This is easily one of the most popular waterfalls in South Tahoe on the California side, and it completely lives up to the hype! Just a heads-up on the trail getting there: it is definitely a tough, rugged hike. The path is full of rocks and kept completely natural, so you really have to watch your footing. Honestly, coming back down was just as much of a workout and challenge as hiking up. But once you reach the destination, the sheer beauty of the falls makes every single step worth it. It's actually made up of several different falls cascading down the mountainside right into Cascade Lake below. Getting close to that cold, refreshing mountain water felt incredible after the trek. The drive from our hotel in South Lake Tahoe was only about half an hour, making it the perfect, easy half-day adventure. If you're up for a bit of a rocky scramble, don't miss this one! read more

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This ended up being one of my favorite hikes in Lake Tahoe. It's definitely more enjoyable in the spring or fall, when there's less fog and you can fully take in the surrounding scenery, but even so, I was happy with the experience. Reaching the waterfalls was especially rewarding and made the hike well worth it. read more

Cascade Falls - Hiking Near Me

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Hike was about 2 hours total-- one hour there, one hour back. It was such a fun hike! Maybe not so much for my mom because she was lowkey struggling since it started to become a rocky trail, the closer you get to the waterfall. It's not a smooth, walk-in-the-park trail, since it's rocky, so just be prepared! I've seen lots of people use hiking sticks or trekking poles-- they were definitely prepared. The view at the end is definitely worth it! read more

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One of the most breathtaking hikes I've been on. I looked up a few of the different trails and this one seemed promising. 1.3 miles down and back but was a bit challenging. The views were breathtaking and when we went it wasn't super early or late, so we didn't encounter too many people. You can find it off of Highway 89, north of S. Lake Tahoe. Along the route, you can see Cascade Lake, Emerald Bay, and Lake Tahoe. There is a small parking lot for this trail, so it is better to err on the side of caution and arrive early to secure a spot and beat the traffic. read more

Relatively short (about 1.5 miles total) hike with some climbing up and down rocks. When we went in mid August the "falls" were but a trickle but still nice to stop by and enjoy the land view. Parking $12 and it's not federal so no free National Parks permit will work, but the same pass will get you into other neighboring pay lots including Pope Beach. read more

Cascade Falls is a really nice short hike in South Lake Tahoe. The trail isn't very long, but it gives you some great views along the way. You get to walk through tall pines, open granite, and then see both Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe in the distance, which is worth the effort. When I went, the waterfall itself wasn't at full flow, but it was still beautiful to see. I can only imagine how much more impressive it looks in the spring when the snow is melting. Even without that, the whole area has a peaceful feel and plenty of spots to stop and take in the views. I'd definitely recommend this hike if you're in the Tahoe area. It's short, scenic, and not too difficult, which makes it a good option for most people. Whether you want a quick outing or just a place to enjoy Tahoe's beauty, Cascade Falls is a great choice. read more

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An early break in Mid May weather made this hike a 5 star experience. The trail is easy to moderate level. Just about a 1 mile from the Inspiration Point parking ($10) to the cascade falls. Epic views of Lake Tahoe and Cascade Lake throughout the hike. We hiked a total of about 2.5 miles which includes a 1/2 mile of exploration of the creek that feeds the falls. The falls are dangerously accessible so stay alert in and around the creek and while on the trail. Parking is a nightmare, but the hike is worth it. read more

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Absolutely amazing views. I would consider this moderate hike. There was some snow on the trail in early May. Hiking shoes are best for this time of year. Trail start was a little tough to find. Signs could be a little better on the highway. Trailhead is across from inspiration point. Parking is decent for the off-season but likely limited for the high season crowds. Beautiful views of emerald bay and short hike to the waterfall. Takes about 45 min each way. read more

