I visited this area last Saturday (03/23/24) to explore some of the tributaries between the parking area and the Fishing Cabin, focusing on four tributaries that flow in from the south side of the canyon (If you haven't Big Mermaids, Little Mermaids, and Chileno Canyon to the north, then I suggest those too). None of the tributaries I discuss here host the obvious waterfalls that are pretty much right next to the trail/bike path, but instead require slightly more bushwhacking or rock hopping (but nothing excessive).
The first one is the tributary that flows into the west fork just upstream from the bridge near where Bear Creek flows in (but before the "west fork waterfall" on google). Just a short ways up the canyon there is a two tier waterfall that is flowing quite heavily up that way. The trip up the canyon is short and the canyon is quite spectacular (I put a photo below of the waterfall, but I don't think it really does justice).
the second tributary is a little ways further upstream near some black tubing (~6 foot diameter) that may be related to some ongoing construction project. I think there was quite a bit of blackberry to start, but after passing that, there is a two tier waterfall (photo below). There was anther ~waterfall flowing over a boulder a little ways upstream that I think I could have climbed over, but I decided to keep going to check out the other two tributaries.
The third tributary I went up was quite surprising. I never know quite what to expect, but when I made my way up this one, I stumbled upon a really gorgeous waterfall (see picture below). It was just past a few smaller waterfall-like structures I had to make may way over/around, but I'm really happy I did.
Finally, at the cabin, I made by way upstream to a fork in the creek. Up the left fork, I found a waterhole at the base of a two tier waterfall (see below). These waterfalls were some of the the smallest between the other tributaries I explored, but the pool was really amazing. I think the water was up to my chest (I thought it might have been one where I needed to tread water like some of the similar holes in Bear Canyon).
After that, I went up the right fork and found two water falls. The first was a taller waterfall flowing into the tributary (see below).
Just a little ways upstream from that taller waterfall, I stumbled upon a shorter waterfall with more flow along the creek (see picture below). I noticed that there was a metal chain and a ring attached to the rock on the left side of the waterfall and some other metal structures that looked like they were used to support something at some time (maybe even steps to climb the waterfall, but it was too slippery and low when I went - it was also raining a little).
Ultimately, it was nice to explore some of the tributaries that I have passed by when I have explored other parts of this area in the past. There are a lot of other waterfalls along the west fork that are closer to the trail/road, and that are flowing now, but don't flow in the dry season. None of these are particularly far from the trail/road (maybe about the distance to Glenn Canyon Falls from the paved road, but a little more over grown), but many are easy to skip.
