San Carlos Falls Trail
San Carlos waterfall and swimming hole.
The engine protested as I turned to leave Adelup and geared down for the ascent up Nimitz Hill.
It was Memorial Day weekend and the sky was threatening rain, but I would not be deterred from logging a few miles on my favorite trail. Reaching the top of the hill, I pulled my car into a grass parking area flanked by a security fence on one side and a power line suspending an impressive amount of well-worn hiking shoes on the other. Passing beneath the soles of those who came before me, I walked a short distance up Turner Road to the unmarked red-dirt trailhead.
Those who conquer the trails hang their shoes as a trophy of their accomplishment. This powerline hangs across Turner Road directly to the right of the grass parking area.
The San Carlos Falls Trail has been one of my favorites since hiking it for the first time in early 2020. In my opinion, it hits the sweet spots when it comes to length, difficulty, ease of navigation, and scenery.
The trek began on wide jeep paths walled in by wind-bent grass leading southwest into Nimitz Valley. It had rained earlier that morning, leaving the spice colored Akina soil just the right consistency to accumulate on the bottom of my shoes. The first quarter of the trail posed no technical difficulties apart from keeping my feet dry and avoiding the path spanning puddles that flooded the low points. After about 15 minutes, the jeep tracks came to an end, the grass parted, and I was greeted with a spectacular view of the valley and the river basin below.
Turning left, I continued down a trafficless paved road. I avoided the mistake of my first San Carlos hike and consciously walking past the first road on the right, opting for the second. The pavement dove downwards at a steep incline and eventually disappeared, leaving me in the shadow of an electrical tower making an ominous buzzing noise I wasn’t sure it was intended to make.
A shot of the hilltop trail taken on a previous (and sunnier) hike.
From the plateau on which the tower sat, I could see the path ahead. The trail snaked out onto the crest of a hill which extended into the valley before dropping into the jungle. Standing at the peak, I was surrounded by a plunging landscape on three sides. The scenery was gorgeous! There is beauty to be seen at the ocean, there is beauty in the jungle, but if you want to see the beauty of the hills, go to San Carlos.
The picturesque layered hills of the Nimitz Hill Valley
When I’d taken time to appreciate the panorama, I began the steep descent to the river. The initial decline wasn’t terribly technical, but things got tricky when I entered the cover of the palms. The final step to reach the river involved a rope climb, slippery rocks, and a lot of mud! My shoes were muddy, the rope was muddy, the rocks were muddy, and it was very slick. After some delicate climbing and a few ballet moves to keep myself from faceplanting into the muck, I stepped into the basin.
Getting muddy isn’t always fun, but I didn’t question whether it was worth it when I saw the splendor hidden in the valley. It is an immaculate slice of jungle! The gentle flowing water in the river is the clearest I’ve ever seen. The foliage is lush and vibrant green. Soft moss covers the ground giving the whole place a sense of flourishing. Freshwater shrimp, eels, and fish stare up at you as you pass by their pool.
The Lonfit River basin: A pristine jungle awaits climbers at the bottom of a steep rope climb.
If the river was the climax of this hike, I wouldn’t have been disappointed, but I knew that if I walked downstream a few more feet I would reach the real highlight. The sound of falling water grew louder as I carefully made my way along the deceivingly slippery rocks. After making the final turn, just like in the movies, I saw the water disappear over a cliff. I inched my way to the edge, ensuring my footing was sound, and my stomach lurched with nerves as I saw the water reappear 40 feet below in a shimmering pool.
The view from the top edge of San Carlos Falls. The water from the Lonfit River falls nearly 40 feet before pooling at the bottom and quietly continuing its journey Southwest. During the rainy season, the flow of water is significantly increased.
A view from the bottom of San Carlos Falls. Hikers who wish to continue downstream will be able to enjoy another refreshing natural feature, the San Carlos Swim Hole.
It’s amazing that such beauty is hidden away in the secret places of the world just waiting for someone to come by and admire it. If you’ve never considered hiking San Carlos, I highly recommend it. It will give you a new appreciation for the island and for our world.
