Backbone Falls

Backbone Falls is an easy hike to a pretty waterfall located in Backbone Falls Recreation Area. There are many trails in this area that are fun to hike. Backbone Falls is located on the Backbone Falls Trail. It is designated with blue blazes.

The trail is a loop trail, however I recommend that you hike it as an out and back, especially after it has rained recently as the end of the loop is downhill and slippery after rainfall. The trail marker is at the front of the parking area next to a staircase leading to the beginning of the trail.

However, if you go to the far right of the parking lot without climbing those stairs, you’ll see a walkway right next to the road separated by a fence. Take this walkway. It will dead end into the trail. Climb the stairs and you’ll see a sign (Caution Steep Trail With Uneven Footings and Sharp Dropoffs). Keep climbing the stairs until you reach Backbone Falls on your left. It’s about 0.1 miles. We continued on from here, but if you want an easy hike, simply turn around and go back the way you came.

There are more stairs next to Backbone Falls that will take you to the top. There’s not much to see here and no railing or walls. After you cross the top of Backbone Falls the trail continues on a straight path until it hits the descending part of the loop that will take you back to the parking lot.

When we went in June of 2019 there were several large tree branches that had fallen onto the path. It is still passable. This will bring you to an overlook. We couldn’t see the waterfall at all from behind the wall of the overlook.