Difference between revisions of "Starvation Creek Waterfalls Hike"

Revision as of 00:28, 23 September 2019

Lower tier of Lancaster Falls (Steve Hart)

Dog Mountain from the Historic Columbia River Highway (bobcat)

Rest circle, Historic Columbia River Highway (bobcat)

Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), Historic Columbia River Highway (bobcat)

Broad-leaf stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium), Mt. Defiance Trail (bobcat)

Cascade rock cress (Arabis furcata) along the trail (cfm)

Hole in the Wall Falls (Steve Hart)

The route described shown in yellow; other trails in orange (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: Google Maps

Start point: Starvation Creek Trailhead
End point:Lancaster Falls
Trail Log: Trail Log
Hike Type: Out and back with spurs
Distance: 4.3 miles
Elevation gain: 145 feet
High point: 285 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Seasons: All year
Family Friendly: Yes
Backpackable: No
Crowded: Yes

Nettles

Poison-Oak

This hike is the easiest way to see four Columbia River Gorge waterfalls from the Starvation Creek Trailhead. The other, perhaps more scenic, option is the Lower Starvation Loop Hike, which offers high views and wildflowers, but also steep inclines and a lot of poison oak! On this hike, you will be sticking mostly to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, with a short spur off of it up to Lancaster Falls. All of the falls except Lancaster Falls are universal access.

Your first waterfall will be Starvation Creek Falls. In the parking area, you’ll see a plaque commemorating the beginning of construction on the Columbia River Highway in 1912. As noted on a smaller plaque above, this information was once posted about two miles west at Shellrock Mountain, but was moved here because of new highway construction. The Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail heads east above the restrooms. Below the restrooms is a shady picnic area circled by a paved loop trail that uses a footbridge over Starvation Creek. At a junction for the Waterfall Picnic Area, you’ll see an interpretive sign telling about a train that got stranded in a snow bank here in December 1884. Passengers were trapped for three weeks, but Gorge residents helped out by skiing in with supplies. Although nobody died, this incident gave the creek and waterfall their current names. Hike up to the small picnic area and a view of 190-foot, two-tiered Starvation Creek Falls. The lower tier is partially obscured by a huge boulder that peeled off from the cliffs above. A user trail crosses the creek and heads up for a closer look, but you won’t really get a better sighting than the picnic area offers.

Return to the Starvation Creek Trailhead, and begin hiking west next to the freeway on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. Get views to the the twin microdioritic intrusions of Shellrock Mountain and Wind Mountain as well as Dog Mountain right across the river. Enter shady maple woods, and look down to see markers dedicating this restored section of the Historic Columbia River Highway. Then pass the Historic Columbia River Highway-Starvation Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction. In spring, candy flower blooms profusely alongside the paved surface. Reach two-tiered, 220-foot Cabin Creek Falls, where a huge fallen basalt boulder creates an almost hidden amphitheater. The waterfall sprays directly into this hidden area. A scramble trail leads up to a rock overhang and the base of the falls.

The Historic Columbia River Highway heads back out to the freeway under a Douglas-fir/big-leaf maple canopy. At an open area, arrive at the Historic Columbia River Highway-Mount Defiance Trail Junction. You'll be turning off here to head the short distance to Hole in the Wall Falls and Lancaster Falls, but first keep going west to reach the Warren Creek Bridge, opened in 2016 but emulating the style of the old highway bridges. A couple of ponderosa pines at the west end of the bridge remind us that we are, indeed, in the east Gorge! Pass a circular rock rest area on the left, and then reach the freeway again. A road track leads up the slope to the power line corridor (This is also a way to reach Lindsey Creek Falls as well as the route of the original Mt. Defiance Trail). Get more fine views of Dog Mountain, and reach the crossing of Lindsey Creek. Another section of the Historic Columbia River Highway, opened in 2019, continues from here. There are two more waterfalls up the creek: multi-tiered Harrison Falls is closer to the highway, while Lindsey Creek Falls is half a mile above Harrison Falls. There are no official trails to either, so unless you're bushwhacking, turn around.

