Trip Report: Falls Creek Falls
When: 10/22/2016
Location: Falls Creek Falls
Conditions: Lower 60's clouds breaking into nice sunshine.
Duration: Single day
Difficulty: Moderate
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes
Useful links: OregonHikers.org
The Full Report
This is a great day hike in the Wind River area to a cool three-tiered waterfall.
It's a short 90ish minute drive from Portland with the last 2ish miles down a gravel road that is decent but does have some potholes to watch out for. Low clearance vehicles will be fine if you go slow and keep a sharp eye out.
The link states its a 6.2-mile loop but I chose to do more of a lollipop route. The walk in is great. Plenty of picture-worthy moments along the way. Make sure to take a right at the fork and take the "Upper Falls Creek Trail" to reach the falls. The falls themselves are magnificent and were pumping due to plenty of rain several days before. I chose to scramble up the left side of the falls. The route is marked well enough by prior adventurers and while steep exposure isn't an issue and there are plenty of solid roots to grab onto.
The scramble keeps you close to the falls and there are plenty of viewpoints as you go up the mountainside. It also offers the only view of the top tier of the waterfall versus returning to the fork and taking that to the top of the mountain. Views of the canyon from the top are great and it's also a great spot to have a snack or lunch. I would recommend venturing further along the path as its a nice flat hike along Falls Creek to another area right on the creek with plenty of logs to sit on and relax as the creek rolls on along.
I returned on Falls Creek Trail 152 from the top, cut back to 152A and returned to the parking lot. 152 will get you back the parking lot as well but I wanted to return along the creek.
The Full Report
This is a great day hike in the Wind River area to a cool three-tiered waterfall.
It's a short 90ish minute drive from Portland with the last 2ish miles down a gravel road that is decent but does have some potholes to watch out for. Low clearance vehicles will be fine if you go slow and keep a sharp eye out.
The link states its a 6.2-mile loop but I chose to do more of a lollipop route. The walk in is great. Plenty of picture-worthy moments along the way. Make sure to take a right at the fork and take the "Upper Falls Creek Trail" to reach the falls. The falls themselves are magnificent and were pumping due to plenty of rain several days before. I chose to scramble up the left side of the falls. The route is marked well enough by prior adventurers and while steep exposure isn't an issue and there are plenty of solid roots to grab onto.
The scramble keeps you close to the falls and there are plenty of viewpoints as you go up the mountainside. It also offers the only view of the top tier of the waterfall versus returning to the fork and taking that to the top of the mountain. Views of the canyon from the top are great and it's also a great spot to have a snack or lunch. I would recommend venturing further along the path as its a nice flat hike along Falls Creek to another area right on the creek with plenty of logs to sit on and relax as the creek rolls on along.
I returned on Falls Creek Trail 152 from the top, cut back to 152A and returned to the parking lot. 152 will get you back the parking lot as well but I wanted to return along the creek.