No no no. This is all wrong. A hike CANNOT be this scenic. One of my favorite memories of hiking in Tahoe was sitting in the middle of the stream behind Cascade Falls, watching the water flow over the edge and down towards the lake below. I sat there for a while with nobody else around. Just me, basking in nature's beauty and serenity, cares momentarily forgotten. Cascade Lake is not directly reachable unless you're one of the few wealthy enough to own property on the lake's north shore. The rest of us are consigned to hiking to Cascade Falls above and behind the lake, where there's a perfect vantage point of trees and water for miles. Yeah, I'll take that. The falls are reachable via a less than 1-mile (but rugged) hike along the Cascade Falls Trail. The trail begins at the Bayview Campground where there's a small amount of parking. More parking is available along Emerald Bay Rd (State Route 89) outside the campground. As you head away from the campground, the trail narrows and gets more rugged with rocks to climb over, and gets more scenic with a sweeping view of Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe behind it. The end of the trail sort of disappears out into a wide, slanted rocky area on the face of the mountain near the falls. There's at least one spot where you can climb down a steep narrow opening between the rocks to get closer to the edge of the falls. This is not your typical well-defined trail that you might find at a county park. I visited in the late afternoon in June of 2021, and I didn't run into more than a handful of people here. There was a moderate amount of water at the falls but not a ton of it, so I was able to sit on a large dry rock in the middle of the stream there. The number of people probably depends on the time of day and the season, but should you visit, I hope you find the same serenity and inspiration that I did. read more

Cascade Falls - Sitting behind Cascade Falls, looking out towards Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe - Hiking Near Me

I call this my Lake Tahoe warmup hike when you can get here early on a weekday. Get here before 8am, and I would head up north farther to The Eagle Falls parking lot, next to Vikingsholm, the most difficult place to park. But getting here around 845am on a weekday, and you have a decent chance to find a spot in the paved parking lot. Hardest part of this hike is like going to Costco on a weekend: getting parking.  Woke up the wife and deprived her of her beauty rest. Drove north on highway 89 to Inspiration Point, making a left into the Cascade Lake Campground, and to the back for public parking. Pit toilets at the parking lot.  No restrooms and no water on the trail.   The trail starts off easy enough, broad level terrain on a dirt trail through the forests.  About 10 minutes in, the trail hits the a rocky pathway, with the forests opening up, with a grand view of Cascade Lake 100 feet below. Next 40 minutes of hiking are brutal.  No cover, temperatures in the 80s thanks to global warming, hiking on a boulder strewn pathway up and down over rocks up to the size of beach balls.  Hat, hiking boots and long pants mandatory, unless you want blackened toe nails and scraped thighs.  Bring hiking poles if you have them.   You hike along the side of Cascade Lake, well above the Lake, with a beautiful view of the deep blue lake, and surrounding green forests.   You pass the far end of the lake, with a view of both Cascade and Lake Tahoe in the background. Giant flat formation of granite rock appears, wiping out the trail.  On the other side, we finally hear falls.  We are at the falls, with Cascade creek, running into the falls down below.  Rock formation on the other side of the creek above the falls is as crowded as Times Square, with people camping down to eat lunch. Crossing the creek can be iffy in early June, as it can be swift and rugged. Some folks in their swimming suits wading in the shallow pools of water alongside the creek.   Getting back is just as brutal as it is mostly uphill climbing through the rocky trail, up and over boulders everywhere on the trail.  40 minutes later back in the full parking lot. Feet beat up from climbing up and down all those rocks, banging the front of the boots on boulders left and right.   Wore my $10 Big 5 sporting goods clearance sale new high top boots, and even with a thick padded insole, felt every bump on the trail, through the bottom of the soles of the boots. You get what you pay for! read more

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After researching hiking places we hadn't done before I chose this spot because it said it was easy. Hmm, it was not especially difficult but, it was not flat and if you have footing or balance challenges I wouldn't recommend it. If you drive to the end of the campgrounds there is limited parking. We went on a Monday morning and got the last available parking. Otherwise you can park on Hwy 89 and walk in. Parking is free if you are going to cascade falls. Have to pay $10. If you are going to desolation wilderness. I enjoyed this hike. The elevation was not bad but, you are taking small and long steps to get up and down rocks, pebbles and dirt trail. The views are awesome. We saw 2 waterfalls that you can hear from far away. Pine trees, waterfalls, lakes, beautiful outdoors, what's not to like? read more

