About
Length (round trip)7.4 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyHard
Elevation gain1,500 ft up
Typical time2 hr 15 min
TrailheadPotwisha Campground, Generals Highway
SurfaceOld ditch road then rocky canyon trail
Best seasonGiant Forest is best June to October. Mineral King road opens late May and closes in November; the high country holds snow into July.
DogsNot allowed
What you'll see 💧 Waterfall🌊 River or creek🌼 Wildflowers

This trailhead orientation panel shows a map and images of the Marble Falls Trail area. This trail climbs 3.1 miles one-way at a moderate incline through the chaparral scrubland, ending at a waterfall cascade. Park near site #14 at Potwisha Campground and follow the dirt road across the concrete ditch. The trail starts along the steep bank to the right. Additional parking available across the Generals Highway in the Potwisha Overflow Parking Lot. Community Science Water is essential for life to thrive in the hot, dry foothills, but can sometimes be challenging to find. In the springtime, streams and creeks swell to high levels as snowmelt makes its way down towards the Central Valley. Once the snow has melted, however, water levels drop significantly. By late summer, many water sources dry up completely. Inconsistent snowpack from year to year makes it difficult to predict what resources will be available for the parks' flora and fauna. By tracking water levels over time, park scientists can better understand this unique landscape. Are you interested in exploring watersheds in the Foothills? Join a park ranger at any point in the year to collect data as a community scientist. In order to be sensitive to the plants and animals that call these streams home, group sizes are limited to a maximum of 6 participants. Individuals with an interest in a longer-term volunteer commitment are encouraged to reach out. Call Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' Education Office at 559-565-4211 or email seki_ritc@nps.gov for more information.

Tips
At 2,000 feet this is snow-free all winter, which makes it the best cold-season hike in the park. Correspondingly brutal in summer heat. Wildflowers in March and April.
Location

Potwisha Campground, Generals Highway

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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