Saucer Branch-Punchbowl/Saucer Falls (submitted by Paul Ayers) Return to Hikes Punchbowl Falls is 1/2 mile above Millard Falls to the northeast in Saucer Branch. Punchbowl is approximately 70 ft in a single cascade down a face of white rock. The "punchbowl" is 12 ft x 6 ft by 4 ft deep. The water is still and mossy. Paul Ayers took a plunge in the pool on 8/29/99, and found that he was not alone in the pool! The pond is inhabited by what appear to be a pair of Two-striped Garter Snakes (Thamnophis hammondii), which seemed somewhat put off by the intrusion. These snakes are extremely aquatic and when frightened dove to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. From the Punchbowl, the stream cascades about 15 ft to an unnamed pool then down an 18 ft flat cascade/fall into the Saucer. Saucer Falls is the combination of the 15 ft drop and the 18 ft drop. The Saucer appeared to be 7 ft wide by 12 ft long by about 3 ft at its deepest. From the Saucer and 18 ft cascade enters yet another unnamed pool from which a long "fan" (narrow at the top and opening at the bottom) cascade travels another 20 ft to the canyon floor. There is a degenerated but obvious trail that takes you to Punchbowl on the west side of Millard Canyon. A fragment of a rock wall and notches for footholds in the rock indicate history of earlier, more frequent use. Apparently the original name for the canyon was Punchbowl, however, the USGS now lists it as the "Saucer Branch". Saucer Branch is one-half to three-quarter mile upstream from where the trail down from the Sunset Ridge Trail enters Millard Canyon. The branch enters from the north. Punchbowl is easily seen and actually hard to miss from either the Sunset Ridge Trail or the Sunset Ridge Fire Road. The view from either is quite good seeing the fall from above and in its entirety. Photos of Punchbowl/Saucer Falls were taken 11/27/99 in a time of low water. Given little else was running stream-wise at the time, there was a good deal of water in the Saucer Branch. I would imagine it is running quite good right now. Enjoy.