Dark Hollow Falls
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The rocky trail surface is treacherously slippery when wet — multiple visitors are injured here each year from falls on the descent and the climb back out. Use trekking poles if you have them and take your time.
The return climb gains all the elevation at once and has sent unprepared hikers to the park clinic with heat exhaustion in summer. Bring water even though it looks like a quick out-and-back, and rest as needed on the way up.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Arrive before 9 AM or after 4 PM — the small parking lot at mile 50.7 fills up fast on weekends and summer days, and the trail itself gets congested enough to feel like a theme park queue by midday.
Wear boots or trail shoes with aggressive tread. The rocks stay slick from spray near the falls and from the stream crossings, and sneakers will betray you on the climb back up.
For the best waterfall photos, visit after two or three days of rain when the water volume turns the cascade from a trickle into a roaring curtain. Late afternoon light filters through the canopy and catches the mist perfectly from the lower viewpoint.
Photos
NPS
