Water shoes are recommended, lots of rocks to navigate.
Sometimes the water is up to knees and above. You have to get into the water/river several times to get to the waterfall. This past time it was under a purple flag/level 3 and it was hard.
The hike to the gorge and waterfall is different every time. The hike up top to the overlook and top of the waterfall is not very difficult. It is best to get there right at 8am, otherwise you may be turned away. If you do not want to hike the gorge you do not need a permit, but the parking lot does fill up quickly. They cost $6 per person and there are no refunds if the gorge ends up closed for any reason. They limit the number of permits per day and they do tend to sell out quickly. If you plan to hike down to the gorge and upstream to the waterfall you must now buy a gorge permit. There is now a safety video you must watch before hiking. Stop by after your hike for a treat or souvenir. They have some supplies for your hike like water shoes and phone pouches. Be sure to stop in the General Store at the entrance. Follow some basic guidelines and it will be a great experience. We went on a Monday and there were still plenty of people. Come early before the heat of the day and to find a parking spot. Make sure your phone is waterproof or you have a protective pouch. Carry a pack with snacks and plenty of water. We brought walking sticks which was very helpful. The trail would be difficult with small children under 5, and it is highly discouraged to not bring children 2 and under. Life vests are required for kids under 12. The falls are a great relief from the heat after the hike.
The rocks can get pretty slick, so take your time. We changed shoes at the end of the dry trail into water shoes. The trail along the river definitely needs a shoe with a good, non-slip sole with good support. We all tripped several times along the dry trail on roots and such. We did see some people get turned away, so make sure you have a pass. We also read online that we needed to buy passes in advance to be able to hike to the gorge. We read some tips beforehand, and we all managed to do pretty well.
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