Mossbrae Falls

 

One of the most beautiful waterfalls in California. There are numerous layers of water that come from this spring-fed waterfall. Note: This trail is on confidential property. It has been a tourist attraction since railroad tracks were built along the river canyon. Visitors arrived by riding the train to Shasta Springs or strolling the rail tracks from Dunsmuir. As the number of hikers and train traffic has expanded over time, it has become a rising issue for locals and visitors. The Dunsmuir City Council overwhelmingly voted, on November 2nd, 2017, to present a proposal to important property owners to create a route.

Where Is Mossbrae Falls?

272 miles (4 hours, 17 minutes) from San Francisco to Mossbrae Falls

56 miles (56 minutes) from Redding to Mossbrae Falls

214 miles (3 hours, 20 minutes) from Sacramento to Mossbrae Falls

Mossbrae Falls is a waterfall in the Shasta Cascades region of Dunsmuir, California, that flows into the Sacramento River. The falls are located just south of Shasta Springs' lower part. A mile-long hiking route on the Union Pacific Railroad leads to the falls. This is one of California's most beautiful waterfalls. The falls, which are around 50 feet (15 meters) high and 150 feet (46 meters) wide, are fed by springs that run down the canyon wall and into the Sacramento River, producing the illusion of multiple waterfall streams cascading into the river. The whole length of the falls is more than 50 feet (15 meters), however the top cascades are obscured by the foliage that blankets the slope. The lowest 50 feet (15 meters) is a direct drop into the river. The falls are largely composed of two big outfalls. Both are shown here, with lesser drops in between. The route to the falls is narrow in spots and runs beside the Union Pacific train rails. The waterfall lies immediately to the right, just before a nearby railroad viaduct that crosses the river.
NOTE: Despite the fact that tourists and road trippers visit this location, there were signs put in 2011 addressing closures in this region, so pay heed to the cautions and probable trail closure signs.

Is Mossbrae Falls Open

The short answer is that these falls are not currently open to the public. In 2018, local law police began following hikers more forcefully. Do you want to know how to get to it legally? There isn't one at the moment, but law enforcement is working on one nearby. Those who left their vehicles parked in the Shasta Retreat, a tiny cabin hideaway along the Sacramento River, will also be cited. The cascade is fed by the same water source that Dunsmuir gets from a spring above the cascades. This Falls, however, remains off-limits for two reasons: first, getting there entails walking into private property that does not belong to the City of Dunsmuir; second, Union Pacific is concerned about the safety of persons who walk alongside running trains. The City of Dunsmuir is actively pursuing property, easements, and other legal agreements in order to enable public access. They have previously been led by a variety of local politicians, including Vice Mayor Craig and Mayor Spurlock. To give the public access, they are cooperating with the Mount Shasta Trail Association. When visitors continue to ignore the Union Pacific and Saint Germain Foundation's wishes, negotiations get even more stalled.

How Does it Appear?

This Falls is one of the most well-known waterfalls in the Mt. Shasta/Dunsmuir region due to its unusual characteristics. To put it gently, this is not your typical waterfall. This Fall, unlike other waterfalls in Northern California, appears to be always pouring with pure mountain water. It's stunning to witness. The Sacramento River is genuinely supplied by the springs that form these Falls and erupt from the rocks above it. It is made up of two primary groupings of spring-fed waterfalls. The look of the river behind the falls enhances one of the most magnificent locations in the Mount Shasta region. The cascades are supplied by many springs and are beautiful at any time of year.

Who is the owner of these Falls?

The Saint Germain Foundation, a secret religious group, controls the river on the east side of the falls. Union Pacific Railroad, which owns the other side, routinely runs trains along the river's tracks. Saint Germain's principal objection against the establishment of any public accessway to Mossbrae is that tourists will spoil the area's wonderful landscape and tranquillity.

Mossbrae Falls Trail

The intended idea was to start the trip from Hedge Creek Falls, then travel down the Sacramento River with a handful of spanned bridges affording views of Mt Shasta. The route would eventually lead to Mossbrae Falls, a 1.5-mile stroll (or three miles round way). However, when we visited five years later, the new path had not yet begun due to protracted discussions. When it came to negotiations, it appears that a private corporation possessing a vital portion of land along the Sacramento River had all of the power. The remainder of the parties involved (the Shasta Association, the municipality of Dunsmuir, and, most crucially, the Union Pacific Railroad) were all pushing for the construction of this new way.

Mossbrae Falls Hike

As a result of the delay, You have to find informal parking near the Shasta Retreat. Then had to travel about 0.4 miles down the Shasta Retreat community's residential roads to the bridge across the Sacramento River beside the railroad tracks. Once on the other side of the bridge, Basically followed the train lines upstream for about a mile. The trek down the rails was uncomfortable since You were constantly afraid that if a train approached us in a spot where there wasn't much room to move, what would you do? There were a few places along the lines when the rails came dangerously near to sheer dropoffs into the Sacramento River. Simultaneously, the opposing side of the rails hugged the slope for practically the whole journey. I climbed this railroad stretch as quickly as I could, continuously listening for train sounds. Of course, given the conflicting noises of the flowing Sacramento River as well as the distant sounds of I-5 traffic, that's not as trustworthy. You would, however, check for vibrations on the rails themselves on a regular basis. You walked on the concrete railroad ties, which were uncomfortably placed about a half-step apart, to speed up our hike. You'd be trudging on piles of blasted rock if you didn't walk on the ties, which would be considerably slower and would definitely demand solid footwear (you each had hiking boots on, so it wasn't an issue). You'd eventually get to a point where the rails approached a railroad Tressel bridge just outside a rather wide area with various railroad relic heaps put away from the tracks. You didn't need to cross the Tressel bridge because there was a reasonably apparent track to the right. It eventually brought us to the Sacramento River's banks, directly across from the Mossbrae Falls moss and water wall. Even on the approach, the first glimpse of the cascade was breathtaking.

Mossbrae Falls Dog Friendly

Lake Siskiyou Trail is a nice, simple stroll around a lake. Dogs are welcome! It's not a park, but rather a hidden treasure off the main road. You'll have to walk a mile or so down the lines, so I'm not sure if you should bring your dog.

Mossbrae Falls Trail Directions

• Park on the road outside the Shasta Retreat on Dunsmuir Ave. There should be lots of street parking! (Some individuals choose to park on Scarlet Way farther up the road to keep their automobile out of sight.)
• Approach the arching sign that says SHASTA. It's going downhill.
• At the bottom of the slope, cross the bridge. The train tracks are located on the bridge's far side.
• Turn right at the railroad tracks and walk for approximately a mile along the rails. Because this is an active track, please be cautious and keep an eye out for trains.
• The falls are on the right side of the second tall bridge. Instead of crossing it, go into the trees. The falls will be heard before you see them.

What To Bring To Mossbrae Falls

The weather at Mossbrae Falls varies greatly. This location may get quite hot in the summer. There is snow in the winter. Check the weather in your area before deciding how to dress!

• water
• sunscreen
• hiking boots
• hiking backpack
• fully charged phone
• Camera (best Mossbrae Falls photography!)
• In the winter, dress for snow
• In the summer, wear light clothing since it gets hot.