The trail starts off nicely, with a moderate incline on a wide trail through stunning rain forest. Although it gains elevation steadily, the pitch is not terribly challenging.
The second half is a different story: much more primitive. Once you reach the huge tree across the trail (~5' diameter), the going gets rough. Smaller, more agile folks can slip beneath this giant, but there's also a trail around it uphill to the left. This is where the rest of my hiking party decided to turn around.
The one party we met while we were going up told us not to bother going under/around the big tree, because the trail is impassible 10 meters beyond it.
Not true!
It looks well blocked by debris, but a quick balance-beam walk along a downed tree leads right back to the trail. There's even a flag on the downed tree marking the spot where you rejoin the path.
It becomes MUCH more of a slog after this, with muddier conditions, many downed trees, and lots of rocks and roots. There are also two sections that are extremely overgrown—as in, bushes from the two sides that join over your head (and in front of your face, for that matter). I managed it in trail runners, although they were pretty soggy by the end of my hike, which included light rain for much of the return.
The trail is not that hard to follow; there are just a few red-herring offshoots that could mislead you. When in doubt, generally stay left/uphill. And trust the few flags you will encounter from time to time.
After bushwhacking through one of the worst overgrown stretches (although the footpath is still discernible beneath you), you'll reach the shore of the creek. This is a beautiful spot, and you can look upstream over several downed trees that cross the creek to see the cascade beyond.
Backtrack a few feet from the shore to cross on the first of these downed trees, which forms a good bridge across the water. Stay more-or-less straight ahead on the other side, and nestled among a few large logs, you'll find the sweet camping spot, complete with a rock fire ring. I can only imagine how buggy it gets here at night, although they weren't out this day during my hike.
You can bushwhack along this side of the creek to make your way to the waterfall. The water is crystal clear.
It's unfortunate that, in this remote, infrequently visited patch of paradise, there were soggy paper towels (and who know what underneath) alongside the campsite. Please remember to leave no trace!
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