Cataract Falls are located 1.75 miles from the Rock Spring Trailhead in Mt Tamalpais State Park. The trail follows Cataract Creek to a series of falls along its path, and continues on to the redwood-lined shores of Alpine Lake. This popular trail features diverse ecology, numerous cascades, and fishing at Alpine Lake. Winter visitors will see Cataract Creek at its liveliest, while spring-summer visitors will enjoy green trailsides, an array of wildflowers and more stable trail conditions.

The Cataract Trail starts from the Rock Springs Trailhead in Mt Tamalpais State Park

'Cataract' is defined as a steep waterfall, especially one of considerable size

The trail ends at Alpine Lake - a large working reservoir fed by Cataract Falls

Waterfalls of all sizes make up Cataract Falls

The trail winds through tall grass meadows before entering the forest

Deep pools form at the base of most waterfalls along the way to Alpine Lake

A lizard catching afternoon sun on a rock adjacent to the Cataract Trail

A 'cataract' is defined as a large cascade of water

Alpine Lake - nestled on the north slope of Mount Tamalpais is one of four watershed lakes providing water to the area

The sun shimmers off the green pools of Cataract Falls

This broad cascade is well-known on the Cataract Trail

The Cataract Trail has Jurassic-type scenery with broad ferns and young trees bending to find sunlight