Spring Falls is located inside the Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve. If you are looking for a longer family friendly hike on an easy trail, then this waterfall is for you.
From the good sized parking lot, you will start your hike by walking up steps and crossing a suspension bridge. It swings pretty easily, especially if you have kids with you.
Upon crossing you will be on the Big Cedar Creek Trail, which starts out pretty narrow, but widens to become a large gravel covered trail. The trail takes you alongside Big Cedar Creek almost the entire way. Please note that after prolonged heavy rains the trail can flood at the beginning, as had occurred on our trip. However, we were able to climb alongside the trail and still pass.
At 0.4 miles the Big Cedar Creek Trail intersects with the Grapevine Hill Trail on your left. Continue straight on the wide blue-blazed trail continuing alongside the creek.
In another half-mile, you’ll see a second trail junction with a large preserve map sign. There is also a post behind it with the trail names and blaze colors with the distance to each trail from this point. Up ahead you will see pit toilets and a picnic shelter.
Continue straight ahead on the trail until the trail dead ends at the picnic shelter. Just behind the picnic shelter with a post marking the trailhead with a green sign for Spring Falls Trail.
Follow the green blazed trail to Spring Falls, which is an easy 0.25 mile hike that winds through a wooded area next to the creek. It is almost entirely flat the whole way except a few stone steps toward the end that take you to the waterfall. You’ll emerge just next to the top/side of Spring Falls.
After viewing the waterfall, you return the way you came to exit the park.
However, before you leave you may want to visit Big Falls (an impressive waterfall that spans the entire width of the large creek) and the Pinnacle (the preserve’s namesake), which are only located a short distance away. To view Big Falls, return to the junction with the reserve sign just past the restrooms. Turn right on Big Cedar Creek Trail. Continue following the trail until you reach a small side trail taking you to the base of Big Falls. To view the Pinnacle, continue down the Big Cedar Creek Trail to another trail junction at approximately 1.4 miles. The main trail heads to the left here, while the Pinnacle View Trail forks off to the right. After viewing the Pinnacle return the way you came on Big Cedar Creek trail. At the junction with the preserve sign, turn right to exit the park.
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