Loves Falls Trail is a 2.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sierra City, California that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and fishing and is best used from June until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
Trail starts on opposite side of the road. Look for a tree with a spray painted heart on it. Once you get to the trail take a left at the tree. It’s not much of a trail. A very short walk to the waterfall and we had a picnic at the bridge. The trails down to the water are very very steep. It was a nice stop on the way out of town before our drive.
Listen to the other reviewers and don’t go past the bridge which is only .3 miles in. The trail doesn’t seem to go to anything after that. We followed it for another 1.5 miles to no destination. Also it’s better to park on the right hand side of the road in front of the cable than where this says to.
This is a short and well worth it trail. We stopped and turned around at the bridge like others have said. The falls were beautiful, and we sooo regretted not bringing our swimsuits- such a great swimming hole. Only one other person there on a Sunday afternoon in the summer.
This was a very short hike out to Loves Falls, but you can make it longer by going past Loves Falls and continuing on for as long as you want. Loves falls itself is pretty to look at and even dip in to, but it’s narrow and the river is filled with rocks/boulders so it’s not much like a big place to congregate with a lot of others, like some places are. It was fairly easy to find the trailhead- there is signage for the PCT which includes signage for loves falls. There is also a large spray painted red heart on one of the trees at the dirt parking lot area (which is nothing more than a big turn out) on the Southern side of the highway.
Not much after the bridge, just a bunch of switchbacks. I took my dogs and they like to switch who walks next to me and who leads but the trail is SUPER narrow so we turned back and stayed by the water. Water was cold and refreshing, my pups loved it. Very peaceful and pretty.
Make sure to download map long before you get here not much service in town
Hiked this trail on 5/4/19. Relaxing, beautiful hike. No snow at this elevation. Trail is groomed with switchbacks to the Falls. Gorgeous pines, the sound of the river coming through the canyon makes for a very peaceful hike. Park at the side of the road, go around the cable and turn left. Follow the trail to the bridge-1/4 mile or so. Cross bridge and the falls are about 3/4 mile. The trail can be done as a loop where it joins the PCT. It's about 5 miles round trip and ends with walking on Wild Plum Rd back to your car.
Beautiful small hike down to the waterfall. the trail isn't marked but the best directions was to park across the street at the PCT sign and walk across the street and the trail is right there. i hiked up the PCT trail a bit to make it a longer hike. the waterfall is worth seeing for sure and the water is an amazing emerald green..