Phantom Falls
Encyclopedia
Phantom Falls or Coal Canyon Falls is a waterfall at Coal Canyon near Oroville, California
, within the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve
. The waterfall is 164 feet (50 m) high and runs off the edge of Coal Canyon, in front of a grotto
. A small pool at the bottom is home to a California newt
subspecies, the Coastal Range newt
. As a seasonal waterfall, Phantom Falls runs only during the rainy months, late autumn to early spring. It is named Phantom Falls because it disappears during the dry season.
There is no trail to the waterfall, although a parking lot on Cherokee Road provides access for hikers. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the parking lot to the waterfall, which is visible from the rim of Coal Canyon. A strenuous downhill hike then ends at the bottom of the waterfall. The falls can also be reached from Coal Canyon Road at the bottom of Coal Canyon, a hike of about the same distance but longer and more strenuous, over rocky terrain.
The shaft of an abandoned gold mine in the grotto behind the falls dates to the California Gold Rush
. Today, there is no gold
there, but research still takes place in the mineshaft. Entering the mineshaft is difficult but not prohibited.
Oroville, California
Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
, within the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve
North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve
The North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is a nature reserve of located three miles north of Oroville, Butte County, in the US state of California. The land was acquired by the state in October, 1993 to preserve and protect the rare Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pools habitat type that supports...
. The waterfall is 164 feet (50 m) high and runs off the edge of Coal Canyon, in front of a grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
. A small pool at the bottom is home to a California newt
California Newt
The California newt is a newt. It is also referred to as the orange bellied newt. They can grow to be in length.- Physical description :T. torosa adult length can range from to...
subspecies, the Coastal Range newt
Coastal Range newt
The Costal Range newt is a subspecies of the California Newt. It is native to the coast, California Coast Ranges, and western Transverse and Peninsular Ranges, from Mendocino County south to San Diego County....
. As a seasonal waterfall, Phantom Falls runs only during the rainy months, late autumn to early spring. It is named Phantom Falls because it disappears during the dry season.
There is no trail to the waterfall, although a parking lot on Cherokee Road provides access for hikers. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the parking lot to the waterfall, which is visible from the rim of Coal Canyon. A strenuous downhill hike then ends at the bottom of the waterfall. The falls can also be reached from Coal Canyon Road at the bottom of Coal Canyon, a hike of about the same distance but longer and more strenuous, over rocky terrain.
The shaft of an abandoned gold mine in the grotto behind the falls dates to the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. Today, there is no gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
there, but research still takes place in the mineshaft. Entering the mineshaft is difficult but not prohibited.