Return to the Historic Columbia River Highway-Mount Defiance Trail Junction, and take a right on a paved trail that passes through a circular picnic area. The Mount Defiance Trail picks up its normal tread here, and 95-foot Hole in the Wall Falls can be viewed from the picnic circle. This waterfall is an unusual manmade affair. Highway crews drilled a tunnel through the rock and diverted Warren Creek here in 1938 to resolve issues with the creek undermining the highway. The water emerges from a lengthy tunnel and immediately falls, creating the waterfall. Hikers looking for a little more historical interest can follow the old creek bed a little to the original location of Warren Creek Falls, which now runs only in a rainstorm.

From here, you'll take the footbridge below Hole in the Wall Falls. The trail begins a modest climb, gaining about 140 feet in elevation. You'll reach the powerline corridor, where there's another trail junction, this time with the Starvation Ridge Trail. Honeysuckle, snowberry, stonecrop, and white spiraea bloom here in the spring. Stay to the right. Soon the trail reaches Wonder Creek and the lower tier of Lancaster Falls. The waterfall seems small at first glance, but from the right angle, the tall 250-foot upper tier is visible through the trees (The best place to get an accurate impression of Lancaster Falls is by traveling the freeway westbound and pulling off at the weigh station west of the Starvation Creek Trailhead. From late fall to the beginning of spring, before the maples leaf out, you'll get a clear view of the waterfall above. You should only attempt this stop when the weigh station is closed, usually on weekends.).

After enjoying the spray from Lancaster Falls' little 20-foot lower tier, return down the Mount Defiance Trail to to your vehicle.

Maps

Maps: Hike Finder
Historic Columbia River Highway Bike Map (Oregon State Parks)
Green Trails Maps: Hood River, OR #430
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

Regulations, facilities, etc

Restrooms and picnic areas
Dogs on leash

Trip Reports

Search Trip Reports for Starvation Creek Waterfalls Hike

Related Discussions / Q&A

Search Trail Q&A for Starvation Creek Waterfalls Hike
Warren Lake and HCRH Construction Project, April 16, 2016

Guidebooks that cover this hike

Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon by Adam Sawyer
Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide by Seabury Blair, Jr.
Hiking the Columbia River Gorge by Russ Schneider; revised by Jim Yuskavitch
Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
The Columbia Gorge: Short Trips and Trails by Oral Bullard & Don Lowe
Waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge - Volume One: Oregon by Zach Forsyth
Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest by Gregory A. Plumb
Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
Oregon State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide by Jan Bannan
The Dog Lover's Companion to Oregon by Val Mallinson

