Difference between revisions of "Dry Creek Falls Hike"

Revision as of 17:59, 26 December 2018

Dry Creek Falls (Tom Kloster)

Dry Creek below Dry Creek Falls (bobcat)

Maidenhair fern, Dry Creek Falls (bobcat)

Old water works at Dry Creek Falls (bobcat)

Dry Creek Falls in winter (Cheryl Hill)

Dry Creek Falls Map (click to enlarge)

Start point: Bridge of the Gods Trailhead or
Start point: PCT Harvey Road Trailhead
End point: Dry Creek Falls
Trail Log: Trail Log
Hike Type: Out and Back
Distance: 4.4 miles
Elevation gain: 725 feet
High point: 865 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Seasons: All year
Family Friendly: Yes
Backpackable: No
Crowded: Yes, on weekends

Dry Creek Falls plunges 74 feet over a basalt wall in a secluded amphitheater near Cascade Locks. It is easily reached via the Pacific Crest Trail and is a popular destination for those interested in a short, woodsy hike with plenty of Gorge ambience. At the base of the falls are the remains of a water diversion works. In the 1930s, the rapidly expanding town of Cascade Locks got its water supply from this location during the construction of the Bonneville Dam. The creek was channeled into a tunnel and thus ran "dry" on its original bed. Almost the entire area of this hike was affected by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. You'll see blackened tree trunks and a recovering understory, but most of the canopy is still intact.

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. There's an old safety fence on your right. Soon, you'll come to Moody Street as it crosses under the freeway. Walk the road uphill to the right, passing under the freeway. When the road angles left, keep right on a gravel road a short distance to a couple of parking pullouts. 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 Pacific Crest Trail to the left, which also doubles as the Gorge Trail #400 heading east from here.

The Crest Trail heads gradually uphill, never too steep, through a pretty, dappled sun kind of forest dominated by Douglas-firs and big-leaf maples, the latter providing a colorful display in the fall. In the spring, forest wildflowers including columbines are common here. Almost immediately, you'll see evidence of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. The trail swings right and then loops back along a slope of larger Douglas-firs and hemlocks. About one 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 in the woods. Pass an impressive Douglas-fir on the left side of the trail. Soon after the powerline road, you'll make a traverse along a very steep slope. Then 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 (Ten yards before this road is the almost invisible junction with the abandoned Rudolph Spur Trail). Across the road, you'll see the Pacific Crest Trail crossing Dry Creek on a wooden footbridge. To get to Dry Creek Falls, instead of crossing the bridge, turn right here and head up the rough track about 2/10 of a mile to the falls. Trees at the top of the falls were more heavily damaged by the Eagle Creek Fire than those below. Dry Creek hasn't run dry since the diversion apparatus was decommissioned, and the falls put on a pretty display throughout the year, although with much greater volume in the wet months. After enjoying the spray of the falls in the quietude of this little amphitheater, return the way you came in.

Maps

Maps: Hike Finder
Green Trails Maps: Bonneville Dam, OR #429
Green Trails Maps: Columbia River Gorge - West #428S
Geo-Graphics: Trails of the Columbia Gorge
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management: Columbia River Gorge
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Hood River Ranger District
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Hood National Forest
National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Fees, Regulations, etc.

Northwest Forest Pass required at Bridge of the Gods Trailhead
Restrooms and picnic tables at the trailhead

Trip Reports

Search Trip Reports for Dry Creek Falls

Related Discussions / Q&A

Search Trail Q&A for Dry Creek Falls

Guidebooks that cover this hike

Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon by Adam Sawyer
PDX Hiking 365 by Matt Reeder
Curious Gorge by Scott Cook
Beer Hiking: Pacific Northwest by Rachel Wood & Brandon Fralic
Day Hikes in the Columbia Gorge by Don J. Scarmuzzi
Afoot and Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
Day Hike! Columbia Gorge by Seabury Blair, Jr.
Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide by Seabury Blair, Jr.
Day Hiking: Columbia River Gorge by Craig Romano
Hiking the Columbia River Gorge by Russ Schneider; revised by Jim Yuskavitch
Columbia Gorge Getaways by Laura O. Foster
Oregon's Columbia River Gorge: Camping & Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Sean Patrick Hill
70 Virtual Hikes of the Columbia River Gorge by Northwest Hiker
Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest by Gregory A.Plumb
Waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge, Volume One: Oregon by Zach Forsyth

