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Difference between revisions of "Dry Creek Falls Hike"

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[[Category:Creek Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Creek Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Family Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Family Hikes]]
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[[Category:Moderate Hikes]]
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[[Category:Easy Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Northwest Oregon]]
 
[[Category:Northwest Oregon]]
 
[[Category:Waterfall Hikes]]
 
[[Category:Waterfall Hikes]]
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[[Image:DryCreekFalls.jpg|thumb|350px|Dry Creek Falls ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
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[[Category:Hikes]]
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[[Image:DryCreek02.jpg|thumb|400px|Dry Creek Falls ''(Tom Kloster)'']]
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[[Image:DryCreekFalls4.jpg|thumb|250px|Dry Creek Falls in winter ''(Cheryl Hill)'']]
 
[[Image:BridgeOfTheGodsTrailhead.jpg|thumb|250px|Bridge of the Gods trailhead ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
 
[[Image:BridgeOfTheGodsTrailhead.jpg|thumb|250px|Bridge of the Gods trailhead ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
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[[Image:DCFColumbines.jpg|thumb|250px|Columbines blooming in May ''(Steve Hart)'']]
  
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{{Start point|Bridge of the Gods Trailhead}} or
 
{{Start point|PCT Winter Trailhead|Pacific Crest Trail Winter Trailhead}}
 
{{Start point|PCT Winter Trailhead|Pacific Crest Trail Winter Trailhead}}
 
* End point: [[Dry Creek Falls]]
 
* End point: [[Dry Creek Falls]]
 
* Trail Log: [[Dry Creek Falls Hike/Log | Trail Log]]
 
* Trail Log: [[Dry Creek Falls Hike/Log | Trail Log]]
 
* Hike Type: Out and Back
 
* Hike Type: Out and Back
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{{Distance|2.6 miles}}
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{{Distance|4.4 miles}}
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{{Elevation gain|750 feet}}
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{{Elevation gain|710 feet}}
 
{{Difficulty|Easy}}
 
{{Difficulty|Easy}}
 
* Seasons: Year-round
 
* Seasons: Year-round
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=== Hike Description ===
 
=== Hike Description ===
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This hike starts you at the [[Bridge of the Gods Trailhead]] for the PCT and takes you under I-84, across the powerlines and up the Pacific Crest trail for a ways. After a few limited viewpoints, you come across a footbridge. Follow the spur trail up the right-hand-side of the creek until you reach the falls.
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<b><font color=red>NOTICE: Most trails on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge are closed until further notice because of damage from the Eagle Creek Fire. The closure involves ALL trails between Rooster Rock State Park and Hood River. It is anticipated that most of these trails may not reopen until Spring or Summer 2018. Please check the list of [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/crgnsa/recreation  Columbia Gorge trail closures] before you plan for a hike.</font color></b>
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This hike starts you at the [[Bridge of the Gods Trailhead]]. From the trailhead, cross the road and head up the Pacific Crest Trail parallel to I-84. Watch out for an old safety fence here that encroaches the trail and is now more of a hazard than a help. In about 1/10 of a mile, you'll come to Moody Street as it crosses under the freeway. Walk the road uphill to the right for a bit, under the freeway. When the road angles left, go straight ahead on a gravel road a short distance to [[PCT Winter Trailhead|twin trailheads]]. Altogether the road walking here is about 100 yards. The trail to the right is the Gorge Trail headed toward the [[Ruckel Creek Bridge|Ruckel Creek Trail]] and the [[Eagle Creek Trailhead|Eagle Creek Campground]]. You'll take the trail to the left, which is the Pacific Crest Trail.
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The Crest Trail heads gradually uphill, never too steep, through a pretty, dappled sun kind of forest. In the spring, forest wildflowers including columbines are common here. About 1 mile in, you'll come to a powerline access road. Turn right here and follow the road a short distance under the powerlines to the resumption of the trail. Soon after the powerline road, you'll come to a minor summit and the trail begins a gradual descent to [[Dry Creek Bridge|Dry Creek]]. This section of trail heads gradually downward through an interesting area of large lava boulders and trees for almost another mile.
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At Dry Creek, the trail comes to another dirt road. This one seems to be open to normal traffic, at least I saw a small, 2 wheel drive pickup last time I was there. The Crest Trail crosses the road and then crosses Dry Creek on a wooden bridge. To get to [[Dry Creek Falls]], instead of crossing the bridge, turn right here and head up the road about 2/10 of a mile to the falls. At the end of the road, there's a car turnaround and a fire pit.
  
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Although it's called [[Dry Creek Falls]], it does not run dry - even in the warmest months of summer. There is evidence of some damming apparatus here, used to provide water to the town of Cascade Locks, Oregon.
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Although it's called Dry Creek Falls, it does not run dry - even in the warmest months of summer. There is evidence of some damming apparatus here, once used to provide water to the town of Cascade Locks, Oregon.
  
 
=== Maps ===
 
=== Maps ===
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{{HikeMaps|latitude=|longitude=}}
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{{HikeMaps|latitude=45.65701|longitude=-121.86645}}
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[[Image:DryCreek00.jpg|thumb|400px|Dry Creek Falls Map (click to enlarge)]]
  
 
=== Fees, Regulations, etc. ===
 
=== Fees, Regulations, etc. ===
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* None
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* Northwest Forest Pass required at [[Bridge of the Gods Trailhead]]
  
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{{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
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{{TripReports|Dry Creek}}
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* (Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=8 here] to add your own)
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{{RelatedDiscussions|{{PAGENAME}}}}
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{{RelatedDiscussions|Dry Creek}}
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* (Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=141 here] to ask a question or start a conversation)
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=== Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
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=== Contributors ===
 
=== Contributors ===
 
* [[User:Stevefromdodge|Stevefromdodge]] (outline)
 
* [[User:Stevefromdodge|Stevefromdodge]] (outline)
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* [[User:Splintercat|Splintercat]]

Revision as of 15:58, 26 September 2017

Dry Creek Falls (Tom Kloster)
Dry Creek Falls in winter (Cheryl Hill)
File:BridgeOfTheGodsTrailhead.jpg
Bridge of the Gods trailhead (Jeff Statt)
File:DCFColumbines.jpg
Columbines blooming in May (Steve Hart)

Contents

Hike Description

NOTICE: Most trails on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge are closed until further notice because of damage from the Eagle Creek Fire. The closure involves ALL trails between Rooster Rock State Park and Hood River. It is anticipated that most of these trails may not reopen until Spring or Summer 2018. Please check the list of Columbia Gorge trail closures before you plan for a hike.

This hike starts you at the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead. From the trailhead, cross the road and head up the Pacific Crest Trail parallel to I-84. Watch out for an old safety fence here that encroaches the trail and is now more of a hazard than a help. In about 1/10 of a mile, you'll come to Moody Street as it crosses under the freeway. Walk the road uphill to the right for a bit, under the freeway. When the road angles left, go straight ahead on a gravel road a short distance to twin trailheads. Altogether the road walking here is about 100 yards. The trail to the right is the Gorge Trail headed toward the Ruckel Creek Trail and the Eagle Creek Campground. You'll take the trail to the left, which is the Pacific Crest Trail.

The Crest Trail heads gradually uphill, never too steep, through a pretty, dappled sun kind of forest. In the spring, forest wildflowers including columbines are common here. About 1 mile in, you'll come to a powerline access road. Turn right here and follow the road a short distance under the powerlines to the resumption of the trail. Soon after the powerline road, you'll come to a minor summit and the trail begins a gradual descent to Dry Creek. This section of trail heads gradually downward through an interesting area of large lava boulders and trees for almost another mile.

At Dry Creek, the trail comes to another dirt road. This one seems to be open to normal traffic, at least I saw a small, 2 wheel drive pickup last time I was there. The Crest Trail crosses the road and then crosses Dry Creek on a wooden bridge. To get to Dry Creek Falls, instead of crossing the bridge, turn right here and head up the road about 2/10 of a mile to the falls. At the end of the road, there's a car turnaround and a fire pit.

Although it's called Dry Creek Falls, it does not run dry - even in the warmest months of summer. There is evidence of some damming apparatus here, once used to provide water to the town of Cascade Locks, Oregon.

Maps

Dry Creek Falls Map (click to enlarge)

Fees, Regulations, etc.

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

  • Day Hike! Columbia Gorge, by Seabury Blair, Jr.
  • 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Portland, by Paul Gerald
  • Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver, by Douglas Lorain
  • 35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge, by Don & Roberta Lowe
  • Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes, by Don & Roberta Lowe
  • Hiking the Columbia River Gorge - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
  • 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan

More Links

Contributors

Retrieved from "https://www.oregonhikers.org/w/index.php?title=Dry_Creek_Falls_Hike&oldid=73160"
Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

Hiking is a potentially risky activity, and the entire risk for users of this field guide is assumed by the user, and in no event shall Trailkeepers of Oregon be liable for any injury or damages suffered as a result of relying on content in this field guide. All content posted on the field guide becomes the property of Trailkeepers of Oregon, and may not be used without permission.