Cascade Falls - Hard to see waterfalls. Blend in with snow. - Hiking Near Me

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One of the nicest hikes I've ever been on. Unbelievable views and variety in terrain. Starts out kind of woody at the Bayview Trailhead, then gets rockier as you go up. There are many trees, one was fallen that we had to traverse on the way. The apex of hike takes you to the waterfall which is truly spectacular overlooking Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe in the background. I could've sat there all day and admired the view. I drank right out of the stream, some of the cleanest water you'll find in the country. I would describe the hike as fairly easy, about two miles there and back. There are some steep points that require careful footing and strength. Truly a gem, I recommend it highly. We need to preserve places like this. I live in LA and it made me want to move to Tahoe. Nature at its finest. read more

Cascade Falls - Cascade Lake - Hiking Near Me

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I was quite disappointed from my experience hiking Cascade Falls. I'm pretty shocked so many Yelpers gave it wonderful reviews. I had researched that this was a highly worthwhile hike in Lake Tahoe, yet.....I mean....I couldn't even find Cascade Falls when I arrived! I was expecting some magnificent waterfall, yet when the trail came to it's climax....I was left underwhelmed. Let me just give some background info and details from my explorations here..... Cascade Falls is located in the South Lake Tahoe section. More precisely, the trailhead starts inside of the Bayview Campground near the heart of a lot of the Tahoe action including Eagle Falls, Inspiration Point and Emerald Bay State Park. Coming upon the Bayview Campground, there were clear signs for Cascade Falls that couldn't be missed. I found parking along the main road, though this was early around 8am during the summer time. When I completed my hiking a couple of hours later, as you can imagine....parking had filled up completely! (Funny....for my first time visiting Lake Tahoe.....I was surprised by the amount of congestion throughout. I was expecting a quiet and soothing getaway...imo) The hike to "Cascade Falls" was not difficult. It was only roughly 1.5 miles roundtrip. Though, as I trekked further along the trail, the path did veer off and became very fuzzy in terms of following in the correct direction. Continuing....I did climb along rocks though none of this section was extraneous. Ultimately.....I arrived at what looked like the end of the pathway and climb. But....I was quite confused. I didn't know where to turn to or in which direction to look to find this amazing "Cascade Falls"!!!?? At this "pinnacle" there was a steep ledge and overlook where maybe the falls could have led down to. BE CAREFUL here. I noticed other visitors traversing down rocks and unless you have sturdy shoes, trying to find "Cascade Falls" may be slippery and not worth it. I could have navigated higher into the more mountainous section of this trail....yet there wasn't a clearly marked continued pathway or sign indicator helping to lead me in the right way. So yes....this apex at Cascade Falls left me wanting more. Though..... I must give credit where credit is due. The best part about hiking Cascade Falls was the picturesque scenery all around me. I did stop for some scenic photos of the landscape and looking out onto tranquil Cascade Lake with Lake Tahoe situated in the distance. For those who appreciate nature....the hiking was pleasant. All I'm saying is don't expect to arrive at a majestic waterfall in the end. Another note....when I visited over the summer time back in July, it was early morning and my views gazing out onto the waters and the surrounding backdrop had me looking directly into the sun. So for anyone who has read my prior reviews....yes, this blocked my quality photo taking. I would suggest coming over here in the afternoon where you'd have the sun at your back....and then I believe pictures would be much better served. Just a recommendation for those who care about that stuff, lol. Finally, although most folks have raved about Cascade Falls....it wasn't impressive for me. The hike along the trail is worthwhile, but in the end....I was left wondering "is this it"? "Have I made it to the best part(s)"? "What was all the great talk about"? I'm just trying to temper everyone's expectations....this hike is not all that. read more

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Beautiful views, easy trails lots of rocks to traverse,good for adults and kiddos. Highly recommend read more

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was lovely - though we took 2.5 hours round trip the hike was lovely and the scenery magnificent. we are senior citizens.

