Legend of the falls

Sunset, August, 1998 by Christine Colasurdo

61 Mist Trail, Yosemite National Park, California. You'll huff and puff along this steep 7-mile loop, but it's worth the sight and sound of the Merced River as it drops 317 feet at Vernal Fall and an awesome 594 feet at Nevada Fall. WHERE: The trail starts at Happy Isles (shuttle stop 16) in Yosemite National Park. WHEN: Closed by heavy snow. COST: Park fee $20 per vehicle. CONTACT: (209) 372-0200.

62 Havasu Canyon trail, Havasupai Reservation, Arizona. Only 35 air miles from Grand Canyon Village flows one of the most dramatic series of waterfalls in the West. Havasu Creek tumbles over three limestone cliffs - 75-foot-high Navajo, 100-foot-high Havasu, and 196-foot-high Mooney. The trail totals 8 miles one-way to the bottom of the canyon. Camping, lodging, and use of the trail all require reservations with the Havasupai people. WHERE: Haulapai Hilltop, about 150 miles northeast of Kingman. WHEN: Open year-round. COST: $15 per person to enter the reservation. CONTACT: (520) 448-2111.

63 Trail of Ten Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon. Oregon's largest state park boasts 10 waterfalls, half of them higher than 100 feet. This 7-mile loop takes you past all of them. WHERE: 26 miles east of Salem on State 214. WHEN: Open year-round. COST: Day-use $3 per vehicle. CONTACT: (503) 873-8681.

64 Della Falls Trail, Strathcona Provincial Park,Vancouver Island, B.C. This 10-mile (one-way!) hike takes you into Vancouver Island's largest park to end at Canada's highest water-fall: 1,440-foot Della Falls. The trailhead is accessed only by boat or floatplane. WHERE: The tip of Great Central Lake, on the southern edge of the park. WHEN: Closed by snow in winter. COST: 29-mile boat ride to the trailhead $85 (Canadian) round trip (Ark Expeditions, 250/723-2657). CONTACT: (250) 337-2400.

65 Lewis River Trail, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington. Hundreds of waterfalls grace the Gifford Pinchot. For an easy hike to see three of the most spectacular, pick up the Lewis River Trail (number 31) at Lower Falls and hike 1.5 miles upstream to Middle Falls, then another 1.5 to Upper Falls. WHERE: 85 miles northeast of Vancouver, WA; 35 miles east of Cougar on F.R. 90. WHEN: Seasonal, usually June through October. COST: Day-use $3 per vehicle. CONTACT: (360) 891-5001.

66 Pipiwai Trail, Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii. In the foothills of Haleakala volcano, Palikea Stream drops pool by pool to the ocean. Most people bathe in the lower pools, but a 2-mile trail upstream offers hikers bamboo forests and two waterfalls. WHERE: Ranger station on the southeast edge of the park, 10 miles south of Hana on State 31. WHEN: Year-round. COST: Free. CONTACT: (808) 572-4400.

67 Skyline to the Sea Trail, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California. A 5-mile section of this 34-mile route through redwoods brings you to Berry Creek Falls, a 75-foot-high cataract in the Santa Cruz Mountains southwest of San Jose. A little farther upstream flow Silver Falls and Golden Falls. Camp at Sunset Camp if the 10-mile loop seems too long to do in one day. WHERE: Park headquarters, 9 miles northwest of Boulder Creek on State 236. WHEN: Open year-round, but call for trail conditions. COST: Day-use $6 per vehicle. CONTACT: (408) 338-8860.

68 Elowah Falls trail, John Yeon State Park, Oregon. Winter storms wreaked havoc on the Columbia River Gorge's most popular trails, Multnomah Falls and Eagle Creek, so consider Elowah Falls (number 400) on McCord Creek. Hike 1 easy mile to the lower falls, or at the junction 1/2 mile in, take the more strenuous route to the upper falls. WHERE: 37 miles east of Portland. Take exit 35 off 1-84 to the park. Parking lot is on the east, not well marked. WHEN: Open year-round. COST: Free. CONTACT: (541) 386-2333.