Contributors

Stevefromdodge (outline)
Splintercat

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Category:All Season Hikes]]
+[[Category:Northwest Oregon]]
 [[Category:Columbia River Gorge]]
+[[Category:All Season Hikes]]
 [[Category:Creek Hikes]]
 [[Category:Family Hikes]]
-[[Category:Moderate Hikes]]
+[[Category:Easy Hikes]]
-[[Category:Northwest Oregon]]
 [[Category:Waterfall Hikes]]
-[[Image:DryCreekFalls.jpg|thumb|350px|Dry Creek Falls ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
+[[Category:Hikes]]
-[[Image:BridgeOfTheGodsTrailhead.jpg|thumb|250px|Bridge of the Gods trailhead ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
-[[Image:DCFColumbines.jpg|thumb|250px|Columbines blooming in May ''(Steve Hart)'']]
+[[Image:DryCreek02.jpg|thumb|400px|Dry Creek Falls ''(Tom Kloster)'']]
+[[Image:Dry Creek, Dry Creek Road.jpg|thumb|250px|Dry Creek below Dry Creek Falls ''(bobcat)'']]
+[[Image:Maidenhair fern, Dry Creek Road.jpg|thumb|250px|Maidenhair fern, Dry Creek Falls ''(bobcat)'']]
+[[Image:Old weir, Dry Creek Falls.jpg|thumb|250px|Old water works at Dry Creek Falls ''(bobcat)'']]
+[[Image:DryCreekFalls4.jpg|thumb|250px|Dry Creek Falls in winter ''(Cheryl Hill)'']]
+[[Image:DryCreek00.jpg|thumb|400px|Dry Creek Falls Map (click to enlarge)]]
-{{Start point|PCT Winter Trailhead|Pacific Crest Trail Winter Trailhead}}
+{{Start point|Bridge of the Gods Trailhead}} or
+{{Start point|PCT Harvey Road Trailhead}}
 * End point: [[Dry Creek Falls]]
 * Trail Log: [[Dry Creek Falls Hike/Log | Trail Log]]
 * Hike Type: Out and Back
-{{Distance|2.6 miles}}
+{{Distance|4.4 miles}}
-{{Elevation gain|750 feet}}
+{{Elevation gain|725 feet}}
+* High point: 865 feet
 {{Difficulty|Easy}}
-* Seasons: Year-round
+* Seasons: All year
 * Family Friendly: Yes
 * Backpackable: No
-* Crowded: No
+* Crowded: Yes, on weekends
 === Hike Description ===
-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.
+Dry Creek Falls plunges 74 feet over a basalt wall in a secluded amphitheater near Cascade Locks. It is easily reached via the Pacific Crest Trail and is a popular destination for those interested in a short, woodsy hike with plenty of Gorge ambience.  At the base of the falls are the remains of a water diversion works. In the 1930s, the rapidly expanding town of Cascade Locks got its water supply from this location during the construction of the [[Bonneville Dam]]. The creek was channeled into a tunnel and thus ran "dry" on its original bed. Almost the entire area of this hike was affected by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. You'll see blackened tree trunks and a recovering understory, but most of the canopy is still intact.
-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.
+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. There's an old safety fence on your right. Soon, you'll come to Moody Street as it crosses under the freeway. Walk the road uphill to the right, passing under the freeway. When the road angles left, keep right on a gravel road a short distance to [[PCT Harvey Road Trailhead|a couple of parking pullouts]]. 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 Pacific Crest Trail to the left, which also doubles as the Gorge Trail #400 heading east from here.
-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.
+The Crest Trail heads gradually uphill, never too steep, through a pretty, dappled sun kind of forest dominated by Douglas-firs and big-leaf maples, the latter providing a colorful display in the fall. In the spring, forest wildflowers including columbines are common here. Almost immediately, you'll see evidence of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. The trail swings right and then loops back along a slope of larger Douglas-firs and hemlocks. About one 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 in the woods. Pass an impressive Douglas-fir on the left side of the trail. Soon after the powerline road, you'll make a traverse along a very steep slope. Then 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.
+At Dry Creek, the trail comes to another dirt road (Ten yards before this road is the almost invisible junction with the abandoned [[Pacific Crest-Rudolph Spur Trail Junction|Rudolph Spur Trail]]). Across the road, you'll see the Pacific Crest Trail crossing [[Dry Creek Bridge|Dry Creek]] on a wooden footbridge. To get to [[Dry Creek Falls]], instead of crossing the bridge, turn right here and head up the rough track about 2/10 of a mile to the falls. Trees at the top of the falls were more heavily damaged by the Eagle Creek Fire than those below. Dry Creek hasn't run dry since the diversion apparatus was decommissioned, and the falls put on a pretty display throughout the year, although with much greater volume in the wet months. After enjoying the spray of the falls in the quietude of this little amphitheater, return the way you came in.
-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 ===
 {{HikeMaps|latitude=45.65701|longitude=-121.86645}}
+* Green Trails Maps: ''Bonneville Dam, OR #429''
+* Green Trails Maps: ''Columbia River Gorge - West #428S''
+* Geo-Graphics: ''Trails of the Columbia Gorge''
+* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management: ''Columbia River Gorge''
+* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ''Hood River Ranger District''
+* U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ''Mt. Hood National Forest''
+* National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: ''Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area''
 === Fees, Regulations, etc. ===
-* During the winter months, the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead is closed. Hikers will need to start this hike from Moody Street.
+* Northwest Forest Pass required at [[Bridge of the Gods Trailhead]]
+* Restrooms and picnic tables at the trailhead
-{{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
+{{TripReports|Dry Creek Falls}}
-* (Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=8 here] to add your own)
-{{RelatedDiscussions|{{PAGENAME}}}}
+{{RelatedDiscussions|Dry Creek Falls}}
-* (Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=141 here] to ask a question or start a conversation)
 === Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
-* ''Day Hike! Columbia Gorge'', by Seabury Blair, Jr.
+* ''Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon'' by Adam Sawyer
-* ''60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Portland'', by Paul Gerald
+* ''PDX Hiking 365'' by Matt Reeder
-* ''Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver'', by Douglas Lorain
+* ''Curious Gorge'' by Scott Cook
-* ''35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge'', by Don & Roberta Lowe
+* ''Beer Hiking: Pacific Northwest'' by Rachel Wood & Brandon Fralic
-* ''Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes'', by Don & Roberta Lowe
+* ''Day Hikes in the Columbia Gorge'' by Don J. Scarmuzzi
-* ''Hiking the Columbia River Gorge'' - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
+* ''Afoot and Afield: Portland/Vancouver'' by Douglas Lorain
-* ''100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon'' - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan
+* ''Day Hike! Columbia Gorge'' by Seabury Blair, Jr.
+* ''Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide'' by Seabury Blair, Jr.
+* ''Day Hiking: Columbia River Gorge'' by Craig Romano
+* ''Hiking the Columbia River Gorge'' by Russ Schneider; revised by Jim Yuskavitch
+* ''Columbia Gorge Getaways'' by Laura O. Foster
+* ''Oregon's Columbia River Gorge: Camping & Hiking'' by Tom Stienstra & Sean Patrick Hill
+* ''70 Virtual Hikes of the Columbia River Gorge'' by Northwest Hiker
+* ''Oregon Hiking'' by Sean Patrick Hill
+* ''Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest'' by Gregory A.Plumb
+* ''Waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge, Volume One: Oregon'' by Zach Forsyth
 === More Links ===
+* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recarea/?recid=30022  Gorge Trail #400 – Cascade Locks to Wyeth (USFS)]
+* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=30058&actid=50  Pacific Crest Trail #2000 – Oregon (USFS)]
+* [http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike39.html  Dry Creek Falls Hike (Northwest Hiker)]
+* [https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/dry-creek-falls  Dry Creek Falls (Washington Trails Association)]
+* [https://www.theoutbound.com/oregon/hiking/hike-to-the-dry-creek-falls  Hike to the Dry Creek Falls (The Outbound Collective)]
+* [https://rootsrated.com/portland-or/hiking/dry-creek-falls  Dry Creek Falls - Hiking (Roots Rated)]
+* [https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/oregon/hikes/dry-creek-falls-hike  Dry Creek Falls Hike (Outdoor Project)]
+* [https://seattlebackpackersmagazine.com/dry-creek-falls/  Dry Creek Falls (Seattle Backpackers Magazine)]
+* [https://gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge/dry-creek-falls-herman-creek-pinnacles-extension.html  Dry Creek Falls (Herman Creek Pinnacles Extension) (Friends of the Columbia Gorge)]
+* [https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2015/09/dry_creek_falls_short_hike_via.html  "Dry Creek Falls short hike via Pacific Crest Trail at Cascade Locks" (Oregon Live)]
+* [http://www.hoodrivernews.com/news/2015/aug/05/gorge-explorer-hike-not-so-dry-dry-creek-falls/  "Gorge Explorer: Hike to the not-so-dry Dry Creek Falls" (Hood River News)]
+* [http://columbiariverhighway.com/dry-creek-falls-trail/  Dry Creek Falls Trail (The Columbia River Highway)]
+* [http://www.columbiarivergorge.info/dry-creek-falls.html  Dry Creek Falls (Columbia River Gorge)]
+* [https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Dry-Creek-Falls-4013  Dry Creek Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)]
 === Contributors ===
 * [[User:Stevefromdodge|Stevefromdodge]] (outline)
+* [[User:Splintercat|Splintercat]]

Difference between revisions of "Dry Creek Falls Hike"

Difference between revisions of "Dry Creek Falls Hike"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

Revision as of 17:59, 26 December 2018

Contents

Hike Description

Maps

Fees, Regulations, etc.

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

More Links

Contributors