Great hike! Not easy but not hard. Kind of tricky to get to the other side of the falls but we figured it out. Everybody try something different. There are a lot of amazing views along the way. Highly recommend! read more

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If you're looking for a short hike that packs in a lot of scenery and diversity, Cascade Falls is perfect. There are two lots you can park at-either the Bayview Campground day use area or across the street at the Inspiration Point lot. I would imagine those fill up on weekends or at peak times, but we arrived at 6:30 on a Wednesday summer evening and easily found a spot in the Inspiration Point lot. To get to the trailhead, walk through the campground and find the signs for the Bayview trail. If you go left you will follow the 1 mile trail to the falls. There is also access to Desolation Wilderness from this area but you don't need to fill out a permit if you're just going to the falls. The trail starts out with an easy grade through the pine forest and then eventually you'll wind your way up some granite rocks along the mountainside. To your left you can see Cascade Lake and further out, views of Tahoe. You can start to see the falls around the bend as you approach them and then eventually hear the rushing water. The trail sort of ends as you approach the falls and then you scramble over towards them. Make note of where you exited the trail-it's not clearly marked and if you're exploring the falls and scrambling around the rocks, it might get disorienting to make your way back to the trailhead. The views from the top are spectacular-we were there before sunset after a bit of rain, the clearing skies were amazing. The round trip took us about an hour and 15 minutes but we hurried on the way down to make it back before sundown. Slippery rocks so wear sneakers with good traction-be safe and enjoy! read more

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Great hike! Definitely moderate level. I (27) had a great time and found it very enjoyable but my mum (66) had a hard time and needed frequent stops on the way back. Somewhat tricky with the snow so be sure to have good hiking boots. Great spots at the falls to sit and have a little picnic. Excellent views throughout and very friendly people along the way. If you're not used to hiking in higher altitudes be prepared for a more difficult trek. read more

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Thanks fellow Yelpers for this hike! We would have driven right by, if we hadn't seen the yelp. Great hike! Scenic! First half of the hike is easy through the forest, then comes the climbing and rocks. We were able to hike as much as we wanted! read more

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Took my dog here on a hike, and she loved it! The trail is fairly easy, but proper shoes is a must since you will be stepping off of giant rocks along the trail. This is a very scenic hike with plenty of opportunities to take pictures. We also didn't really worry about bugs or mosquitos.. yay! I knocked down one star because sometimes we couldn't tell which direction we needed to go. At one point, we reached a wide open area, and didn't really know where to go... but I guess it doesn't matter since its all open to nature. read more

Cascade Falls - Enjoying one of the falls - Hiking Near Me

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Nice easy hike that's only about 2 miles round trip. Took my friends & I only about an hour long to do this whole hike (not including taking the time to enjoy the view of the lake at the top). This is a great workout to work out your legs. There are some stairs and lots of rocks to get through but nothing too hard. I also saw dogs and kids doing this hike. We came on a Thursday, August 18 and it wasn't crowded at all. There also wasn't much of a waterfall at this time. It was more of a stream of water going thru the rocks. This made it able to walk through the rocks and get a better shot of the lake. One thing that could've been better is to have signs throughout the hike because you can easily get off trail which is what we did. But we were able to get to and back with no problems. read more

Cascade Falls - Hiking Near Me

This is a beautiful hike that starts at the back of the Bayview Trailhead Campground. You may park at the back of the campground and start you hike from there or you may park on the highway or across the campground. Parking was free, but can be limited. I arrived at 8 am and there was plenty of parking and left at eleven. I noticed parking was busy at that time. The views were amazing. The hike itself was easy with a rocky path that was well maintained for dogs adults and kids. I would say the path is best for kids above four. The view was of the waterfall. read more

