Once you know how to get there, this is a great trail! (See “How to get there” below.) This is a very popular trail, and it’s easy to see why. Everyone loves to head to the water in the summer, especially a waterfall, and even more so to a waterfall that has natural pools you can swim in!

How to get there: Take US-50, exit Ice House Road and go north for about 16 miles. Make sure to take the turn to the right to stay on Ice House at just over 1/2 a mile from the freeway. The next part is key – after going over a bridge at about 16 miles (there’s no sign letting you know the name of the bridge),  look for Big Silver Group Campground on your left (see photo below – you’ll have passed another campground earlier, so make sure you get the name right!), and make an immediate turn to your right onto an unmarked road. There will be a fork in the road – go left to take a shorter trail (we didn’t go down that road), or straight/right to get to the trailhead  for a 4 mile hike to the falls. You’ll get to what looks almost like a dead end and can park here and walk down to the trailhead. (If it’s still there, you’ll see the sign in the photo below.) However, if you have 4WD, follow the sign down a short road down to get closer to the trailhead. Do not attempt this if you have a low suspension vehicle – there was no way I was going to try in our minivan. I promise this is all easier than it sounds, but I would not rely on GPS to get you there.

Big Silver Group Campground

Bassi Falls Hiking Trail Sign

Why we love it: It’s a WATERFALL! That’s usually plenty enough motivation for my family. I appreciated the clear trail markers along the way, the many points you can get to the water, and that it was enough of a hike to feel like you accomplished something, but not so hard kids can’t do it.

The Trailhead

Great trail markers!

At the top of lower Bassi Falls

For the Young Ones (0-10): I took my seven year-old son and wore my 8 week-old daughter, and had a friend with her eight year-old son and four year-old daughter. Honestly, I’m extremely impressed the four year-old hiked the entire thing (including walking and playing all over/around the falls). When you get to the water, just keep going down the trail to find an accessible point. For some, just getting to the lower falls will be plenty of enough for one trip. There are some shallow spots they can splash in, so it doesn’t hurt to bring swimsuits and water shoes

For the Big Kids (10+): Adventurous big kids will enjoy scrambling over rocks and swimming in deeper pools. I’ve read you can also scramble up the rocks to the top of the upper falls, but since I didn’t do this I’m not sure how dangerous it is.

Keep in Mind:

• There are no lifeguards at the water. Proceed at your own risk and watch children closely.
• There are no bathrooms so be prepared!
• At the bottom of the lower falls we encountered lots of big black ants. We didn’t see them at the top of the lower falls or the upper falls.
• When you get to the upper falls and cross the rocks to get to the water, it is easy to lose sight of where the trail came out onto the rocks. We actually started back on a trail that wasn’t the official trail, so make sure to do something to help you remember.

Around the Area: We saw campgrounds, a camping resort, and maybe a little store (?) along the road to the trailhead.

Difficulty Level: Moderate.