Vicinity Location: The trailhead is 39 miles east of Portland, OR in the Columbia River Gorge.

Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east for about 40 miles and take exit #44 for Cascade Locks. Drive into town for .3 mile, heading east. Look for the sign for Wasco Street and turn right. 

Drive one block and turn right on Moody and drive to the freeway overpass.

Near the freeway underpass is some parking on the shoulder. Alternately, go under the freeway, drive about 100 feet farther and turn left, following the pavement.. The road will turn into Sternwheeler Drive. Park on the right side of the street beginning at the chainlink fence. 

To get to the trailhead from the alternate parking, walk back downhill and walk left, instead of turning right to Moody. Take the gravel road on and walk uphill about 120 feet. The Pacific Crest Trailhead will be on your left.

There is no bathroom at the trailhead. The closest public restroom is at the Bridge of the Gods rest area which is just before the toll booth. These restrooms and parking area are open seasonally.

No permits are needed to park at the trailhead.

Length and Elevation:
3.7 miles round trip Elevation gain 750 feet and loss of 150 feet. Total gain and loss is 1,800 feet. Elevation at the trailhead is 240 feet, Dry Creek Falls is at 850 feet.

Trail:
Pacific Crest Trail #2000.

Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Download Garmin .gpx file 

Review: April 22, 2012.
One of the first things you come to on the trail is a small brook that is an easy step-across stream with stepping stones provided. From the brook, the trail continues gradually uphill through a beautiful forest on a beautifully engineered trail with sweeping switchbacks. The trail passes through an emerald carpet of mosses and other green plants on the forest floor.

After walking .8 mile the trail comes to a service road. Walk up the service road about 200 feet and you’ll see the sign for the Pacific Crest Trail pointing straight into the woods, just after you pass underneath the powerline.

The trail becomes progressively rockier as it climbs away from Cascade locks. After walking for about 1.1 miles uphill on a gentle grade the trail goes over the toe of a mountain ridge. From here there are some limited views into Dry Creek Valley through the somewhat open forest. It is a delightful woodsy trail through the forest with Ladyslipper Orchids and Trillium along the trail. 

The trail drops gradually down to another service road and a trail bridge over Dry Creek Falls at 1.6 miles from the trailhead. Turn right, before crossing the bridge, and walk up the service road for about .25 mile to the falls. The creek drowns out any remaining noises from the trains running continually up and down the Gorge.

The service road is somewhat steep as it follows close to the creek up to Dry Creek Falls. The waterfall is about a 60 foot plunge type waterfall coming from a cleft in the basalt cliffs. There is a headgate structure near the falls for a pipeline that leads to Cascade Locks. It used to supply water to Cascade Locks but it looks like the structure has been abandoned to time and the elements.

This trail is one of the prettiest forest trails in the Gorge with mostly gentle grades and a trail that curves gracefully through a lush second growth forest. This trail is okay for children and pets. There is one steep slope traversed where the trail passes on the forested shoulder of a mountain about 1.1 miles from the trailhead. Remember the Pacific Crest Trail is open to horses. Always leash your dog and find a safe place to stand downhill off the trail until the horses pass.

Enjoy the photos!!

Gallery Pics

Switchback Steve

Avalanche Evaluation Information

Length and Elevation:
4.4 miles round trip. Elevation gain 1,130 feet and loss 1,130 feet round trip. Elevation at the trailhead at 5,400 feet, highest point is at 5,800 feet. Lowest elevation is 4,800 feet. The Jackson Memorial Visitors Center is elevation 5,400 feet.

Trail:
Paradise Valley Road, Mazama Ridge Trail, and Narada Falls Trail with connections to Barn Flats Trail. Note, these trails have different names in the summer.

Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Park Service Map, National Park Winter Map, Download Garmin .gpx file-Early Winter Route, Download Garmin .gpx file-Late Winter Route

Review: March 24th, 2012
Before going on this trip, click here to check the NW Avalanche Center or ask a Park Ranger when entering the park, at the Longmire museum, or at the visitor’s center at Paradise. If avalanche danger is higher than moderate then evaluate conditions very carefully before taking this trip. There are two small exposed slopes and one long avalanche runout encountered between Paradise Valley Road and Mazama Ridge.

