Mossbrae Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mossbrae Falls |
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 Mossbrae Falls
Location in California
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| Location | Dunsmuir, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°14′30″N 122°16′01″W / 41.2415426°N 122.2669528°W |
| Type | Segmented Horsetails |
| Elevation | 2,529 feet (771 m) |
| Total height | 52 feet (16 m) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
| Average width | 175 feet (53 m) |
| Average flow rate |
20.0 cfs (1 cms) |
Mossbrae Falls is a beautiful waterfall that flows into the Sacramento River. You can find it in the Shasta Cascade area, near Dunsmuir, California. The falls are just south of a place called Shasta Springs.
Getting to the falls often means walking along Union Pacific Railroad tracks. This path is about one mile long. The city of Dunsmuir is working hard to create a safe hiking trail. This new trail will include a bridge over the river. Even famous people like former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush have visited Mossbrae Falls to see its beauty.
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What Makes Mossbrae Falls Special?
Mossbrae Falls is one of California's most amazing waterfalls. It is about 50 feet (15 meters) tall and 175 feet (53 meters) wide. The falls are fed by natural springs that flow down the canyon wall. These springs create many different streams of water. They all tumble into the Sacramento River below.
Two of these waterfall streams are especially large. The entire waterfall is actually longer than 52 feet (16 meters). However, you cannot see the very top parts. They are hidden by plants and trees covering the mountainside. The bottom 50 feet (15 meters) of the falls plunge straight into the river.
Where Does the Name "Mossbrae" Come From?
The waterfall gets its name from two things. First, there is a lot of moss growing on the hillside. Second, the word brae is used. In Irish and Scots, brae means "a steep bank or hillside." So, "Mossbrae" means a mossy, steep hillside.
How to Visit Mossbrae Falls Safely
The main path to Mossbrae Falls from Dunsmuir is currently along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. This walk is about 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers) long. The waterfall appears on your right side. It is just before a railroad trestle that crosses the river.
It is important to know that the railroad line runs through a narrow cut. In some spots, there is very little room to move away from a train. Because of safety concerns, the city of Dunsmuir closed an illegal parking area in 2011.
The city is building a safer path. This new path will be an extension of the Hedge Creek Falls trail. It will include a pedestrian bridge about 1,800 feet (549 meters) from the falls. However, the city needs permission from Union Pacific to finish this safe route.
Other ways to reach the falls include using the Mineral Spring Trail or Angel Trail. These trails are on private property owned by the Saint Germain Foundation. You can also go white water rafting from Box Canyon Dam to see the falls from the river.
Images for kids
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All sections of the waterfalls
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Other waterfalls in the vicinity
