks the massive waterfall.  There are two options to get to the bottom of the waterfall.  Option one is to take a paved curvy path that consists of steps and smooth walkways.  Option two is a 1.2 round trip smooth dirt hiking path that starts at Lake Britton.  It follows the lake and stream that leads from the falls. A wheelchair, stroller, or challenged walker can easily take this path to the lower falls.

MCCLOUD RIVER FALLS - McCloud, California

Indian tribes came to McCloud River Falls to fish for Rainbow Trout, hunt Elk, eat acorns, pine nuts, wild onions, wild plums, mushrooms, elderberries, make baskets from Native plant materials, and use plants for medicine, tools, clothes, and temporary houses

ACCESSIBILITY: McCloud River Falls consists of three impressive waterfalls: Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls. The Upper and Lower Falls are easily accessible by a paved walking path directly off of the parking area. The Lower Falls are within an earshot of the parking area. The Middle Falls are hard to find and are found along a rough trail. The overlook for the Upper Falls is only a few steps from the parking lot - just past the bathrooms and picnic area.


















DIRECTIONS: Use Highway 89 for 15 miles east of the I-5/89 junction and 5 miles east of McCloud and turn south on Road 40N44. (Look for a Fowlers Camp/McCloud Falls sign.) Go right at .6 mile (a left here takes you to overlooks of Middle Falls and Upper Falls) Continue another .7 mile past the campground and park at the picnic area at the Lower Falls. Follow your ears toward Lower Falls and the beginning of the trail.

Roads are not plowed during winter. For road and waterfall accessibility, call McCloud Ranger Station, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, P.O. Box 1620, McCloud, CA 96057; (530) 964-2184.

Grand Falls - Navajo Nation Arizona

Grand Falls in the Painted Desert on the Navajo Indian Reservation near Flagstaff Arizona is taller than Niagara Falls when it actually flows.

Snow melt or monsoon rain dumps into the Little Colorado River , then, a grand waterfall view is produced at Lower Colorado River.  It is said that the waterfalls are similar to flowing chocolate depending on the amount of water present. The falls are inactive for several months of the year or reduces to a trickle or non-existent.

The waterfall is remote and no major paved roads access it. Just when you think you've gone far enough into nowhere, go a little farther.  The 10 miles of dirt road, Indian Road 6910 (pic 1) was extremely bumpy; similar to a washboard.  A 4 x 4 vehicle would be ideal, however, a well-maintained car driven slowly will get you to the destination. Grand Falls Road (Indian Road 70) crosses the floor of the Little Colorado River.  The Little Colorado River was not flowing the day we found the waterfall, but, we got to drive on the river's bed (pic 3). Here is a site that has a picture of the falls in full spectacular. http://arizonatourism.com/articles/grand-falls/ This is another fall we will be returning to in late winter/early spring.

pic 1

pic 3

Picnic benches are provided at the overlook.

The site and the roads leading to the falls are located in the Navajo Nation, so wandering off the roads or trails is against Navajo Law.

Jemez Mountain Trail, New Mexico

Found on the Jemez Mountain Trail, a national scenic byway in Sandoval County, New Mexico,
underground hot springs called Soda Dam, have flowed for centuries building up mineral deposits to form a natural dam.

The Dam can be viewed from the road.  The rocky pathway does not allow easy access down to the waterfall bottom by wheels; however the thunder of the rolling waters compliments the serene and tranquil setting amongst the boulders.

WITCHITA FALLS, TEXAS

The original Wichita Falls in Wichita Falls, Texas washed away in a flood in the 1800's; however, a 54-foot man-made waterfall was built in 1987 on the south bank of Wichita River. A concrete walkway leads to the falls, which makes the one-mile walk to the falls easily accessible by wheelchair, stroller, or bike.

Davis, Oklahoma - Turner Falls

Turner Falls, located in Davis, Oklahoma, is one of the two tallest waterfalls in Oklahoma. The 77-foot waterfall in the Arbukle Mountains; the oldest known formation in the United States. Parking is close to the falls; however, a concrete pathway about two blocks long leads visitors directly in front of the falls, which makes accessibility easy.

An abandoned rock castle built in the 1930's by Dr. Ellsworth Collins, Dean of Education at Oklahoma University sits beside the waterfall. It served as a summer home and the headquarters for "The Bar C Ranch".