Hiking: It's not all the waterfall at Feather Falls

Worth the drive out Highway 70 to the Plumas National Forest in Butte County, the 410-foot Feather Falls waterfall awaits. But this 9-mile out-and-back trek offers so much more. The trail head offers ample parking. Out on the well-maintained trail, enjoy the super-sized Pacific Madrone trees, the majestic oaks and the variety of pine trees. The restrooms are the only low point on this trail. Stay right at the fork in the trail unless you like strenuous switchbacks. It is shorter in distance but may take you longer due to the level of difficulty. The wide mostly shaded trail would be great any time of year, but in winter and spring the waterfalls are the star. With this winter's heavy snow, we may get an even longer waterfall season. Fray Falls is a lovely cascade with a handsome and sturdy wooden bridge to offer the best views. Be ready for your first glimpse of Bald Rock Dome. You turn a corner on the trail and suddenly this Yosemite-like sight erupts out of the canyon wall. The Bald Rock Pluton as it is known is 2 miles wide. The dome rises 2,000 feet above the Middle Fork of the Feather River in Bald Rock Canyon. Stay right at the next fork near the end of the trail. This is where the difficult trail ties back in to the main trail. As if these were not enough, the trail reaches its halfway point at an observation deck that provides stunning views of Feather Falls and the Middle Fork of the Feather River. The large bench was a great place to have our lunch and take a few dozen pictures. You may notice a narrow trail at the top of the stairs leading to the observation deck. This trail will take you to the top of the falls. On our last visit, the Manzanita was in full bloom and the other wildflowers were just beginning to put on a show. Looking for flowers and butterflies helps me forget the 860-foot climb out of the canyon. The climb is gradual over the 4.5-mile hike out. To get to Feather Falls Trail on the Plumas National Forest, take Highway 70 North toward Oroville. Take the Oro-Dam Road exit. Turn right onto Highway 162 (Oro-Quincy Highway) toward Forbestown. Right on Forbestown Road, left on Lumpkin, left on 21N35y to the trailhead. Mary West is author of the trail guide series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide, a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors and favorite hikes in Northern California's Gold Country and beyond (available on Amazon). West is the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.