By Tanner Call
Feather Falls in Oroville, California is one of the most beautiful sights in Butte County. It’s a long but simple hike that ends with the most fulfilling sight. Between the hike itself, the view of the falls, and the wooden plank swing that hangs over the creek at the top of the falls, this hike is one of a kind.
From the parking lot where the Feather Falls Trailhead begins, the hike is about eight miles round trip. Although the hike is long it’s very simple and the trail is well paved making it quite the task to get lost. On the way there you’ll pass over a couple of small bridges that go over a creek. One of the most enjoyable parts of the hike is the trees. The trees create a tunnel for the majority of the hike, but the coolest aspect is the smooth red bark covering a lot of them.
Once you’re at the point where you can see and hear the falls, there are two options to continue the hike. There is a sign that points you in the direction of a lookout spot that’s across from the falls, and there’s a trail to the right of it that leads you to the actual water fall. I recommend doing both, but follow the trail to the water fall first. Arriving to the creek that sits atop the falls you’ll see a gate at the edge where you walk into an enclosed space and stand directly next to the edge of the cliff. Be very careful as one slip venturing to the gate could send you down the last water slide of your life.
Standing next to the falls is exhilarating. The view around you is incredible from the creek that leads to the falls, the drop from the edge of the cliff, to the gorgeous valley the water continues to flow down into. Feather Falls is a must see.
Take A Hike 