 When driving past Ashford keep an eye out for elk. I saw a herd of about 15 elk grazing on the left side of the road. I thought I could get some pictures but the elk turned skittish as I stopped, so I drove away so they wouldn’t run off. When I got to Longmire the road was already open for the day and the pavement looked like I didn’t need cable chains, so I drove up to Paradise.

The weather wasn’t as nice as I had hoped for but the clouds were high and the winds were low. I strapped on my showshoes and headed down Paradise Road admiring the snow clad Tatoosh mountains.

After .6 mile turn off the road at waypoint LVRD, N46° 47.408’ W121° 43.601’. The spot to leave the road and turn uphill is where the road makes a sweeping turn of about 90°, just after crossing Paradise River, and passing a small clump of trees on the left. Head up 4th Crossing Trail keeping close to the uphill trees when possible. On the way up I noticed two showshoers turning off the road before Paradise River. That route forces you to cross an avalanche slope.

I went uphill, keeping mostly to the trees to avoid avalanche danger. Continuing towards Mazama Ridge the trail passes a couple of small exposed areas and comes out to a flat area. I headed towards the trees at the end of the flat area, and then proceeded uphill to the right, towards Mazama Ridge. On the way up, I looked back and saw the 2 snowshoers heading towards me and about to cross an avalanche slope. Later in the day, I met these two snowshoers, Frank and Kip.

Walking through the small copses of trees was enchanting. A warm wind had blew the day before and made thousands of glistening icicles on all the trees. After leaving the road and walking about .6 mile I passed the trees and reached the ridge.

From the ridge I had expansive views of the Tatoosh Range and what I could see of Mt. Rainier. I headed down the ridge, enjoying the mountain views. The weather deteriorated a bit and it started to snow lightly. It was beautiful with filtered sun mixing with the snowflakes.

I walked generally southwest and found a place for lunch. I stopped by some fox tracks, hoping to see some wildlife. The only wildlife I saw was Kip and Frank snowshoeing down a draw towards Reflection Lakes. 

I headed down towards Narada Falls, meeting several people heading up the ridge. I passed the campsite where a friend and I had been 3 weeks ago and there wasn’t a trace of our camp. The snow wall that Kevin had built was completely obliterated. 

By now several people had tramped out a path down the ridge for me to follow. After walking down the ridge about 1.8 miles I reached the junction to Reflection Lakes. From here the descent steepens down to Paradise Valley Road. Once I got down to Paradise Valley Road I used my GPS to find the Narada Trail. I had to wander around a bit, but I found the footbridge over Paradise River. I walked carefully on the untrodden snow bridge and rejoined the trail. From there I headed up to Barns Flat where I waited for the weather to clear but those stubborn clouds kept hanging around. 

I walked back to the trailhead at Paradise and the sun came out. I went back down Paradise Valley Road to get more photos and met two snowshoers who offered to take my picture. It turned out to be Kip and Frank, who I had seen in the morning and just before noon. 

What a coincidence that I would have seen these two men three different times in the same day. They snowshoed an out-and-back to Reflection Lakes. 

We traded contact information and I hope to go hiking with them sometime. 

Enjoy the photos!!

Gallery Pics

Switchback Steve

Vicinity Location: 61 miles  southeast of Seattle in Mt. Rainier National Park.

Directions:
From Portland, take I-5 North and take exit 68 to Hwy 12. Take Hwy 12 for about 30 miles to Morton. Turn left on Hwy 7 and drive about 17 miles to Hwy 706. Turn right on Hwy 706 and drive to the Nisqually entrance on the west side of Mt. Rainier National Park. Drive about three miles from the entrance and cross the bridge over Kautz Creek. Continue to Longmire and take a right turn just after the lodge. Drive about .1 mile and park on the right.

