Beach Waterfall Hike at Alamere Falls

Beautiful hike! Long way: 13 miles Short cut: 8.8 miles What to wear: Long sleeves and pants, hiking shoes or tennis shoes with traction. Gloves for gripping on rocks. Walking sticks. Cap or hat. Snacks and drinks. WetNaps and hand sanitizer. Bathroom: only at the parking lot. There are four outhouse style toilets. There is no running water or sink to wash your hand. Went on Saturday. started our hike at 10 AM and finish by 3 PM with couple of stops to rest and about an hour to take picture and have lunch. We took the shortcut way, but I’m a slow hiker so it still took us four hours. Our friend who have done it round-trip on the shortcut route did it 2 1/2 hours. Parking lot was full by 10 AM so come early. The trail is sort of well-kept. There are different terrains from mud to rock to pebbles to dust and dirt roads. There is a little bit of climb here and there, but nothing too strenuous. Wear long pants and long sleeve shirt because there are ticks and poison oak. If you want to take the shortcut way look out for a bunch of sticks and rocks after the 3rd lake on the right side. The shortcut way is best way to see the three other waterfalls on top of the main waterfall. you can also take the short way back to your car so you don’t miss the upper three waterfalls. If you do decide to take the long way for more hiking, check on the tide schedule. if it’s high tide, you will be stuck by rocks because it’s 1 mile to the waterfall on the beach. The shortcut way is a little bit more adventurous, and a little bit of climbing up and down rocks. If you are going to do the short way, please bring all the suggested gears above. Watch the video that I have up in here that shows you how steep it is to go down to the beach and to the waterfalls. Specially, on a misty day where the mist will actually become like rain and the rocks and sand are slippery. It’s a gorgeous hike and I would do it again on a sunny day. we miss all the ocean view since that day was very foggy. people bring dogs, but you will have to carry your dog if you do the shortcut way because it’s very hard climb for dogs.

This was a fantastic hike! The waterfall at the end is magnificent, and Wildcat beach is also beautiful. It's practically empty too!

Great hike. All Trails rates it as difficult and I would concur. 14 miles at and back with an 1,800 elevation gain and a combination of rack, dirt, mud and sand trails can make this challenging. However, the views and serenity that comes from this place is amazing. I have seen people talk about taking the shortcut which will shave off about 4 miles from the hike. Please don’t. Stay on the main trail to protect the bluffs. There is a rope at the falls that is needed to climb up and down the bluff. The bluffs are crumbling and make it dangerous. I was at the fall for about 30 min and could hear rock falls the entire time. Save this for future generations

My wife and I spent a night at Wildcat campground and walked down to Alamere in the morning. It was summer and the marine layer was thick so we had the place to ourselves. How many places in the world can you camp within a short walk of a waterfall to the beach? All within a couple hours of a major city. Incredible!

Alamere Falls beckons adventurers with its stunning scenery and vibrant wildlife. But before you set out, heed this crucial advice: take the shortcut marked by a tree cave on the left. Ignoring this could lead you through overgrown, muddy trails to Wildcat Camp. We learned the hard way, enduring a challenging 20-kilometer trek with a 550-meter elevation gain. So, opt for the shortcut and save your energy. Despite our detour, the hike to Alamere Falls was epic. After reaching the falls, we relaxed on the beach, soaking in the beauty of our surroundings and trying our hand at fishing, serenaded by the rhythmic sound of crashing waves.