Lewis Creek Trail: A Local’s Guide to Corlieu and Red Rock Falls
Even longtime visitors to Yosemite are surprised to learn that some fantastic waterfalls can be found outside the park, in the Sierra National Forest. Lewis Creek is fed by the Merced River system and flows out of the mountains through Sugar Pine, a historic community of cozy cabins. Along the way, the creek drops over two uniquely spectacular waterfalls, Corlieu Falls and Red Rock Falls. The Lewis Creek Trail is well-marked, nicely wooded, and sits entirely on Sierra National Forest land. There’s no park entrance fee, no entrance line to deal with, and no shuttle to catch. Just drive up, park, and go!
Aside from the beautiful scenery, there’s also some very interesting history surrounding the Lewis Creek Trail. Here’s the full picture: how the trail came to be, what to expect at each waterfall, where to swim, where to park, and when to go. If you find this info helpful, be sure to check out the other posts in our series covering Local Trails & Sierra Adventures.
A Short History of the Lewis Creek Trail
Lewis Creek Trail follows the route of an old lumber flume built by the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company, which used to float milled lumber more than 50 miles down to the town of Madera. Some remnants are still visible along the way if you know where to look. It’s a reminder that this stretch of the Sierra was working forest long before it was a hiking trail. The community of Sugar Pine was initially founded as a logging settlement in the earliest days of the 20th century.
Two Waterfalls, One Trail
Corlieu Falls is the closer of the two waterfall destinations from the main parking area off Highway 41. It’s a series of cascades dropping roughly 80 feet through a narrow canyon, reachable via a 15 to 30 minute round trip from the trailhead. It’s a short walk with one steep stretch near the bottom of the falls. And if you want to access the pool directly below the falls, you’ll need to navigate the installed guide ropes that help you keep your balance. It’s worth the effort as swimming here, while chilly at times, is refreshing and memorable. You may even find a few ripe blackberries awaiting you at the bottom, if you time your trip just right.
There’s also a viewing platform now, which makes it possible to get a clear look at the falls without scrambling all the way down the slope to the base of Corlieu Falls.
Red Rock Falls is a bit more of a trek. It’s a 3-mile round trip that follows Lewis Creek upstream (to the north) through ferns, mossy rock, and a mix of evergreens and dogwoods that gives the canyon a distinctly northwestern feel in spring. The falls themselves are shorter than Corlieu’s at only about 20 feet high, but the creek is much wider here and Red Rock Falls offers more swimming options. Budget 1 to 2 hours and take extra precautions if you dare to swim in the enticing rock pools above the falls.
If you only have a short window of time, Corlieu is probably the better pick, but if you want a solid morning hike with a big payoff at the end, go for Red Rock.
Finding the Trailhead
The trailhead is directly off Highway 41, about 7 miles south of Yosemite’s South Entrance and roughly 7.5 miles north of the intersection of Highways 41 and 49 in Oakhurst. There’s a paved lot that holds roughly 25 cars, plus an overflow area just to the south, and a portable toilet at the trailhead. This hike has gotten more popular in recent years as an outside-the-park alternative, and both the lot and overflow can fill by mid-morning on weekends. An early start gets you an easier parking spot.
About a hundred meters in, the trail forks. Go left (upstream) for Red Rock Falls, or right (downstream) for Corlieu Falls.
🌲 Host Insider Tip
If you’re staying at a rental cabin in Sugar Pine rather than driving in for the day, you can easily jump on the north end of the trail. There’s a short path right at the entrance to the Sugar Pine community that takes you up to the trailhead.
It’s really nice to walk out your front door and hike south to Red Rock and then onwards to Corlieu Falls without ever having to get in your car. Over the years, this has proven to be one of our guests’ favorite reasons to stay at Boom Chalet.
What to Know Before You Go
In our estimation, late spring and early summer are the best seasons to hike this trail, but it’s beautiful year round. Lewis Creek generally runs fastest April through June, fed by high country snowmelt. This puts both falls at their most dramatic and usually coincides with peak wildflower blooms as well. That said, we also love July and August because hot days motivate us to seek out the very best swimming holes, including the one that’s sometimes lined with juicy blackberries at the base of Corlieu Falls.
Fall is also unique in its own way. The crowds are gone and some of the trees turn a brilliant mix of reds and yellows. All the while, Lewis Creek still flows. And winter can be wonderful too if you’re prepared for rain, snow, and everything in between!
If you’re going, there are a few practical aspects worth considering. Mosquitoes can be a real presence near the creek, especially earlier in the season, so bring repellent. There are sometimes patches of poison oak along the Corlieu Falls section specifically, so it’s worth looking closely before you step off-trail for a photo. Dogs are welcome here on leash, which is a nice change of pace if you’re used to Yosemite’s much stricter no-dogs-on-trails policy.
Lewis Creek Trail is the rare Sierra hike that offers photo-worthy waterfalls, true convenience, and plenty of history without a park entrance fee. It’s worth a stop whether you’re headed into Yosemite or just passing through Oakhurst.
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