Cascade Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall

The first part of the trail has a gentle climb followed by a short descent. Keep your eyes peeled to follow the signs on the descent, the trail veers off to the left, if you find yourself going down a jeep trail, you've gone too far!

A couple of steep pitches around the drainages will eventually lead you to doubletrack that climbs up to the intersection.

This trail can be accessed from three different trailheads, however, my favorite way is from south to north. This means starting from either Spanish Traverse or from the South Park Trailhead at Mount Hough Ranger Station.

From the trail intersection, follow the Cascade Trail down along a rolling section with few obstacles. Once you make into the river valley, the trail changes to steep, rocky, and loose. This section is rugged and quite fun. It has a few tight switchbacks and the loose shale makes for unreliable footing.

Once you make it onto the valley floor, it is smooth and rolling as you follow Spanish Creek. There are a few rougher spots, but it is a great trail!

The hardest technical spot is at the Cascades, which is a series of little waterfalls that occur where Spanish Creek cuts through an outcrop of slate. There is a great swimming hole at the bottom of the Cascades, and I highly recommend stopping for a swim!

The trail continues to follow Spanish Creek and there are a few rocky sections. The trail ends at the Forest Service Spanish Creek day-use area, AKA Cascade Trailhead.