Phantom Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phantom Falls |
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Phantom Falls after spring rain, 2017
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 Location in California
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| Location | North Table Mountain (Butte County, California) |
| Coordinates | 39°36′37″N 121°33′38″W / 39.61041°N 121.56063°W |
| Type | Plunge |
| Total height | 130 ft (40 m) |
Phantom Falls, also known as Coal Canyon Falls, is a beautiful waterfall in Coal Canyon near Oroville, California. It's located inside the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve. This amazing waterfall is about 166 feet (50 meters) tall! It flows over the edge of Coal Canyon, right in front of a small cave-like area called a grotto.
At the bottom of the falls, there's a small pool. This pool is home to a special type of California newt called the Coastal Range newt. Phantom Falls is a seasonal waterfall. This means it only flows during the rainy parts of the year, usually from late autumn to early spring. It gets its name, Phantom Falls, because it seems to disappear completely when the dry season arrives!
Finding Phantom Falls
Getting to Phantom Falls is an adventure! There isn't a marked trail directly to the waterfall. However, you can start your hike from a parking lot on Cherokee Road.
- From the parking lot, it's about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) to reach a spot where you can see the waterfall from the edge of Coal Canyon.
- To get to the bottom of the waterfall, you'll need to take a challenging downhill hike.
- Another way to reach the falls is from Coal Canyon Road, which is at the bottom of the canyon. This path is also about 2 miles long. It's often longer and more difficult because the ground is very rocky.
A Look Back: Gold Mining
Behind Phantom Falls, in the grotto, you can find the entrance to an old gold mine. This mine dates back to the time of the California Gold Rush. The Gold Rush was a period in the mid-1800s when many people rushed to California hoping to find gold.
Today, there's no gold left in this mine. However, scientists still use the mineshaft for research. It can be tricky to get inside the mineshaft, but it's not against the rules to enter.
