Miles: 5 miles for the loop, 3.4 miles on the trail to the falls and back
Elevation Gain/Highest: 520ft (trail), 953ft (loop)/1965ft (trail), 2330ft (loop)
Map: Green Trails Wind River No 397
Favorite Eats After Hike: Crush Cider, Walking Man Brewery, Backwoods Brewery, Thunder Island Brewing, Cascade Locks Ale House, Farm Stand Natural Foods, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
My hike:
11/4/2018
We needed something that would get us back home before dark and hopefully avoid the rain in the forecast. As I was down at the bottom of the state, we thought we would try something off the Columbia Gorge so we could visit the Walking Man Brewery in the town of Stevenson. Priorities…
My good friend Elizabeth has the book, Curious Gorge Hiking Guidebook, and we found this delightful waterfall stroll to spend a few hours on. It was just the right length and even offered a bit of scrambling to keep things “sporty” as my other good hiking buddy, Elle, would say. If you live in the upper half of the state and have visited the Wallace Falls State Park, this trail is quite similar in design.
To reach the first and largest tier, you follow the creek along as it gently gains elevation, crossing two unique bridges. The distance is 1.7 miles and the lower tier makes a great destination with kids and pups and only about 550ft of gain. If you aren’t looking for that much adventure, return back the way you came from this point after enjoying the rushing water cascading over the moss covered basalt.
From here, the trail continues but it is no longer easy and gentle but a scrambling bootpath that will require using your hands in many places as it weaves between rocks and trees to gain access to the middle and upper falls.
To make the loop after the upper falls, you have to ascend steeply on a “root gully” and scramble up to where the creek begins its descent into the waterfall. Not for the faint of heart and much care should be taken when things are wet. We took our time and made sure we had secure foot and handholds.
Each new tier was more stunning than the last and to finally reach the top at another 250ft was well earned. It was interesting to watch the water spill over to create the veils we had been admiring as we climbed up the slope.
From here, the trail gains just 80 more feet to reach the main trail and a viewpoint overlooking the valley with Sister Rocks and Observation Point off in the distance.
The trail descends from the plateau at an easy grade dropping you back down 850 feet in elevation along the creek and back out to the parking lot in another 3 miles for a total of 5 for the loop. Check out the video for more details!
Directions: You want to be on WA HWY 14 heading east towards Stevenson and the small town of Carson 5.5 miles after. You can either come from Vancouver, WA of I-5 or across the Bridge of The Gods and I-84 from Portland. Turn left (north) at the Carson exit (Wind River Road or Hwy 30). Continue just under 15 miles north on this Hwy, watching for the Carson National Fish Hatchery on your left. Soon after MP 14, you’ll come to a Y intersection with Mineral Springs Rd. Veer right continuing on Wind River Rd for less than a mile. There will be a sign for Falls Creek trails and Forest Road #3062. Turn right on this gravel road driving about two miles taking you directly to the large gravel parking lot at the trailhead. Privy available and trailhead needed.
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