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Anybody who has traveled along the Stevens Canyon Road has likely seen the unusual basalt dike running parallel to Stevens Creek along the south side of the canyon. This formation makes up the south wall of the upper canyon, but also retains Maple Creek in a separate drainage parallel to Stevens Creek for over a mile. Where the creek has worked right up against he back side of the dike, the water has eroded down to the bedrock in several places, and at Maple Falls, produced a nice, but rather under whelming waterfall, considering the surrounding terrain. The falls plunge about 45 feet off a sheer cliff into a small pool. The most remarkable feature of the area, however, is the massive cathedral-like cliff of columnar basalt to the right of the falls. Stretching for maybe 400 feet tall and over 1000 feet wide, it is easily the most impressive columnar outcropping I have ever seen. Depending on how impressive the falls become in the early summer, I’m almost tempted to say the cliff is more worthy of the hike than the falls are. However neither are easy to reach (more so difficult if one desires to keep their feet dry).
- MAPLE FALLS is the Official name of this waterfall.
Maple Falls is accessed from the Wonderland Trail at the Maple Creek Bridge. Closest trailhead is the Stevens Creek Trail at the Box Canyon Picnic area. Hike ¾ of a mile to the Wonderland Trail at Lower Stevens Creek Falls, then another mile to Maple Creek. Proceed off trail and follow Maple Creek upstream for 2/3 of a mile to the base of the falls. Walking in the creek may be the path of least resistance during low water periods. If you stay above the creek, stay on the right side and avoid climbing too high above the creek or you’ll get cliffed out.
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