Hidden Falls

Mountain Home State Forest — Nestled among green ferns and surrounded by hundreds of pine and Giant Sequoia trees are a small series of waterfalls — Hidden Falls — along the North Middle Fork Tule River, that are anything but hidden in this year of relatively abundant water.

The falls, located at the 6,000 foot elevation, include two 30-ft. high and one 15-ft. high cascades that splash against giant rocks creating what looks like white ribbons of water as they flow down the crystal-clear river.

Hidden Falls, and the neighboring camp site, are only an hour’s drive from Porterville, making it the perfect day-trip or weekend getaway before summer ends.

Once there, hiking, fishing, swimming, camping and relaxing is possible.

And for those few people who have discovered it, the windy drive up the mountain is nothing compared to the beauty the place offers — a place where piney fragrance drifts through the air and dozens of birds chirp from the trees. Moss-covered tree trunks, sporadic spots of colorful blue and fuchsia wildflowers, and the famous dogwood flower — a greenish-yellow flower cluster surrounded by four large showy bracts often mistaken as petals — dot the peaceful area.

“I am loving the solitude,” said Verity Maud, 37, of South Africa when she camped there in late June. “It’s a magical, special place — very lovely. It feels like it is our own private place. I’m in love with it. In South Africa, it is not as safe as here. Camping is not as much part of a culture there. This is a real treat for me.”

Maud camped with Antoine Philipou, an American living in Poland but visiting Southern California. The couple, who met online on Facebook last September, had been camping along the side of the river for four days.

“This is nothing like Sequoia or Kings Canyon. There’s no crowds here — no bunches of kids all over,” Philipou said. “I don’t know why no one really comes here, but I’m thinking it must be because it is not easy to get here. We’ve been camping along a couple of sites — both very remote. We were thinking of moving to another site but this is so peaceful, we didn’t want to leave.”

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or eavila@portervillerecorder.com.

Hidden Falls at a glance:
Elevation: 6000 ft.
Best time to go: May through September
Difficulty: Car accessibility to the falls, easy hike.
How to get there: Take Highway 190 past Springville to Balch Park Road. Turn left, past the Springville Ranch — the “Big White Barn” — and drive 3.4 miles to Bear Creek Rd. Turn right and drive 13 miles to the park headquarters junction. Turn right on Bear Creek Rd. for 1.1 miles to the next junction. Keep right for 2.6 miles to the next junction. Turn right again for 2.2 miles to the next junction. Turn left and drive .5 mile to the Hidden Falls campground and day use area — or just keep following all of the signs for Hidden Falls. The drive is winding.
What do to: Camp, fish, hike, white water paddling.
Campground fees: Free, but available on a first-come basis, no reservations.
Weather: Summer months — daytime high 90s; nighttime, low 60s. Campground is closed during the winter.
Services: No gasoline or grocery stores beyond the town of Springville.
What to take: All food and condiments, toiletries, flashlights, camera and insect repellent.
For more information: 539-2321, summer; 539-2855, winter.