Contributors

Stevefromdodge (creator)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[Category:Northwest Oregon]]
 [[Category:Columbia River Gorge]]
 [[Category:State Parks]]
 [[Category:Waterfall Hikes]]
+[[Category:All Season Hikes]]
+[[Category:Family Hikes]]
+[[Category:Crowded Hikes]]
+[[Category:Universal Access Hikes]]
 [[Category:Easy Hikes]]
 [[Category:Hikes]]
-[[Image:LancasterFalls3.JPG|thumb|300px|Lancaster Falls ''(Steve Hart)'']]
+[[Image:LancasterFalls3.JPG|thumb|260px|Lower tier of Lancaster Falls ''(Steve Hart)'']]
-[[Image:HoleintheWallFalls1.JPG|thumb|188px|Hole in the Wall Falls ''(Steve Hart)'']]
+[[Image:Dog Mountain from the HCRH, Starvation Creek.jpg|thumb|250px|Dog Mountain from the Historic Columbia River Highway ''(bobcat)'']]
-[[Image:Arabis.jpg|thumb|188px|Cascade rock cress (''Arabis furcata'') along the trail ''(cfm)'']]
+[[Image:Rest circle, HCRH, Starvation Creek.jpg|thumb|250px|Rest circle, Historic Columbia River Highway ''(bobcat)'']]
+[[Image:Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), HCRH, Starvation Creek.jpg|thumb|250px|Thimbleberry ''(Rubus parviflorus)'', Historic Columbia River Highway ''(bobcat)'']]
+[[Image:Broad-leaf stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium), Mt. Defiance Trail.jpg|thumb|250px|Broad-leaf stonecrop ''(Sedum spathulifolium)'', Mt. Defiance Trail ''(bobcat)'']]
+[[Image:Arabis.jpg|thumb|250px|Cascade rock cress ''(Arabis furcata)'' along the trail ''(cfm)'']]
+[[Image:HoleintheWallFalls1.JPG|thumb|160px|Hole in the Wall Falls ''(Steve Hart)'']]
+[[Image:StarvationCreekWaterfallsMap.png|thumb|600px|The route described shown in yellow; other trails in orange (not a GPS track) ''(bobcat)'' Courtesy: ''Google Maps'']]
 {{Start point|Starvation Creek Trailhead}}
 * End point:[[Lancaster Falls]]
 * Trail Log: [[Lancaster Falls Hike/Log | Trail Log]]
-* Hike Type:Out and Back
+* Hike Type: Out and back with spurs
-{{Distance|1.8 miles}}
+{{Distance|4.3 miles}}
-{{Elevation gain|160 feet}}
+{{Elevation gain|145 feet}}
+* High point: 285 feet
 {{Difficulty|Easy}}
-* Seasons: Year round
+* Seasons: All year
 * Family Friendly: Yes
 * Backpackable: No
-* Crowded: No
+* Crowded: Yes
+{{Hazards|n=y|p=y}}
 === Hike Description ===
-There are four waterfalls near the [[Starvation Creek Trailhead|Starvation Creek Rest Area]]. [[Starvation Creek Falls]] is easily reached by a short trail right at the rest area. The other three waterfalls are all accessible from the lower reaches of the Mount Defiance Trail.
+<b><font color=red>NOTICE: As of July 2018, the Starvation Creek Cutoff Trail #414B had been closed due to a dangerous slide. </font color></b>
-The trail starts right on the restored section on the original Historic Columbia River Highway. There's a junction with the [[Mount Defiance-Starvation Cutoff Trail Junction|Starvation Cutoff Trail]], which provides a bit of a shortcut to Starvation Ridge. The first waterfall [[Cabin Creek Falls]] is just past this trail junction. There's a huge fallen basalt boulder here, that creates an almost hidden amphitheater. The waterfall sprays directly into this hidden area.
+This hike is the easiest way to see four [[Columbia River Gorge]] waterfalls from the [[Starvation Creek Trailhead]]. The other, perhaps more scenic, option is the [[Lower Starvation Loop Hike]], which offers high views and wildflowers, but also steep inclines and a lot of poison oak! On this hike, you will be sticking mostly to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, with a short spur off of it up to [[Lancaster Falls]]. All of the falls except [[Lancaster Falls]] are universal access.
-Continuing on, the Mount Defiance Trail leaves the old highway and comes to [[Hole in the Wall Falls]]. This waterfall is an unusual manmade affair. Highway crews drilled a tunnel through the rock and diverted Warren Creek here in the 1930s. The water emerges from the tunnel and immediately falls, creating the waterfall. Hikers looking for a little more historical interest can follow the old creek bed a bit to the original location of Warren Creek falls, now dry.
+Your first waterfall will be [[Starvation Creek Falls]]. In the parking area, you’ll see a plaque commemorating the beginning of construction on the Columbia River Highway in 1912. As noted on a smaller plaque above, this information was once posted about two miles west at [[Shellrock Mountain (Columbia Gorge)|Shellrock Mountain]], but was moved here because of new highway construction. The Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail heads east above the restrooms. Below the restrooms is a shady picnic area circled by a paved loop trail that uses a footbridge over Starvation Creek. At a junction for the Waterfall Picnic Area, you’ll see an interpretive sign telling about a train that got stranded in a snow bank here in December 1884. Passengers were trapped for three weeks, but Gorge residents helped out by skiing in with supplies. Although nobody died, this incident gave the creek and waterfall their current names. Hike up to the small picnic area and a view of 190-foot, two-tiered [[Starvation Creek Falls]]. The lower tier is partially obscured by a huge boulder that peeled off from the cliffs above. A user trail crosses the creek and heads up for a closer look, but you won’t really get a better sighting than the picnic area offers.
