Are there fees or permits required for South Creek Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit South Creek Falls.

Is swimming allowed at South Creek Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at South Creek Falls.

Nearby gauge (South Fork Tule River) · 7 ft³/s · Much lower than usual

South Creek Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at South Creek Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at South Creek Falls.

California • 95 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Sequoia National Forest NF · US Forest Service

Photo Credits (5)

bdearth CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

davidseibold CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

inkknife_2000 (14 million views) CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

davidseibold CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Drive Up

About South Creek Falls

South Creek Falls is a roughly 95-foot waterfall on South Creek in Sequoia National Forest, above the North Fork Kern River north of Kernville. It is clearly visible from Mountain Highway 99 about half a mile north of the Johnsondale Bridge, so no hike is needed to see it. Flow is strongest in spring.

The Setting

South Creek Falls sits at 3,950 feet within Sequoia National Forest, in the mountains of California. The falls drop 95 feet.

Height: 95 feet

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Salmon Creek Falls (120 ft) lies 5.4 miles to the southeast.

Salmon Creek Falls

Trail & Hike Details

The Approach

No hiking required. South Creek Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.

USFS Trail

ELEPHANT KNOB #32E43

Trail Class

Developed

Surface

Native Material

Avg Grade

12-20%

USFS Segment

1.80 mi

Trail Description

There is no trail to the falls; they are viewed from Mountain Highway 99.

What to Expect

The falls cascade 95 feet.

Accessibility

This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at South Creek Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at South Creek Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

The best time to visit South Creek Falls is during the spring and early summer when the water flow is strongest. Fall can also be a pleasant time to visit due to cooler temperatures and colorful foliage.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check with Sequoia National Forest for seasonal road closures.

Safety Information

Water temperature is currently 45°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.

Watch for traffic when stopping along Mountain Highway 99, and stay out of the fast-moving Kern River.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on South Fork Tule River, 10.4 miles away, not on South Creek Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

7 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Much lower than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

2.10 ft

Water depth at gauge

45°F

Very cold

Expect numbness within minutes

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is well below normal for this time of year, so the waterfall may be a trickle. Water temperature is very cold at 45 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. PH is normal at 7.8 and mineral content is typical.

Water Quality

7.8

Normal

Within healthy range (6.5-8.5)

105 µS/cm

Conductance

Dissolved minerals in the water

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

SF TULE R NR CHOLOLLO CAMPGROUND NR PORTERVILLE CA

USGS 11203580

10.4 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 20 sq mi

Altitude: 3,674 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge SF TULE R NR CHOLOLLO CAMPGROUND NR PORTERVILLE CA (17 km away).

Moderate confidence

Barely Flowing right now

7 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Barely Flowing

7 cfs

5/10

Tomorrow

Barely Flowing

6 cfs

5/10

Thu

Barely Flowing

6 cfs

5/10

Fri

Low

7 cfs

4/10

Sat

Low

7 cfs

4/10

Sun

Low

7 cfs

4/10

Mon

Low

7 cfs

4/10

Best window: Today — barely flowing flow, sunny (trip score 5/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late February to late May, peaking in March.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Ponderosa hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is South Creek Falls Frozen?

Updated about 9 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

South Creek Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 73°F to 45°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 7 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

1-meter lidar shows South Creek Falls dropping about 201 feet in a single sheer step. That is more than the listed 95 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 3,918 feet above sea level.

The ground changes about 140 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 29 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face southeast and catch soft morning light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around South Creek Falls near Ponderosa, California, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around South Creek Falls near Ponderosa, California, showing about 201 feet of drop, a single sheer drop, facing southeast

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 3,918 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 201 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Southeast; Catches soft morning light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southeast).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

From Kernville, drive north on Mountain Highway 99 along the North Fork Kern River. The falls are visible about half a mile north of the Johnsondale Bridge.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

There is no trailhead lot. Pull fully off the pavement at a safe turnout before stopping to look.

Elevation

3,950 feet above sea level

Coordinates

35.972169° N, -118.492857° W

Land Management

Sequoia National Forest NF

Managed by USFS

Visitor Tips & Gear

Visit in spring for the most water. Stop only where you can pull completely off the road.

Where to Stay

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Campground

REDWOOD MEADOW

5.7 miles away · 14 sites

Reservable

Overview Redwood Meadow Campground located within Sequoia National Forest, in the southern portion of Giant Sequoia National Monument. The area is named for the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the forest's lower slopes.Recreation Touring the Sequoia National Monument is the area's most popular activity. Hikers enjoy the Trail of a Hundred Giants as it wanders through the ong Meadow Giant Sequoia Grove. Other points of interest within the sourthern se

Book on Recreation.gov