Falls Creek Falls

Details

Region: Southwest Washington

Location: Forest Road 3062 / 057, north of the town of Carson in Skamania County, in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington.

DEN Rating: 9/10

Trail Length: 3.4 miles total (1.7 each way)

Trail Type: out and back

Hike Time: 40 – 60 minutes each way

Trail Difficulty: moderately easy 4/10

Elevation Gain: 850 feet

Trail Surface: dirt, a few rocks

Family friendly: yes

Pet friendly: yes

Handicapped Accessible: no

Swimming: yes near trailhead

Camping: no

Restroom: flush toilets

Open Hours: day use only (dawn to dusk)

Season: April – Nov

Pass or Permit: Northwest Forest Pass for $5 day use fee (payable at trailhead – cash or check only)

Managed By: US Forest Service


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“The falls so nice they named it twice!” – my husband Austin.

They do get creative with the names, right? One of many Falls Creeks in the Pacific Northwest, this stunner in the incredible Gifford Pinchot National Forest is one that lives up to it’s name, with a series of three falls in a row totaling 335 feet, plus another 200 feet of steep cascades below the main drops. The viewing area is fun to explore, and there are scramble paths leading to the base of the lowest tier and up to the middle & upper tiers for the sure-footed and adventurous. 

Falls Creek Falls is popular for good reason – it is one of the most strikingly grandiose waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest! Try coming in early spring, or in the fall, or in the evening on summer weekdays to avoid the bigger crowds and on-trail traffic. The area is closed December through March.

Beware of name confusion. There is another Falls Creek Falls in Washington outside of Winthrop to the east of North Cascades National Park, and at least one in Oregon, plus a major Falls Creek Falls in Tennessee. This one is not far from Portland (1.25 hours) and 4 hours from Seattle, just north of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area.

The trail is well-hiked and worth the time. There are spur trails to a nice pool perfect for swimming & wading (as long as you can handle the 50-degree water temp) just a few minutes up the trail from the parking area. Stay right at the first trail junction – left leads downstream to the horse camp. The suspension bridge over the creek is your 25% marker.

After crossing the creek the incline increases a bit. There are a few nice flat areas next to the creek perfect for a snack break or just to check out the pretty forest surroundings. The trail then becomes steeper as it moves away from the creek. Stay right at the connector trail junction, your 75% marker.

The trail crosses a second bridge over a rocky drainage a few minutes past the second trail junction. From this point on the trail becomes more gentle, rising and falling a few times. Soon the middle and upper tiers of the falls come into view. The trail then drops down to the main viewing area which faces the lower and middle tiers, with the top of the upper tier barely visible in spots. Have fun exporing at the viewing area – there are no guard rails so keep an eye on kids and pets.

A summer evening is a fantastic time to hike to Falls Creek Falls, when the lighting is soft and the viewpoint is empty.

Falls Creek Falls – V

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The middle and lower tiers of Falls Creek Falls drop gracefully through Gifford Pinchot National Forest in SW Washington. This waterfall is particularly grandiose and has more even flow than most NW waterfalls, making a visit worthwhile any time of year. On this visit the soft evening light glowing through thin clouds really made the … Read more

A scramble trail continues up from the main viewing area to the base of the middle tier, then goes on to the upper tier. This trail is much harder, becoming a 9/10 to reach the upper tier with a narrow cliff crossing. Do not attempt this with kids, pets, if you experience vertigo, if you have any mobility or fitness concerns, or if you are inexperienced at off-trail maneuvering. Scrambling down to the rocks below the bottom tier is more moderate and offers a side view of the plunging lower tier of the trio.

The middle tier of Falls Creek Falls drops gracefully off three sides of a protruding rock.
The multi-faceted middle tier of Falls Creek Falls has such a different character than the clean single plunge of the lower tier. This portion of the falls is beautiful all on its own. This shot was taken August 2024.
The middle tier on a July afternoon in 2020. The light gets really pretty on the falls about 2 hours before sunset.

Cautions

So long as you stay on the trail and don’t get overly-adventurous, this is a fun and straightforward hike with few dangers. The trailside dropoff does get steep as the trail climbs. Don’t trample vegetation as you explore at the falls viewing area. The water is very cold and the flow is always significant so swimming in the falls base is not a good idea. If you’re a polar bear club type, swim in the pool near the parking area instead. And please pack out everything you bring with you! The scramble up to the middle and upper tiers becomes extremely difficult the further you go – experienced mountaineers only!

A seldom-seen view of the wide upper tier of Washington State's famous Falls Creek Falls.
The seldom-seen upper tier of Falls Creek Falls is very difficult to reach. It is the shortest of the three tiers.

Getting There

Falls Creek Falls is in the upper Wind River drainage in Skamania County, Washington. From Carson, take Wind River Highway for 14 miles up past the fish hatchery, then turn soft right at the intersection to continue on Wind River Rd. In just under a mile turn right onto the first dirt road you come to – if you cross a bridge you’ve gone 100 yards too far. Stay on this road (FR  3062) for about 2.5 miles, keeping right at the junction – left goes to the horse camp. The road used to be in bad condition with huge potholes, but it has been repaired recently and is now easily driven in an average car. The parking area is a big loop. The trailhead (trail #152A) is to the left of the vault toilet near the picnic table. The road into Falls Creek is gated, closed Dec – March so the wildlife can have a little peace.

Photographer’s Tip

You’ve got plenty of variations of the same basic angle (looking directly at the lower and middle tiers) from the main viewing area so move around. You’ll need a wide-angle lens to get both tiers in the same frame. Late in the day you’ll get rainbows in the mist of the bottom tier if it’s sunny out. The falls looks great and surprisingly consistent throughout the year, so there is not one month or season to favor. I’ve always visited in late afternoon / evening and the way the sunlight comes into the scene is really nice, plus there are less people around.

The sublime view from the end of the Falls Creek trail is pure Northwest perfection.

Falls Creek Falls – H

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There are many NW locations named with some variation of “Falls Creek”, but this gorgeous multi-tiered waterfall in Washington’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest takes the prize. A few small clouds near the horizon softened the evening light. I took some vertical shots, then turned my camera to include more of the gorgeous scenery surrounding the … Read more

Links

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31752

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/lower-falls-creek-trail

https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Falls_Creek_Falls_Hike

https://gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge/falls-creek-falls.html

https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Falls-Creek-Falls-5245

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