-From here, the trail begins a modest climb, gaining about 200 feet in elevation. There's another trail junction, this time with the [[Mount Defiance-Starvation Ridge Trail Junction|Starvation Ridge Trail]]. Stay to the right. Soon the trail reaches the lower tier of [[Lancaster Falls]]. The waterfall seems small at first glance, but from the right angle, the large upper tier is visible through the trees.
+Return to the [[Starvation Creek Trailhead]], and begin hiking west next to the freeway on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. Get views to the the twin microdioritic intrusions of [[Shellrock Mountain (Columbia Gorge)|Shellrock Mountain]] and [[Wind Mountain]] as well as [[Dog Mountain]] right across the river. Enter shady maple woods, and look down to see markers dedicating this restored section of the Historic Columbia River Highway. Then pass the [[Historic Columbia River Highway-Starvation Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction]]. In spring, candy flower blooms profusely alongside the paved surface. Reach two-tiered, 220-foot [[Cabin Creek Falls]], where a huge fallen basalt boulder creates an almost hidden amphitheater. The waterfall sprays directly into this hidden area. A scramble trail leads up to a rock overhang and the base of the falls.
+The Historic Columbia River Highway heads back out to the freeway under a Douglas-fir/big-leaf maple canopy. At an open area, arrive at the [[Historic Columbia River Highway-Mount Defiance Trail Junction]]. You'll be turning off here to head the short distance to [[Hole in the Wall Falls]] and [[Lancaster Falls]], but first keep going west to reach the [[Warren Creek Bridge (Columbia Gorge)|Warren Creek Bridge]], opened in 2016 but emulating the style of the old highway bridges. A couple of ponderosa pines at the west end of the bridge remind us that we are, indeed, in the east Gorge! Pass a circular rock rest area on the left, and then reach the freeway again. A road track leads up the slope to the power line corridor (This is also a way to reach Lindsey Creek Falls as well as the route of the original Mt. Defiance Trail). Get more fine views of [[Dog Mountain]], and reach the crossing of [[Lindsey Creek]]. Another section of the Historic Columbia River Highway, opened in 2019, continues from here. There are two more waterfalls up the creek: multi-tiered Harrison Falls is closer to the highway, while Lindsey Creek Falls is half a mile above Harrison Falls. There are no official trails to either, so unless you're bushwhacking, turn around.
+Return to the [[Historic Columbia River Highway-Mount Defiance Trail Junction]], and take a right on a paved trail that passes through a circular picnic area. The Mount Defiance Trail picks up its normal tread here, and 95-foot [[Hole in the Wall Falls]] can be viewed from the picnic circle. This waterfall is an unusual manmade affair. Highway crews drilled a tunnel through the rock and diverted Warren Creek here in 1938 to resolve issues with the creek undermining the highway. The water emerges from a lengthy tunnel and immediately falls, creating the waterfall. Hikers looking for a little more historical interest can follow the old creek bed a little to the original location of Warren Creek Falls, which now runs only in a rainstorm.
+From here, you'll take the footbridge below [[Hole in the Wall Falls]]. The trail begins a modest climb, gaining about 140 feet in elevation. You'll reach the powerline corridor, where there's another trail junction, this time with the [[Mount Defiance-Starvation Ridge Trail Junction|Starvation Ridge Trail]]. Honeysuckle, snowberry, stonecrop, and white spiraea bloom here in the spring. Stay to the right. Soon the trail reaches Wonder Creek and the lower tier of [[Lancaster Falls]]. The waterfall seems small at first glance, but from the right angle, the tall 250-foot upper tier is visible through the trees (The best place to get an accurate impression of [[Lancaster Falls]] is by traveling the freeway westbound and pulling off at the weigh station west of the [[Starvation Creek Trailhead]]. From late fall to the beginning of spring, before the maples leaf out, you'll get a clear view of the waterfall above. You should only attempt this stop when the weigh station is closed, usually on weekends.).
+After enjoying the spray from [[Lancaster Falls]]' little 20-foot lower tier, return down the Mount Defiance Trail to to your vehicle.
