Narada Falls in the midst of the Paradise River pounds down into a deep plunge pool, sending out a curtain of spray that provides a refreshingly cool breeze to hikers on this route. You hike the falls from top to bottom before climbing through salmonberry brambles and rich forest ecosystems to reach the upper trailhead at Reflection Lakes. This section of the Wonderland Trail gets relatively little use, so even though it's so close to the maddening crowds of Paradise tourists, the odds are good that you'll share the trail with few other hikers.

From the parking lot, cross the river above the thundering falls on the large stone bridge. Once over the river, descend along the trail leading downstream. In about 0.1 mile, you skirt along the lower reaches of the plunge pool at the base of the falls. Another 0.1 mile farther on, you hit a junction with the Wonderland Trail.

Turn left onto the Wonderland and begin climbing through sun-dappled slopes above the river. Juicy orange salmonberries can be found here in mid-July.

At about 0.75 mile, the trail swings into a series of switchbacks and climbs into a rich forest zone before cresting the ridge and starting a 0.5-mile-long traverse parallel to and below the Road to Paradise. The trail pops out of the woods onto the road at 1.5 miles at the western end of the Reflection Lakes.

Turn around at the lakes and return to Narada Falls.