Gifford Pinchot
National Forest
Forest Headquarters
10600 N.E. 51st Circle
Vancouver, WA 98682
(360) 891-5000
TTY: (360) 891-5003
Cowlitz Valley
Ranger District
10024 US Hwy 12
PO Box 670
Randle, WA 98377
(360) 497-1100
TTY: (360) 497-1101
Mt. Adams
Ranger District
2455 Hwy 141
Trout Lake, WA 98650
(509) 395-3400
TTY: (360) 891-5003
Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic
Monument
Monument Headquarters
42218 N.E. Yale Bridge Rd.
Amboy, WA 98601
(360) 449-7800
TTY: (360) 891-5003
Johnston Ridge Observatory
24000 Spirit Lake Highway
P.O. Box 326
Toutle, WA 98649
(360) 274-2140
Mount St. Helens
Visitor Center
at Silver Lake
3029 Spirit Lake Highway
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(Operated by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission)
TTY: Phone for the Deaf
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Recreation
Here
are some outstanding waterfall-viewing opportunities on the Gifford
Pinchot National Forest. For more information and help finding these
waterfalls, please contact the Ranger Station nearest your destination.
We also offer the "The
Waterfall Lover's Guide," by Gregory A. Plumb for sale
in our Forest Offices.The Waterfall Lovers Guide devotes
an entire chapter to the spectacular waterfalls of the Gifford Pinchot
National Forest and covers more than 500 waterfalls in Washington,
Oregon and Idaho.
Trail descriptions are taken from our trail
guides. Our trail guides are published by NWIA (Northwest Interpretive
Association) and are offered for sale at our offices. |
Big Creek |
Location: |
Upper Lewis River |
Coordinates: |
NW 1/4, Sec. 14 T7N, R7E |
Access: |
Road access from Eagle Cliff
bridge on Forest Road 90, 6 1/2 miles to Big Creek parking area. There
is a 500 foot Barrier-free trail leading to the viewpoint. The trail
continues for one mile, passing another waterfall, to a viewpoint
over looking the Lewis River valley. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Waterfall drops approximately
125 feet into pool. |
Copper Creek |
Location: |
Upper Lewis River |
Coordinates: |
NE 1/4, Sec. 24 T8N, R7-1/2E |
Access: |
Location on Forest Road 90
east of Eagle Cliff Bridge at Copper Creek Falls crossing (Middle
Falls trailhead). |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Small falls, but easy access.
From parking for Middle Lewis Falls walk trail several hundred yards
to where falls can be seen. |
Davis Creek |
Location: |
Upper Cowlitz |
Coordinates: |
Sec. 32, NE 1/4 T13, R8E |
Access: |
Road access from Packwood 9
miles on Hwy. 12, or 6 miles east of Randle. Turn north on Davis Creek
County Road 90, 1/4 mile. Turn right on Road 63 to M.P. 2.9. |
Photo Image: |
n/a |
Trail Information: |
n/a |
Description: |
Creek crosses under road. Waterfall
drops about 100 feet. |
Dry Creek |
Location: |
Wind River Valley |
Coordinates: |
SW 1/4, Sec. 8 T5N, R7E |
Access: |
From Wind River on Forest Road
64, 1/4 mile cross-country upstream from stream crossing. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Falls about 120 feet high.
Also known as Puff Falls. |
Falls Creek |
Location: |
Wind River Valley |
Coordinates: |
NW 1/4, Sec. 23 T5N, R7E |
Access: |
From Wind River Highway 30
to end of Forest Road 3062057. From trail 152A trailhead, it is 1
1/2 miles to falls. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
An easy hike along the edge
of the canyon above the creek. Scenic stops along the way. |
Description: |
A series of three falls about
200 to 250 foot drop. |
Goat Creek |
Location: |
Upper Cispus River |
Coordinates: |
Sec. 19, NE 1/4 T12N, R11E |
Access: |
Road access from Packwood on
US 12 to Forest Roads 21 and 2150 to Chambers Lake. Trail access from
Berry Patch Trailhead on Trail 96 to Goat Creek. Approx. 3 miles up
trail to view. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Falls are in the Goat Rocks
Wilderness. Falls occur where Goat Creek breaks through the moraine
which created Goat Lake and skips about 400 feet down a rock wall
into a lovely valley. |
Iron Creek |
Location: |
Iron Creek |
Coordinates: |
SW 1/4, Sec.20 T10N, R7E |
Access: |
From US 12 and Randle south
on Forest Road 25 1/2 mile north of Forest Road 99. Trail #91 descends
to Iron Creek and follows creek to the falls. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Fall of 60 feet in gorge east
of Road 25. |
Langfield |
Location: |
Trout Lake Area
|
Coordinates: |
Sec. 18, NE 1/4 |
Access: |
From Trout Lake north on T7N,
R9E Forest Road 88 to junction with Forest Road 8851. Parking lot
200 feet northeast of junction. Trail 1/8 mile to base. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Height of falls is 40 feet.
