Fairy Falls Trail to Shingle/Beale Falls
Penn Valley, California
Details
Distance
4.87 miles
Elevation Gain
535 ft
Route Type
Loop
Description
Added by The Outbound Collective
This a pretty hike in the Central Valley foothills that ends with views of the upper and lower Shingle Falls (Also called Fairy Falls).
Start at the Fairy Falls trailhead in Spenceville Wildlife Area Field Trial Grounds in Penn Valley (careful on the bumpy roads in). From the parking lot, cross a small bridge and make a right onto a dirt road. After about a mile you will follow the road to the right and continue through the gate. There will be a few signs to guide you along the way. Continue following the path, past a cattle guard, until you come to a spot where three trails split from the main road. There are signs to guide you, but you can take any of the trails to get to the falls as they form a loop. The one on the left takes you to the upper falls first, the middle goes to the lower falls, and the path on the right will take you along the river first. There is a short fence on the edge of the upper falls but there is river access along the path as well. There are plenty of great spots by the water to stop for a picnic too! The trail winds through grassy hills where there are plenty of cattle grazing so watch out for cow pies along the way. This trail is best to hike in the spring when the temperatures are cooler, wildflowers are blooming, and there is a lot of water at the falls.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Fairy Falls Trail to Shingle/Beale Falls Reviews
Too bad that there’s no restroom over there.
2.0
This was well worth getting up early for. Beat the crowd. Gorgeous weather, no crowds, bright sunny and peacefully quiet. Nice wide path, very little climb until the very end near the falls. Quite a bit of military history here I'd like to read up on.
5.0
Steady long hike that ends with a little uphill push. In summer months, May to September make sure to go early, the day gets hot fast. Pack in a picnic. Great adventure for kids and adults.
4.0
Nice short hike, some elevation, not much, nice and cool in January.
3.0
We went on New Year's Day, took about 2 hours total. The view at the end is amazing!
5.0
This place is absolutely beautiful, peacefully quiet and worth the hike if you're up for it. For me, the body aches will be killing me and my feet are screaming in pain right now as I just did this hike earlier today. The waterfalls/swimming holes are very serene like but getting there will take some time but it's worth it. I would do this hike again - if I can. Lol
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Photograph a Sunset on Wolf Mountain
Seven Pools Loop & Vista Canyon
Coon Creek and Hidden Falls Loop
Visit the Bridgeport Covered Bridge
Hike to the Jumping Rock on the Bear River
Hike the Independence Trail
Community
Mobile Apps
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy