Difference between revisions of "Dry Creek Falls Hike"
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[[Category:Hikes]] | [[Category:Hikes]] | ||
− | [[Image: | + | [[Image:DryCreek02.jpg|thumb|400px|Dry Creek Falls ''(Tom Kloster)'']] |
+ | [[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)'']] | ||
[[Image:DCFColumbines.jpg|thumb|250px|Columbines blooming in May ''(Steve Hart)'']] | [[Image:DCFColumbines.jpg|thumb|250px|Columbines blooming in May ''(Steve Hart)'']] | ||
+ | {{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]] | ||
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=== Hike Description === | === Hike Description === | ||
+ | <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> | ||
+ | |||
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. | 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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=== Maps === | === Maps === | ||
{{HikeMaps|latitude=45.65701|longitude=-121.86645}} | {{HikeMaps|latitude=45.65701|longitude=-121.86645}} | ||
− | [[Image:DryCreek00.jpg|thumb|400px|Dry Creek Falls Map | + | [[Image:DryCreek00.jpg|thumb|400px|Dry Creek Falls Map (click to enlarge)]] |
− | + | ||
=== Fees, Regulations, etc. === | === Fees, Regulations, etc. === | ||
− | * | + | * Northwest Forest Pass required at [[Bridge of the Gods Trailhead]] |
− | {{TripReports| | + | {{TripReports|Dry Creek}} |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | {{RelatedDiscussions| | + | {{RelatedDiscussions|Dry Creek}} |
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=== Guidebooks that cover this hike === | === Guidebooks that cover this hike === |
Revision as of 15:58, 26 September 2017
- Start point: Bridge of the Gods Trailhead or
- Start point: PCT Winter Trailhead
- End point: Dry Creek Falls
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and Back
- Distance: 4.4 miles
- Elevation gain: 710 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: Year-round
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
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
- Maps: Hike Finder
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass required at Bridge of the Gods Trailhead
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Dry Creek
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Dry Creek
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
- Stevefromdodge (outline)
- Splintercat