Tokopah Falls, Cascading waterfall in Sequoia National Park, California.
Tokopah Falls is a waterfall in Sequoia National Park where water tumbles down through several granite tiers in a narrow valley. The stream flows through deep canyon walls with bare rock faces that frame the cascades on both sides.
Glaciers during the last ice age carved out this valley and shaped the granite walls that remain today. The constant flow of water has continued to modify these rock formations ever since.
The trail passes through forest and meadow habitats where visitors can watch wildlife and see how plants adapt to high mountain conditions. People come here to experience the wilderness that shaped the indigenous peoples' connection to this land.
The trail starts at Lodgepole Campground and covers about 1.7 miles each way, with steady climbing throughout. Spring and early summer offer the strongest water flow, though the path is passable during most of the year.
The waterfall changes dramatically from season to season, roaring powerfully during spring snowmelt but shrinking to a gentle trickle by late fall. This stark contrast means each visit can feel like seeing a completely different place.
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