From Seattle, take I-5 South to Hwy 512 East and go towards Puyallup (Exit 127). Follow Hwy 512 East for about 2 miles. Turn south onto Hwy 7 towards Mt. Rainier. Follow Hwy 7 south to Elbe. At Elbe, turn left onto Hwy 706, travel through Ashford, and then to the Nisqually entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park. Drive about three miles from the entrance and cross the bridge over Kautz Creek. Continue to Longmire and take a right turn just after the lodge. Drive about .1 mile and park on the right in the parking lot.

Flush toilets are available at Longmire.

Pets aren’t allowed on National Park trails.

National Park Entrance fee of $15.00 or Annual Pass is required to enter the park.

Length and Elevation:
7.5 miles round trip. Elevation gain 555 feet and 30 feet loss. Total gain and loss is 1,170 feet. Elevation at the trailhead is 3,165 feet, the high point of the trail is 3,920 feet.

Trail:
Wonderland Trail. Connections to Trail of Shadows, Rampart Ridge Trail.

Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Park Service Map, Download Garmin .gpx file

Review: February 18, 2012

This is a great snowshoe trip to take when the road to Paradise is closed. However the log bridge over the Nisqually River by Cougar Rock Campground is washed out during the winter about 2 of every 5 years. Make sure the log bridge is in before going on this trip.

From the Longmire museum, walk across the road towards the gate across the road. Look for the Wonderland Trail which is about 30 feet to the right of the road. There is a junction of the Wonderland Trail in a few hundred feet where you will continue straight ahead. The trail goes gently uphill through the woods between the road and the Nisqually River. Sometimes the trail is close to the road, other time it is close to the river. 

Since the road is closed then there will only be administrative vehicles and plows on the road. Lucky for us no plows came by when we were close to the road. I would hate to be plastered by wet snow from a plow.  

After about 1.5 miles the trail passes a junction to Cougar Rock Campground. Continue  straight, keeping on the Wonderland Trail. In about .2 mile the trail drops down to cross the Nisqually River.    

Once across the Nisqually, look for where Paradise River joins the Nisqually. The trail is on the left side of Paradise River, about 50 feet from the river. Walk up a slope to the bench above the river and enjoy one of the few flat areas of the trail. This nice stroll lasts about .25 mile and then the trail starts to climb and in almost no time, you’re climbing along Paradise River, enjoying the views of the mountain slopes and the river below. 

As the trail climbs the hill, it passes an old wood-stave water pipe. The pipe is covered with metal bands. This pipe supplied water to a powerplant that was once on the bank of the Nisqually. There used to be powerlines across the Nisqually, but have been removed.  

In about .6 mile from the Nisqually and  600 feet higher, you reach Carter Falls. Though it is a bit hard to see, it sounds wonderful. From the falls, walk just a bit farther to Madcap Falls. This is more a steeply sloping riverbed than a waterfall but you have a great view of it. The steep trail is mostly past and the trail soon passes little side streams and wet areas where the standing water keeps the snow melted. 

Watch out for places where the snow hides voids. There won't be many that a snowshoe will fall into but walkers could well find some nasy step-through places.

In about .5 mile farther, the trail crosses the first of three strong bridges. The third bridge crosses the largest branch of Paradise River. I can remember hiking through this area in the summer before these bridges were built. These bridges have to be really strong because of the weight of winter snows. 

Soon after crossing the last bridge, the trail curves to the left around a large fir tree. Paradise River Camp is off to the right and back towards Paradise River a bit. If you want to find the camp, look for the bear pole which is left up all year. 

After enjoying the winter scenery, retrace your steps, taking time to look at the interplay of the snow on the tree bark or the texture of lichen on the rocks. Be careful about going off trail becaus of voids under the snow. I found a hole along the rive over eight feet deep.

 This is a wonderful snowshoe trip because of all the water along the trail. Avalanche danger is low along this section of the Wonderland Trail. There is just one bare slope to watch for avalanches.

Review: October 30, 2011
The trail enters the woods and leads past the Wilderness area registration box. The wide trail comes out to the bank of the Sandy River. You can see evidence of erosion and undercutting. Don’t venture too close to the edge of the bank. It could collapse if you get too near the edge.