The Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated (Southeast Fairbanks (CA) County, AK)

The Falls is a waterfall in Southeast Fairbanks (CA) County, Alaska, about 115 miles north of Tok. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Southeast Fairbanks (CA) County, AK

Nearest town

Tok (115 mi)

Coordinates

64.92944, -141.82583

USGS topo

Eagle D-2 NW quad

Getting there

The Falls sits about 115 miles north of Tok in Southeast Fairbanks (CA) County. Navigate to the coordinates 64.92944, -141.82583, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the The Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Most of Alaska's named falls lie on public land managed by the Tongass and Chugach national forests, the National Park Service, state parks such as Chugach State Park, or the Bureau of Land Management, with some on Native corporation land where permission may be needed. Only a minority are on the road system; elsewhere, access depends on ferries, floatplanes or boats, and weather delays are routine. Bears are present across the state, so carrying bear spray and making noise on brushy trails is standard practice. Glacial meltwater is dangerously cold and silty, which hides depth and footing, and rivers rise quickly on warm afternoons. Near glaciers, ice calving and rockfall make approaching the base of a fall unwise. Rain gear and layers are essential even in July.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to The Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Alaska. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 64.92944, -141.82583 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Warm layers. Northern and mountain weather changes quickly; spring and fall mornings can be near freezing.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Alaska's waterfall season is short and runs roughly from late May into September. Snowmelt drives the strongest flows from late May through June in Southcentral and the Interior, while glacier-fed streams keep running hard through July and August as summer heat melts ice. In Southeast Alaska, rain matters as much as melt: the wettest stretch typically arrives in autumn, so September and October can produce surging falls along with low cloud and short days. Brooks Falls draws visitors in July, when sockeye runs peak, and again in September. Winter brings deep snow, avalanche danger on steep approaches and many frozen falls, though some roadside cascades become ice climbing objectives. Cruise-ship days concentrate crowds at Juneau and Skagway trailheads in midsummer.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

History of the area

According to the U.S. Geological Survey's naming record: "Named by prospectors and reported in 1911 by C. E. Ellsworth (in Brooks and others, 1912, p. 232), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as ""Seventymile River at the falls."""

The federal gazetteer describes it this way: on Seventymile River, 21 mi. NW of Eagle, Yukon-Tanana High.

The Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on March 31, 1981, and it appears on the USGS Eagle D-2 NW 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Canyon Creek (stream, 0.3 mi), Gold Creek (stream, 0.4 mi), Little Washington Creek (stream, 0.6 mi), and Bear Creek (stream, 0.8 mi).

Prince William Sound and Southcentral. Southcentral Alaska pairs the Chugach Mountains with the road system, so this is where the most drive-up waterfalls are found. Near Valdez, the walls of Keystone Canyon along the Richardson Highway carry Bridal Veil Falls and other cascades within sight of the road. Inland, Liberty Falls drops toward the Copper River basin northeast of Valdez. Closer to Anchorage, Thunder Bird Falls lies on Thunder Bird Creek just above its junction with the Eklutna River, a short outing from the city. The Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska-Susitna valleys add a few more, generally on glacier-fed creeks that run milky and cold through summer.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

The Falls about 115 miles north of Tok is a documented waterfall in the federal gazetteer. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full The Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.