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The reviews I've read for Cascade Falls aren't particularly consistent regarding its degree of difficulty; so let me set start by setting the matter straight. If you can't handle hiking at altitude, or if you're not a regular hiker, you'll probably find this trail quite challenging. As I'm an avid hiker and a pretty regular gym rat, I had no issue with it. From the trailhead, the path starts out gently; it's wide, flat, and easy to follow. As you continue along, the path gets rockier and narrower. Finally, as you approach the end the path is all rock and difficult to follow in spots. Tip: The falls at the top are cool, refreshing, and beautiful; the views are simply breathtaking! There isn't much shade along this trail, so it's a good idea to wear sunscreen and a hat; bring plenty of water and snacks too. You'll find porta potties at the trailhead, but nothing but natural facilities after that. Bottom line: This is a truly fantastic and beautiful hike! I'd estimate it's about two miles round trip. The parking situation is usually pretty bad, so plan on arriving early to both avoid the crowds and the heat. read more

Hiked this trail yesterday, we were told to bring snow shoes but never needed them. Parking is on the street around inspiration point on the way to emerald bay. Hike through the campsite and then you will see the trail head. The hike is moderate with a huge payoff as you make it to the falls! You litterally can put your hands in the water. It will take 1-2 hours round trip at a leisure pace. read more

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The hike itself was tougher than expected very rocky would not recommend for elder people who do not have experience or young children who get bored or tired easily. Make sure you put a lot of sunscreen and drink lots of water. Really great views along the trail. Very picturesque scenes. read more

Beautiful view, would've wished the waterfall was full on but overall great. Easy hike, lots of rocks-wear shoes that grip or you could lose your balance on the gravel. read more

Cascade Falls - Hiking Near Me

Awesome Hike! The directions for this site on yelp is misleading so I use the directions to inspiration point. The parking lot is accross the street from the campground. However I didn't realize it until I got there that there is also parking (limited) if you drive through the campground just before the trail signs. The hike was easy on a good day. I'm sure if it was blazing hot..there be much sweat. Lots of shade along the way and great views. The stream was nice, cold, and refreshing to relax by. I would definitely come here again for a quick need of adventure. read more

Cascade Falls - Hiking Near Me

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Nice moderate hike to see a great view of the tahoe mountains and lake! Approximatey 2 miles round trip. Parking can be hard to find as we parked on the side of the road and walked about a quarter mile up to the bayview campground. That's where the trail is! Must try! read more

Cascade Falls - Cascade Falls Trail. Part of the view you'll get to see! - Hiking Near Me

Moderate hike. Trail is well maintained and the view of Fallen Leaf Lake is spectacular. You do work up a sweat. Wear good shoes as there are spots where the sand and granite rock are slippery. Lots of people on the trail. But all had trail courtesy. We liked it. read more

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This was a fantastic hike unfortunately we started late in the day thinking it would not take much time to get to the falls. The hike to the falls took us only about 45 minutes. There is so much to see and it was such a broad expanse for the falls that soon we got lost and could not find the trail back. Make sure that you know where you're at and how you got there. It is easy to get lost in finding the trail back. We started back about 30 minutes before sunset but we were not able to find the trail back. We got so lost that we were praying for guidance as it got to dark to see. We felt foolish for letting this happen. Our prayers were answered when a volunteer rescue team came along looking for another couple who were lost! They pointed us in the right direction as they went on to find the other couple. So we were not the only fools! Thank you Jesus for those wonderful v volunteer rescue squad. It is well worth the trip and allow plenty of time to explore the Falls area and make sure you know how to get back to the trail at all times. The landscape is awesome and very large area. It is easy to get turned around and not find your path that brought you in. If you are going late in the afternoon make sure you bring flashlights just in case this happens to you. In the dark it is a treacherous trail back. Not difficult but many rocks or toe grabbers along the way. This is definitely a hike you need to take when you're in the lake Tahoe area. read more

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Great views for a short hike. Tons of rocks to climb and few trees for shade so probably not a good trail to bring kids. The waterfall is beautiful and worth seeing if you're in the area! About midway through you can see both lakes and there are plenty of flat rocks in some shade to pass out on along the way if you get winded easily. read more

Loved this hike! It absolutely kicked my butt. The adjustment to escalation is real, however, the views from the top of the falls made it very well worth the huffing and puffing. Would definitely hike this again. read more

