Lower Glen Alpine Falls

Great waterfall. Definitely a fun spot to check out. Yes the road is a tight drive, you have to pull over frequently because only 1 car can fit but it’s part of the experience. I highly recommend.

Just a very beautiful spot. Easy enough to get to and find parking (all be it on dirt on sides of roads). Very relaxing and pretty.
I went the first weekend in May 2015 and there was definitely no «gushing» falls like some of the other photos. Not sure whether its just the time of the year or if the falls are diminishing (sad) — but beautiful none the less.

Very beautiful! The drive there was not bad since it was all paved, a little elevation and some curves but the road was not too narrow and drivers were all pretty courteous. Gorgeous scenic drive around the lake to the waterfall. Follow signs to fallen leaf lake, you can’t miss it. There’s parking around the waterfall. Very beautiful!

I’m sorry but this was so not worth it.
My husband described this as a must see and remote. I was literally laughing at him when we arrived. As remote as my big patootie.
The place is a zoo. OK, so maybe next to crowded South Lake Tahoe and the campground, it is remote. But the falls and creek are so crowded. Hard to find parking near the falls and more people arriving as the day goes on.
The waterfall is pretty, but there are much more spectacular waterfalls in the Sierras. Yes, in truly remote places. Not impressed.
The kids did have fun climbing boulders in the creek.
Oh, by the way, the drive is sooooo much fun! One lane road with no space to pull over and let oncoming traffic through. And yes, there is traffic. Lots of traffic. We also were rear-​ended by an idiot since we opted to stop (and we stopped slowly with plenty of warning) to let an oncoming car through. More than once we saw people driving this road way too fast.
What an awesome experience!

OMG its awesome! Its worth the ride and the walk, I felt in awe of the beauty in the falls.

Most wonderful part of our Tahoe trip. I kind of went out on a limb because the directions to this place are not very clear, but I’m glad that we went because the falls were simply gorgeous.
Best time to go:
We went over Fourth of July weekend, so the falls were not as impressive as late spring/​early summer. But I actually prefer it because it was still beautiful and we got to sit inside the falls and cool off with the refreshing creek water. It was a lot of fun climbing on the rocks and laying out on them in the sun as the water rushes past your feet. So if you want to see an impressive waterfall, go in late spring, but if you want to enjoy being inside the waterfall, go during the summer.
How to get there/​parking:
There’s a road that goes straight to the falls and there’s parking right by the creek. But if you want a hike to the falls, you can park anywhere else along the road and hike up the rest of the road. The drive along Fallen Leaf Lake is beautiful and serene, but the road is really narrow, so you’ll have to risk falling into the lake to let other cars pass by.
The falls are located on the south side of Fallen Leaf Lake, contrary to what the Unilocal map may say. You can try punching in the address to the nearby fire station for better GPS navigation: 241 Fallen Leaf Rd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96 150.
If that doesn’t work, here are driving directions from South Lake Tahoe:
1. Head southwest on Lake Tahoe Blvd. (Hwy-​50) for about 2.5 miles (depending on where you started.)
2. Turn right onto Emerald Bay Rd. (Hwy-​89) and go for 3.1 miles
3. Turn left onto Fallen Leaf Lake Rd. It’s the only street you can turn left on after Camp Richardson. The penultimate cross street is Valhalla Rd. Google maps calls this Fallen Leaf Rd. and indicates that it’s seasonally closed in April.
4. Stay on Fallen Leaf Lake Road for 4.7 miles. You can choose to park at Fallen Leaf Camp Ground at the beginning of the road and hike the rest of the way. There are other spots to park along the road in case you want a shorter hike. Or you can just drive straight to the falls.
5. After you pass the Fallen Leaf Chapel and the Fallen Leaf Fire Department on your left, turn left onto Road 1216 at the fork. (Road 1215 is on the right.)
6. Drive up the windy road for a bit until you see the falls. There will be parking on the side of the road. If you park nearer the Fire Department, the falls will be on your left.
We went around 4:00 PM and left around 6:00 PM. The drive took about an hour for us because the road is so narrow and there’s traffic along Camp Richardson.

wonderful

Really, fantastically gorgeous falls a short drive from Fallen Leaf Lake.
Tips:
–Go in the spring or early summer. As other reviewers have noted, the falls are not very impressive in late summer or fall. Mostly because all the snow melt happens in (drum roll please) the spring and early summer.
–The falls move fast. Do not consider this a good place to swim.
–If you drive out and can’t find proper parking near the falls, DON’T PARK ON THE BLOODY ROAD. Drive back until you can find proper parking, or drive up to the Lily Lake parking lot. It’s a road. There will be cars driving out to Lily Lake and the Glen Alpine trail head, and I can’t tell you how many «almost accidents» we’ve witnessed because some idiot decided to park half of their car on the one lane road.

Beautiful place to spend the day!

One of the most spectacular waterfalls I have ever seen! (At least in early June.) These falls are truly awe-inspiring…almost frightening, even, in their power. WELL worth the trip out here! You don’t need to hike in; there are plenty of roadside spots where you can safely park and view the falls, both above and below. At the main viewing area, there is a cleared overlook where, with the right wedding coordinator, you can have a wedding, which would be freaking fantastic! I am including another photo of the falls so that you can see what they look like in peak season.

The falls are pretty cool. You might as well see them if you are going to make the mega-​trek to the far end of Fallen Leaf Lake as the falls are only a mile or so past the general store (road to falls goes right by fire station — easy to miss).
Having said that, be aware that the hike to the falls is about a half mile and must be made by foot. The park service put large granite chunks on the trail that makes it annoying to hike and impossible to bring even a Bob-​type stroller. Those with small kids will need to have a Bjorn, backpack, or kids old enough to walk.

This is a gorgeous spot… huge boulders frame a roaring cascade of water… and you can park close and easily walk over for the amazing view… a must see!

Beautiful falls, easily accessible by car! The falls cascade about 65′ in a step-​like fashion. Off of fallen leaf lake road… just follow the road signs! On the web it says the «season» is from May to August.