Hiking the Tokopah Falls Trail in Sequoia National Park
Distance (Roundtrip): 4.0 miles / 6.4 km
The Tokopah Falls Trail, also known as the Tokopah Valley Trail, is one of the best day hikes in Sequoia National Park on a hot summer day!
This is because the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River can be one of the best places to cool off in the mid-summer months, but, this is typically only true when the snowmelt from the high Sierras has significantly subsided from its peak.
By this, I mean that during the early season of May, June, and possibly much of July, the rivers that flow out of the high Sierra can be far too dangerous to attempt swimming. However, as the volume begins to decrease, the best swimming spots here and elsewhere, like the Mist Falls Trail in Kings Canyon, begin to open up.
Therefore, my personal recommendation is to hike the Tokopah Falls Trail in the mid-to-late afternoon hours during the late season to enjoy the water—especially when other nearby trails, such as the General Sherman Tree, are far too busy to enjoy because of the crowds.
Tokopah Falls Trailhead Parking
The Tokopah Falls Trail is located within the much larger Lodgepole area, which includes the Lodgepole Visitor Center, the campground, the picnic area, and the trail up the valley.
That being said, the parking lot for the Tokopah Falls Trail is among the biggest of anywhere Sequoia National Park, meaning that finding a spot to park is typically not an issue.
Google Maps Directions: Tokopah Falls Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Sequoia-Kings Canyon
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
That being said, bear spray is purposefully excluded from this list because, while the Sierra Nevadas are home to a large black bear population, bear spray is not allowed in either Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park.
Hiking the Tokopah Falls Trail
From the parking lot, the Tokopah Falls Trail begins up Lodgepole Road toward the campground.
When the road splits, go left across the bridge, where the Tokopah Falls Trailhead will be found on the other side.
This is the Tokopah Falls Trailhead on the right-hand side of the road following the bridge.
Of all the day hikes in Sequoia National Park, the Tokopah Falls Trail is on the easier side, as it gains just 540 ft. (165 m) over the course of 2.0 miles (3.2 km) from the trailhead to the waterfall, which is hardly noticeable over a hike of this distance.
Since I recommend hiking the Tokopah Falls Trail midday to enjoy the cold waters of the Kaweah, this inevitably means that you’ll be on the trail when the sun is the strongest.
Therefore, I highly recommend hiking the Tokopah Falls Trail in a hooded sun shirt to stay safe at these upper elevations.
These middle sections of the Tokopah Falls Trail can be a great place to look for Black Bears in Sequoia, as I personally encountered one off the trail in this area.
Short sections like this are as steep as the Tokopah Falls Trail gets, which is why I think it can be a great family-friendly adventure!
After the Horse Creek bridge, the trees begin to thin, and Tokopah Falls starts to become more and more visible as the trail nears the end.
This boulder field toward the end is a nice sign that Tokopah Falls is just a few minutes away!
This rock always makes me think twice about resting in the shade here, but when you walk further and see how big it is on the far side, the risk of it moving 'appears' to be minimal.
During the early summer months, the long cascade that is Tokopah Falls is much more noticeable than what can be seen here at the end of July following an average snow season.
Tokopah Falls
According to the National Park Service, Tokopah Falls is 1,200 ft. (365.8 m) tall from its origins, which are well out of sight, to the lower viewpoint where the trail ends.
That being said, Tokopah Falls can vary dramatically from early to late summer, which is when these photos were taken.
This goes off the same sentiment mentioned previously, but the early-season to late-season snowmelt varies dramatically, meaning that Tokopah Falls can be a single raging cascade or as calm as these photos that were taken in late July.
I have seen both, and it’s safe to say that swimming or getting anywhere near the water is not recommended during the early summer months.
However, by late summer, a pool opens up at the very bottom of the waterfall that visitors love to enjoy!
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
