Phantom Falls is a 170-foot seasonal plunge waterfall on North Table Mountain in Butte County, California, about 6.7 miles north of Oroville. It pours off the edge of a basalt mesa in the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, run by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and runs only in the wet months.
The falls
The falls drop in a single clean plunge off the edge of Table Mountain. Lidar measurements record the drop at about 170 feet, while older surveys cited 164 feet. The same seasonal runoff fills the vernal pools and feeds the other seasonal waterfalls on the reserve.
Getting there
The reserve's only parking is a gravel lot at 2488 Cherokee Road, Oroville, reached on paved Cherokee Road. The lot fills quickly on busy days, and parking along Cherokee Road is not allowed. The reserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
The hike to Phantom Falls spans 4.2 miles out and back, rated moderate, over uneven terrain that takes some navigation; a longer loop past Beatson Falls runs 6.7 miles. The trails are unpaved, not maintained by the state and not accessible to people with limited mobility.
Everyone 16 or older needs a CDFW Lands Pass: $5.97 per day or $33.48 per year in 2026. Holders of a valid California hunting or fishing license are exempt.
When to go
November through April is the recommended season. Wildflowers bloom from late February into April, the reserve's busiest season, and the falls dry up by summer.
On site
The trails are largely unsheltered from the sun. Cattle may be present; the state asks visitors to stay at least 300 feet from them. Toxic algal mats may be present in the water, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 10 feet, and camping and fires are prohibited. Restrooms are sometimes unavailable.
Rock near the falls can give way: in April 2019 a hiker fell 20 to 30 feet at Phantom Falls when rocks gave way and was airlifted out with moderate injuries. Stay back from the edge.
History and name
The falls are also called Coal Canyon Falls. The name Phantom comes from the way the falls vanish in the dry season.
Nearby
Little Phantom Falls is about 0.2 mile away, Ravine Falls and Ravine Twin Falls about 0.5 mile, and Hidden Falls about 0.6 mile. Oroville is the nearest town, and Chico lies 16.8 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.