This was a great hike for a cloudy day, even in the height of summer. The trail is shaded the entire way, and the falls are still full and beautiful. A lot of folks talk about how terrible French Creek Road is, but as someone that has spent a fair amount of time on FS roads, it's really not that bad. At only 3.7 miles, it's a short drive. There are a decent number of pot holes, but they all have soft edges and are easily navigable. Obviously, someone else's experience may not align with mine, but the only vehicle I would not take up the road would be a lowered one.
No pass required and no facilities at the trailhead, though there is a shared bathroom about a mile up French Creek Road. It is signed as the only one in the area, which was nice. We arrived at a half-empty parking lot around 9AM, and headed out after a hefty dose of bug spray. The trail to the first falls is wide and pleasantly rolling, though it becomes brushy with a few downed trees the further you go. My hiking buddy and I made it to the second falls and then turned back to make it a 5-miler day. We stopped at the first falls on the way back for a quick snack and some photos. Personally, I think the better view of the first falls is from the trail, so if the boot path to the river is a bit intimidating, you may not be missing much. It was particularly steep and slippery when I was on it, though heading back up was easier.
There are a ton of ripe thimbleberries, blueberries and red huckleberries that crowd along the trail, particularly after the first falls. We spent a lot of extra time standing around and snacking before heading back to the parking lot!
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