About
Length (round trip)3.8 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyModerate
Elevation gain600 ft up
Typical time2 hr 15 min
TrailheadLodgepole Campground
SurfaceRiver trail with rocky sections
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
AccessibilityThere is no parking at the trailhead. Parking is located next to the Lodgepole Campground in the overflow lot. This parking area is paved, and has accessible parking spaces near the restrooms. The trailhead is a short distance from the parking area on a paved road. The trail is unpaved dirt, and contains uneven and rocky terrain.
What you'll see 💧 Waterfall🌄 Big views🌊 River or creek🦌 Wildlife

Topokah Falls Trail is a short trail leading to a cascading waterfall. As the trail gently climbs, it follows the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River below magnificent granite cliffs. Once by the falls, keep an eye out for yellow-bellied marmots sunbathing on the rocks. The trail begins in the Lodgepole Campground. Continue past the entrance kiosk to the bridge just past the overflow parking lot. Spring and early summer are the most scenic seasons for this trail, as wildflowers bloom and snow melt sends water cascading down the falls. Total distance out and back is 3.4 miles (5.5 km). In summer, take the free Sequoia Shuttle to the Topokah Falls trailhead. The Green Route (Giant Forest) and Purple Route (Lodgepole/Wuksachi/Dorst Campground) stop here. At the Lodgepole stop, walk toward the log bridge. The trailhead is just beyond the bridge. Parking for the trail is located next to Lodgepole Campground in the overflow lot.

Tips
Best in June when the snowmelt is running; by September it can be a trickle. Yellow-bellied marmots are all over the talus near the falls. The granite of the Watchtower above is 1,600 feet of sheer rock.
Location

Lodgepole Campground

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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