5.5   Mountain View Falls

 Location: San Rafael, Marin County
Height: ~70 ft.
Access:   car   dog  
Distance: n/a
Elevation: 350 ft.
Season: Dec-May
Difficulty: easy hike
Lat/Long:37.99277, -122.50821
Directions:From Hwy 101 in San Rafael, take the main downtown exit. Go to 4th St. and turn east. Drive 0.1 miles to Grand Ave. and turn left (north). Drive 0.7 miles (just past Dominican College) to Mountain View Ave. Turn right and drive 0.9 miles to the end of the road, and park.   Click to view map of Mountain View Falls hike

Mountain View Falls, aka Black Canyon Falls, is located in the unlikely location in the heart of San Rafael. It is not a spectacular waterfall compared to others in Marin County, but is a tall cascade 70 ft. high, and is very easy to reach. But you will want to be sure to come here soon after a winter rain, as it is located on a small creek.

Drive to the end of Mountain View Avenue (past Dominican College) and park at the end of the road. You will be able to easily see the waterfall as you drive up Mountain View Ave. Walk up the path (between two houses) to reach the falls. It is also possible to climb up to the top of the waterfall if you are careful, as long as the slopes are not slippery.

There is another small 20 ft. cascade on a neighbouring creek at the end of Mountain View. At the parking area at the end of Mountain View Ave., walk up the path through the yellow gated area. After a short walk, you will see the cascade if the creek has any water in it. I did not think it worth taking a picture, but it might be nicer if the creek is full (which would be a rarity).

Zoom out on map to see all nearby waterfalls:

Other waterfalls nearby:
Pacheco Creek Falls 4.64 miles
Dawn Falls 4.70 miles
Warner Falls 5.44 miles
Loma Alta Falls 5.63 miles
Cascade Falls 6.10 miles
Cascade Falls 6.31 miles
Arroyo San Jose Falls 6.54 miles
Carson Falls 7.41 miles
Cataract Falls 7.95 miles
Steep Ravine Falls 8.59 miles
Morses Gulch Falls 9.54 miles
Stairstep Falls 11.70 miles
Alamere Falls 14.85 miles
Phantom Falls 15.50 miles
Abrigo Falls 19.17 miles
Devils Well 25.83 miles
Silver Creek Falls 27.97 miles
Brooks Falls 29.20 miles
Milliken Canyon Falls 29.78 miles

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