By Tanner Call
Lassen National Forest is nearly a forty minute drive from Downtown Chico. The forest is home to a number of creeks and falls, including the small but mighty Deer Creek Falls.
If you’re driving from Chico, highway 32 will take you the entire way to the falls. On the side of the curvy road is a sign and small area to pull off and park your car. You can practically see the water fall from the road, and you can certainly hear it roar, as theirs no mistaking the sound of its powerful presence. If you’re hard of hearing however, there is a short trail from the road that will guide you down to the water.
The creek is no more than fifty yards from the road, so calling it a hike would be extremely generous. However, there is plenty of room to explore around the creek. Above the waterfall the creek is wide but very shallow. There’s an abundance of rocks peaking just above the surface of the water, creating stepping stones for you to go up and down the creek through the middle of the stream.
If walking on water isn’t fulfilling enough, the way the rocks wrap around the bottom of the waterfall sets up for some fun free climbing. The bottom of the falls holds a decent pool of water that I would imagine during the summer time could be a great spot for swimming. I’ve only been during colder times of the year so dipping a toe in the water was as much as one could bare.
As beautiful as the entire Deer Creek is, long and majestic, it all seems so inferior to one specific spot. Deer Creek Falls is simple, easy to find, easy to access, but difficult to leave. Visit Deer Creek Falls when you have a significant amount of time to hang out, because you won’t want to leave.
Take A Hike 