| Salmon Creek Falls | |
| Photo Width: | 240 |
| Location: | Near Gorda in Los Padres National Forest, Monterey County, California, United States |
| Map: | USA California |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Type: | Segmented |
| Number Drops: | 1 |
Salmon Creek Falls is a 120-foot (36 meter) waterfall in the southern Big Sur region of Monterey County, California. The falls are located along California State Route 1 about northwest of Ragged Point and lies within the Monterey Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest and Silver Peak Wilderness.
The falls are located along California State Route 1 about northwest of Ragged Point. The nearest settlement is the village of Gorda, about northwest of the falls.
As Salmon Creek descends a canyon along the southwestern slope of the Santa Lucia Range, it produces a series of small cataracts over a distance of before reaching the head of the main falls. Here the water pools behind several large boulders. The creek then curves around the boulders before cascading down a steep cliff. A shallow pool is present at the base of the falls. From here, the creek continues southwest toward the Pacific Ocean.
An unpaved trail from California State Route 1 provides access to a view of the main falls beside several large boulders. The trail does not provide direct access to the base of the falls, which requires one to scramble over a pair of boulders to reach.[1]
The head of the falls are accessible via Salmon Creek Trail, which branches off toward the east and approaches the falls at a higher elevation. The trail is a popular access route for backpackers visiting Silver Peak Wilderness.