The entrance is across from the Inspiration Point near the campgrounds. I would park along the road as the parking lot in inspiration and the campground get filled up. At first I got confused and thought it was a 0.5 mile hike but it was a 0.5 mile from the campground to the trailhead. Dog friendly trail that can be rocky and hilly at times. We started hiking around 11 to noon and it was a bit hot as it's not all shaded so I would suggest hiking earlier in the morning or evening. We had to take frequent stops for water because of the heat. The end point is the water fall although you can't see the entire water fall but only the top portion of it. read more

Cascade Falls is flat out gorgeous and I am very glad that we made this impromptu stop while on our road trip. There are 2 "main" waterfalls in this Southwestern area of Lake Tahoe (this one and Eagle Falls) and this one seems to be the less visited (though requires a little more work to see). The parking lot for it is located across the street from this area called Inspiration Point (which is CRAZY crowded). The walk to the falls is relatively short and easy enough (I don't know why a lot of people are saying it's difficult cause I'm not in the best shape and I was fine). Don't be fooled in regards to the sun. The trail starts off covered, but then you are exposed to the elements for a while and it can get sun-shiny and hot. The view and the falls are gorgeous and is well worth the 60-90 minute detour. You will not regret it. read more

My 10 year old son spent 5 days hiking in Tahoe. This was one of our top favorite spots. A beautiful hike, some rocky terrain, and voila- you are climbing on the waterfall streams. Super peaceful, lovely, and a breathtaking view. read more

We had gone to Taylor Creek Visitor Center the day before and the park ranger recommended the Cascade Falls Trail. Last year we did the hike to Eagle Lake which we felt was really gorgeous. We enjoyed Cascade Falls but it was really hot and there is not much shade. We are pretty fit and 60 years old and it was the perfect kind of hike for us. We did see some people turn around but we also saw people with dogs who seemed to be doing it as their "morning walk." We were done in less than 2 hours. We arrived at the parking lot just before 9am and got the last parking spot. After the hike we drove on up to Tahoe City and had a fun lunch at the Bridgetender and then continued to drive all the way around the lake and back to South Lake Tahoe (staying at BW Station House - recommended). A fun day! read more

What a great hike! Some of the reviews here are conflicting but here is my take. My Apple Watch measured our hike as 1 mile there and 1 mile back, and that was starting from the Inspiration Point parking lot where we parked. So 2 miles total. The Bayview campground was closed since we went in the fall so parking near the trailhead wasn't an option. Just a quick walk across the street and through the campground from the Inspiration Point lot. There were a lot of friendly people there and they were courteous (ex- stepping off the trail while passing uphill hikers). The falls weren't grand this time of year, it was like a little stream but it was so beautiful. The drive from Lake Tahoe to the falls was also very beautiful with views of Lake Tahoe and Cascade Lake. The trail can get tricky but nothing too difficult. There are plenty of other people (no bear scares or getting lost). We hiked with chacos, which are hiking sandals, and our feet got dirty but it wasn't a big deal. read more

Follow the hwy from South Lake Tahoe north towards emerald bay. The Trailhead is in the campground across from the lookout point for emerald bay. Follow the sign for Bayview Trailhead. This is a great sunny hike. Bring a lot of water Bc it's not shaded. There are some boulders you to have to step up on. My almost 70 yr old parents did it and survived! The flowing water before the 'fall' was a nice cooling rest spot prior to hiking out. We did have to take off our shoes to cross some of the water to get to more water. Wonderful views. read more

Beautiful views of Emerald Bay and cool pools for the kids to play in! A steep hike, maybe a little intense for the kids but scenic and worth the short hike! read more

Visiting Tahoe on our anniversary, we wanted to enjoy a nice hike with a memorable view. We chose cascade falls at the bayview campsite. It was about a mile long 30 mins. I would say beginner/intermediate. I did not expect to get so tired on a beginner hike. But I found myself out of breath and tired at the end. I woukd not recommend for 4 and under to toddler along side. I almost fell a few times myself, and if they get too close to the edge that would be no Bueno. I enjoyed the view it was spectacular. There were a lot of people on the trail and it was a quick hike. A plus if you are camping at Bayview the Trailhead is right there. read more