DUNSMUIR, Calif. — Drive through the little railroad town of Dunsmuir and you’ll find an old bandit hideout behind a waterfall. It's known as Hedge Creek Falls and you'll find it right off the I-5 Dunsmuir exit, just look for a free running water fountain.
Dunsmuir is known for having some of the best water in the world. The water is so good it's bottled up at the Castle Rock Water Company next to the trailhead.
No need for a map or hiking equipment; you can hear Hedge Creek Falls from the parking lot. It’s a short walk, just .2 miles.
The closer you get, the more impressive the geology becomes. Standing at 35-feet tall, Hedge Creek Falls is at the southernmost edge of the pre-Pleistocene lava flow, which came from Mount Shasta.
The unique shape of this rock canyon where the waterfall starts is a result of thousands of years of erosion. Little bits of water make their way into the basaltic rock, freezing and cracking to create the beautiful waterfall.
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Of course, one of the most unique features is the ability to walk behind the waterfall to the cave behind it. The cave was once a hideout for the Wild West’s most infamous characters, Black Bart aka Charles Boles.
The gentleman outlaw was known for robbing stagecoaches in the 1800s. He rarely hurt anyone and left poetic notes behind. Hedge Creek Falls was his hideout for years.
The sound of the freeway does take away from some of the tranquility of the falls, but the noise could have been much louder. Hedge Creek Falls earned the nickname ‘Million Dollar Falls." I-5 was actually supposed to be built over the falls, but locals complained enough the freeway was re-routed and it cost a million dollars to do it.
Hedge Creek can get a little crowded, but there is plenty of room to get that perfect picture. It’s worth a stop.
MORE WATERY FUN ON THE BACKROADS: Top five 'must see' waterfalls in Yosemite National Park.