 === Maps ===
-{{HikeMaps|latitude=45.68613|longitude=-121.69315}}
+{{HikeMaps|latitude=45.6870|longitude=-121.7028}}
+* [https://oregonstateparks.org/ckFiles/files/HCRH_BikeMaps.pdf  Historic Columbia River Highway Bike Map (Oregon State Parks)]
+* Green Trails Maps: ''Hood River, OR #430''
+* 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''
-=== Regulations or restrictions, etc ===
+=== Regulations, facilities, etc ===
-* None
+* Restrooms and picnic areas
+* Dogs on leash
-{{TripReports|Lancaster Falls}}
+{{TripReports|Starvation Creek Waterfalls Hike}}
-{{RelatedDiscussions|Lancaster Falls}}
+{{RelatedDiscussions|Starvation Creek Waterfalls Hike}}
+* [https://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23648  Warren Lake and HCRH Construction Project, April 16, 2016]
 === Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
+* ''Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon'' by Adam Sawyer
+* ''Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide'' by Seabury Blair, Jr.
+* ''Hiking the Columbia River Gorge'' by Russ Schneider; revised by Jim Yuskavitch
+* ''Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver'' by Douglas Lorain
+* ''The Columbia Gorge: Short Trips and Trails'' by Oral Bullard & Don Lowe
+* ''Waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge - Volume One: Oregon'' by Zach Forsyth
+* ''Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest'' by Gregory A. Plumb
+* ''Oregon Hiking'' by Sean Patrick Hill
+* ''Pacific Northwest Hiking'' by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
+* ''Oregon State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide'' by Jan Bannan
+* ''The Dog Lover's Companion to Oregon'' by Val Mallinson
 === More Links ===
-* See more information at [http://www.somewebsite.com Describe the link here]
+* [https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=122  Starvation Creek State Park (Oregon State Parks)]
+* [https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=113  Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail (Oregon State Parks)]
+* [https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Starvation-Creek-Falls-3886  Starvation Creek Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)]
+* [https://gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge/starvation-creek-falls.html  Starvation Creek Falls (Friends of the Columbia Gorge)]
+* [https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Cabin-Creek-Falls-3885  Cabin Creek Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)]
+* [https://waterfallrecord.com/2010/07/07/868/  Cabin Creek Falls (The Waterfall Record)]
+* [http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=cabin-creek-falls-1561  Cabin Creek Falls (WaterfallsWest)]
+* [https://gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge/hole-in-the-wall-falls-.html  Hole-in-the-Wall Falls (Friends of the Columbia Gorge)]
+* [https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Hole-In-The-Wall-Falls-3887  Hole-In-The-Wall Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)]
+* [https://www.protrails.com/trail/884/portland-columbia-river-gorge-hole-in-the-wall-falls  Hole in the Wall Falls - 1.4 miles (Pro Trails)]
+* [https://gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge/lancaster-falls.html  Lancaster Falls (Friends of the Columbia Gorge)]
+* [https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Lancaster-Falls-4001  Lancaster Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)]
+* [http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=lancaster-falls-438  Lancaster Falls (WaterfallsWest)]
+* [http://hikelandia.com/?p=3124  Starvation Creek State Park Waterfall Hike (Spring) (Hikelandia)]
+* [https://www.theoutbound.com/oregon/hiking/hike-to-warren-and-lancaster-falls  Hike to Warren and Lancaster Falls (The Outbound Collective)]
+* [https://wyeastblog.org/2012/06/08/starvation-creek-loop-hike/  Starvation Creek Loop Hike (WyEast Blog)]
+* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recarea/?recid=82209  HCRH State Trail – Mitchell Point segment (USFS)]
+* [http://columbiariverhighway.com/columbia-river-highway-history/  Historic Columbia River Highway History (The Columbia River Highway)]
+* [http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/09/new_columbia_river_gorge_trail.html  “New Columbia River Gorge trail adds to 73-mile bike path, walking route” (Oregon Live)]
 === Contributors ===
 * [[User:Stevefromdodge|Stevefromdodge]] (creator)

Difference between revisions of "Starvation Creek Waterfalls Hike"

Difference between revisions of "Starvation Creek Waterfalls Hike"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

Revision as of 00:28, 23 September 2019

Contents

Hike Description

Maps

Regulations, facilities, etc

Trip Reports

Related Discussions / Q&A

Guidebooks that cover this hike

More Links

Contributors