Named after K.C. Langfield, a retired Forest Service Ranger who discovered
the falls. |
Last Hope |
Location: |
Green River |
Coordinates: |
Sec. 13, NE 1/4 |
Access: |
From Randle and US Hwy. 12,
T10N, R5E south on Forest Road 25 to Forest Road 26 to Ryan Lake and
right on Forest Road 2612 to end. Falls are below Polar Star Mine
on old Trail #213. |
Photo Image: |
n/a |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Seventy-foot drop falls in
an area devastated by Mount St. Helens eruption. |
Lava Canyon |
Location: |
Muddy River, Lahar
Recreation Area |
Coordinates: |
n/a |
Access: |
Drive to end of Forest Road
83 on SW side of Mount St. Helens. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
A
series of falls in steep lava canyon. Different parts of trail very
from wheel chair accessible to most difficult. Cable suspension
bridge.
Warning! This falls has claimed five
lives in seven years (as of June, 2002). Make sure you watch your
footing if you leave the trail. The water may not be deep in places,
but it is swift and it can knock you over and carry you over the
falls. Watch your children! |
Lava Creek |
Location: |
Upper Cowlitz |
Coordinates: |
Sec. 35-36 T14N, R10E |
Access: |
Road access on US Hwy. 12 east
of Packwood 12 miles. Sign and parking along highway; 2 miles east
of Palisades Viewpoint. |
Photo Image: |
n/a |
Trail Information: |
n/a |
Description: |
Beautiful falls below highway
in Ayance Canyon. |
Lower Lewis |
Location: |
Upper Lewis River |
Coordinates: |
NE 1/4, Sec. 25 T8N, R7E |
Access: |
Road access from Eagle Cliff
Bridge on Forest Road 90 to parking in developed campground. Falls
are just above junction of Chickoon Creek. Trail runs from the campground
day use area to a rim overlooking the falls. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Large volume of water over
a 35 foot drop. Barrier free access (more difficult trail). |
Middle Lewis |
Location: |
Upper Lewis River |
Coordinates: |
NE 1/4,Sec. 24 T8N,R7-1/2E |
Access: |
Road access from Eagle Cliff
Bridge on Forest Road 90 to trail parking near Copper Creek crossing.
Trailhead is signed Middle Falls. Follow Trail #31C for 1/2 mile to
the falls. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
The falls is at the end of
a 1/2 mile trail. |
Miller Creek & Curly Creek |
Location: |
Upper Lewis River |
Coordinates: |
SW 1/4, Sec. 29 T7N, R7E |
Access: |
Road access from Eagle Cliff
Bridge on Forest Road 90 about 4 miles to Forest Road 9039 junction,
then left across river about 1 mile to parking area/trail (barrier-free
for about 1/8 mile) down stream by two falls. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Both falls drop into Lewis
River in a lush forest setting. |
Panther Creek |
Location: |
Wind River Valley |
Coordinates: |
NW 1/4, Sec. 5 T4N, R8E |
Access: |
From Wind River Highway 30
to Forest Road 65. No trail access from Forest Road 65. Falls just
off of road. |
Photo Image: |
A photographic
image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Park along side the road in
a undeveloped parking area. Walk back down the road a short distance
to a trail just across the road. A short, easy walk down the trail
to the viewing deck. |
Description: |
Approximately a 65-foot drop
falls. |
Sunset |
Location: |
East Fork Lewis
River |
Coordinates: |
NE 1/4, Sec. 24 |
Access: |
From Battle Ground, take State
503 north 6 miles to Rock Creek Road, east past Lucia Falls to Yacolt
junction. Turn right on Sunset Falls Road, then 7 miles to Sunset
Campground. |
Photo Image: |
A photographic
image is available. |
Campground Information: |
Campground
information is available. |
Description: |
Barrier free trail 1/8 mile
to 30 foot falls. |
Thunder |
Location: |
Upper Cowlitz |
Coordinates: |
Sec.15, NE 1/4 T14N, R10E |
Access: |
Forest Road access on US Hwy.
12 east of Packwood 9 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 45, then on
Road 4510 to M.P. 2.0. Trail leads to base. |
Photo Image: |
n/a |
Trail Information: |
n/a |
Description: |
Falls approximately 80 feet
down. |
Upper Lewis |
Location: |
Upper Lewis River |
Coordinates: |
SW 1/4, Sec. 18 T8N, R8E |
Access: |
Road access from Eagle Cliff
Bridge on Forest Road 90 to Quartz Creek. Follow Trail #31 downstream
about 1 mile to the falls. |
Photo Image: |
A
photographic image is available. |
Trail Information: |
Trail
information is available. |
Description: |
Heavy volume of water over
a 35 foot drop, similar to Lower Lewis River Falls in height, width,
and structure. |
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