Marble Falls

Marble Falls is a chain of cascades on the Marble Fork of the Kaweah, reached by about seven miles of hiking round trip from Potwisha Campground. The trail crosses chaparral and has steep, uneven stretches with little shade. Go for the hike as much as the water; this is a long foothills outing, not a quick pullout.

Begin near campsite 14. Follow the dirt road over the concrete ditch, then pick up the trail climbing the steep bank on the right. The overflow parking lot is across Generals Highway. The path is unpaved and not wheelchair accessible; pets aren't allowed. Carry plenty of water, especially in summer, when the open foothills get very hot. Watch for poison oak, ticks and rattlesnakes.

Spring snowmelt swells foothill streams, and early spring into summer is usually when Marble Falls has its strongest flow. Water drops as snowmelt fades, and some streams can dry by late summer. Spring river water runs swift and cold, so stay out of it during high water.

Several drops break over pale, grooved rock; include the stone around the water in your photo. Marble in Sequoia and Kings Canyon began as limestone transformed by heat and pressure, and the parks together contain more than 270 marble caves.