Leon Turnbull Photography

What is this on the horizon? A large cloud cover came in overhead blocking out the sun and it looked like it would stick around for awhile. Maybe I should try going to the bottom of Beatson Falls after all. Should I? I should indeed!

Getting down to the creek below Beatson Falls was much easier than expected. From there I was a mile or so below the waterfall and there was a good path going up the creek. I was feeling optimistic. However, I think perhaps it was just a cow path and before too long it disappeared. The poison oak came out in full force. I tried to continue up along the creek, avoiding the oak as best I could. This was not working. I was still more than half a mile away and the oak was now insurmountable. I have never seen this much poison oak. Seriously. There is no way in you-know-what that I was going to beat my way through all this oak for a half mile.

I decided to try something else. I would wade straight up through the middle of the creek to the falls. I was smart to bring my water shoes (I had considered not bringing them), so I put them on and left my hiking boots along the creekside. Hopefully the cows would not steal them.

There were obstacles galore. Fallen trees across the creek that I had to maneuver around (which meant going through the poison oak). Deep pools that I had to get around (again, via the oak). Rocks that I had to climb over. Wading through spots up to my waist. In some places the creek was rushing quite fast making it difficult to navigate upstream. Climbing across loose rocks on steep terrain. It took a long time. Now the sun was back out. I was still not to the waterfall yet. This is not worth it! That is what I was thinking pretty much the entire time. It is just not worth the effort to get to the bottom of Beatson Falls. Should I turn back? I continued on. I figured I should at least get to the end so I can say I’ve done it. I was sure I would not be back here ever again.

Finally, I could see the waterfall. Lo and behold, it was still in the shade. It is a miracle! I did not think it would still be in shade, especially the top part of it. The last part to get down to the bottom was steep and dangerous and for this I did use my rope for safety. I made it down. Now I had another problem.

It was so incredibly misty! Beatson Falls drops 100 ft. into a small amphitheater with towering cliffs on each side. It is a stunning place but there was absolutely no place out of the mist to photograph the waterfall on either side of the creek. It was incredible. The falling water created a strong wind that was blowing the mist everywhere. Essentially, it was raining on me the entire time and I was cold and shivering by the end. I tried to photograph the waterfall as best I could. At least I got something decent.

Now it was time to leave and get warmed up as I hiked back down the creek. Do I still think it was not worth the effort to go down to the bottom of Beatson? Hiking back down the creek seemed to be a lot easier now that I knew exactly where to go and I made it in pretty good time back to the spot where I had left my boots (the cows did not take them!). It was very tough but I would not say NO to going back there, however I think I would do it with less flow in the creek. It was only at a medium flow when I was here but I think a low flow would be a lot better.

There were quite a few people around when I got back to the Beatson Falls viewpoint. (again, I’ve never seen anyone at Beatson Falls before). However, when I got back to Hollow Falls, there were literally hundreds of people on this stretch from Hollow Falls back to the parking lot. The parking lot was completely packed and cars were parked all the way down the road. Table Mountain is at over capacity. This is really bad, actually. Firstly (and worst), with all the people going onto Table Mountain there is now a lot of litter. I had to pick up quite a bit. Secondly, people are trampling all over the wildflowers. That is not ok. If one or two do this it is not so bad, but if (literally) hundreds of people do it? Thirdly, I saw a lot of people going off into private property. This area is not all public land but these people do not care about going off into other people’s property and trampling all over it. Fourthly, there is a fee to go here. Did all these hundreds of people pay the fee? I doubt it. In my opinion, it would be a good thing if they had an attendant here (on the weekends) making sure everyone has paid their fee and to limit the amount of people. Otherwise they are going to be forced to close Table Mountain to everyone. (I can already see this happening – and this would be so incredibly upsetting).

Anyway, it was a very grand adventure to the bottom of Beatson Falls on Table Mountain in Oroville.