From Troutdale, head east on I-84, take exit 44 to Cascade Locks, pay $1 toll and go over Bridge of the Gods. Turn right on Hwy. 14 for 5.9 miles, watch for signs to Carson and take that left onto Hwy. 30. If you've realized you forgot your Forest Pass, they sell them at the Texico-Wind River Market on the north end of Carson. Watch your speed on Hwy 30, there are many 35 MPH sections!
Continue on Hwy 30 (Wind River Road) and after milepost 5 but before mp 6, take a right onto the northernmost (the second, you will have passed the first) entrance of Old State Road. Almost immediately take a left (north) onto Panther Creek Road No.65 (do not go straight by the big blue building).Flip odometer or keep track now , destination is about 7.4 miles. At about 4.7 miles, ignore roads veering left or right, stay on 65, you'll go over a couple small bridges. This is a paved but narrow and windy road, watch for oncoming drivers, as well as deer! When nearing the 7.4 miles, watch for a large gravel pull-out on the right hand side at the base of a rocky hill. It's large enough for half a dozen cars, and looks kind of like a quarry spot.
5-30-08:
- Panther Creek Falls top 6-1-08
- Panther Creek Falls bottom 6-1-08
To return to Hwy 30 you have two options. Return the way you came in, or, this way that shaves off abut 4 miles: Drive south on road 65 about 4.5 miles, watch for Warren Gap Road, a gravel road veering off to the right. Stay on this, drive careful and watch for potholes. In about 1.2 miles you will note the PCT trail crossing.
Continue ahead, the road turns southwest, but in less than a mile you will come to a stop sign at Hwy 30 (you're at about mp 9 on hwy 30 here).Take a right and continue north on Hwy 30 another 5.5 miles, just past the fish hatchery on your left, veer right (straight is Mineral Springs Rd.)to continue on Hwy 30/Wind River road for maybe 0.8 mile, and turn right on gravel road #3062. Stay on this for two miles, again drive slow and negotiate (with
the potholes. At Road 057, take that right to for a half mile to the parking lot for Trail 152A, the Lower Falls Creek Trail (Trail 152 TH is .3 miles up the road). Signage is great for this whole trek, but it's such a beautiful area, it's too easy not to pay attention
so I wanted to add the supplemented milage, etc.- trailhead
Sure enough, the WTA had volunteers in several sections of the trail today, widening and clearing where needed.
- WTA volunteers 6-1-08
and Sunday the crew was working here, to improve and protect this trail.
There was some water cascading over a small section of the trail, just use care when crossing
There were just a few others at the rocks near the falls when we stopped for lunch,
- lunch at rocks 6-1-08
- 6-1-08
but this must have been the place to be today, because the hikers and (and their dogs) were increasing exponentially I swear! Between these (fools(?) at lower right),
- Falls Creek Falls lower rocks
and the half dozen kayakers hiking up, planning to put in at the base of the falls,
- kayakers 6-1-08
This hike is decribed in Sullivan's and Gerald's guide books, and is a great hike for beginners or visitors to enjoy !
Beacon Rock on the way home from my Friday, May 30 outing:
