Seeing places that we have never seen before motivates most of us to get out and explore, to see the hidden waterfall along the Sweetwater Creek will require more effort than just a ride. This waterfall is hidden beneath some gigantic boulders that form kind of a grotto around the falls and hide them inside and underneath the boulders. Getting to the falls requires a ride for 45 minutes and hiking a short distance over some boulders and down to the creek, but the effort is worth it, it is a most unusual place that very few people visit, I know you will be surprised and enjoy it.
To get to the falls park your rig in the Merigan Staging area and head out on the Merigan fire Road north to the Secret Meadow we spoke of in an earlier article. The first way into the falls area is to ride to the very north side of the Secret Meadow where the creek first enters the open area and find a place to tie your horses. From here you will have to continue on foot as the way in is over a bedrock streambed and very slippery for horses, this approach requires more hiking, but is the easiest. Another way is to reach the Sweetwater Trail turn off, take this left and work your way along this meandering path for about a half mile. As you go you will notice a canyon off to the left, this is where the Hidden falls can be found. To get there is a little tricky, as there is an old trail that drops off to the left and down the hill but is a little difficult to maneuver, and to find in the first place. This is not an official trail. If you try this route, at the bottom you will find some nice areas to tie your horses while you follow the creek to the falls area, as it lies up stream from where you first crossed the creek. Notice the granite streambed along the creek for some distance, this is a fun place to play in the water or lie in the sun, it would also work as a great place to spend the night or just have lunch. As you explore the area, you will have to dig around a little to find the falls, it will be off to the left of the big cavern you come to first. The cavern is almost a cave and makes finding the falls an easier encounter.
Another way to reach the falls is to continue north on the Sweetwater Trail until it drops down hill and reaches the creek bed, at this point, stop and find somewhere to tie your horses. There are plenty of trees in the area and flat spots that are small, just remember to be a good user and save the trees, keep your horses from digging around them. Put them in the more sandy areas and run a line between the trees so you don't tie directly to the tree. Exploring the area can consume more time than you realize. From here the falls are down stream and you will need to climb over the rocks and down the boulders the best way you can. There is no trail and the way is difficult so be careful. You will see why the falls has only a few visitors.
To complete this adventure you can just turn around and use them same way home as you did to get here, or you can make a loop out of the ride and head north on the Sweetwater trail to the South Boundary road and take a left where it crosses the creek and follow it to the top of the hill past the glacier type rock and to the junction of the California Hiding and Hiking Trail, here go left for about a half mile and left again when you reach the Saddle Back Trail or Wetback as it used to be called, and continue to the bottom of the hill and the Secret Meadow again; junction with the trails south and back to
the Merigan Staging area.
This is a nice two to three hour ride without a visit to the falls; plan at least another hour if you want to find the falls. There are a lot of wild onions growing along the streambed in this area. Be sure to identify them correctly, long stem and a purple flower.
The hidden falls and granite streambed are great places to enjoy soaking up some of that California Sun and very private at that, use discretion as this area has been enjoyed by different kinds of sunbathers. This is a great place to visit anytime, but is usually best in the spring when the water flow is strong. Trout will accumulate in the small ponds that form in the Granite bedrock, they are not too big but they are tasty. Each year in spring they are planted upstream near the Sweetwater Bridge area and will flow all the way to Loveland reservoir. Bring your pole.
