Photo credit: Mary West "...Today’s trek is the 1.5-mile Codfish Falls Trail (1.7-miles if you count the walk from the parking area to the sign). I enjoyed the change of season while making the drive down to the Ponderosa Bridge in the Auburn State Recreation Area from the Interstate 80 side. Walking among the trees and vines filled with red and yellow leaves was calming. The sights and sounds along with cooler temperatures made it easy to linger on the trail.
The toughest part of this 1.7 mile trail is getting to the trailhead. The Ponderosa Bridge is at the bottom of Ponderosa Way at the American River. It is here you will find the parking area and trailhead. You can get there with a high profile vehicle from Foresthill Road at Ponderosa Way. The longer but slightly easier road my low-profile Subaru can traverse is off Interstate 80. Take the West Paoli exit and stay to the right to Ponderosa Way. Take a right on Ponderosa Way. Follow the winding dirt road three miles all the way down to the bridge. With winter rain, erosion of the road continues. Be cautious. This road can washout.
At the bridge you find two chemical toilets. The trailhead is directly behind them. The trail follows the river most of the way. There is a rock outcropping you will need to navigate in the beginning but it’s not too tough. Areas of the trail are narrow and eroding. Wear sturdy shoes and pay attention. A nice new picnic table has been placed, probably by Eric Peach, in a wide spot about half way. The table provides a nice shaded respite from the trail in summer.
You hear the falls long before you see them. Once you arrive your ears and eyes draw you up to the top of the falls. Taking in the cascading water, your eyes will slowly draw you the length of the first fall. Don’t stop here. Notice the series of falls below. The pools of runoff are trimmed in lush vegetation. There is a boulder, halfway down the falls, perfectly placed for a picnic. On my most recent visit, I sat quietly and listened to the running water, the falling rain, the birds calling and the sound of my own breathing; glorious.
To read the original article and see additional photos by Mary West, CLICK HERE
The toughest part of this 1.7 mile trail is getting to the trailhead. The Ponderosa Bridge is at the bottom of Ponderosa Way at the American River. It is here you will find the parking area and trailhead. You can get there with a high profile vehicle from Foresthill Road at Ponderosa Way. The longer but slightly easier road my low-profile Subaru can traverse is off Interstate 80. Take the West Paoli exit and stay to the right to Ponderosa Way. Take a right on Ponderosa Way. Follow the winding dirt road three miles all the way down to the bridge. With winter rain, erosion of the road continues. Be cautious. This road can washout.
At the bridge you find two chemical toilets. The trailhead is directly behind them. The trail follows the river most of the way. There is a rock outcropping you will need to navigate in the beginning but it’s not too tough. Areas of the trail are narrow and eroding. Wear sturdy shoes and pay attention. A nice new picnic table has been placed, probably by Eric Peach, in a wide spot about half way. The table provides a nice shaded respite from the trail in summer.
You hear the falls long before you see them. Once you arrive your ears and eyes draw you up to the top of the falls. Taking in the cascading water, your eyes will slowly draw you the length of the first fall. Don’t stop here. Notice the series of falls below. The pools of runoff are trimmed in lush vegetation. There is a boulder, halfway down the falls, perfectly placed for a picnic. On my most recent visit, I sat quietly and listened to the running water, the falling rain, the birds calling and the sound of my own breathing; glorious.
To read the original article and see additional photos by Mary West, CLICK HERE
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