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The Lewis River Falls hike definitely delivers on the waterfalls. Glacial melt from Mount Adams feeds the Lewis River and leads to stunning waterfall drops at Lower, Middle and Upper Lewis River Falls. Photographers, fisherman and those looking to take a (chilly) dip in the river will be presented with dozens if not hundreds of options.
Driving into Lower Lewis River Falls from NF-90, you’ll find a large campground and toilet facilities. From this parking area for Lower Lewis River Falls it is a short, 500-foot trek to a vista overlooking the 43-foot tall, 200-foot wide Lower Falls. Once you’ve taken in the views and taken some good photographs, continue following the trail up along the Lewis River.
Just before you hit the Middle Falls you’ll see a path that forks off along the trail to Copper Creek Falls. This quarter mile hike off the main path is strongly recommended, as Copper Creek Falls is surrounded by a lush landscape and can be directly seen from a bridge crossing.
Returning to the main path and heading up river you’ll reach the dramatic, 300-foot wide Middle Falls that drops 33 feet over multiple tiers.
Continuing up along the river, you’ll have yet another great destination to reach. Upper Lewis Falls looks remarkably similar to Lower Lewis River Falls, but it is even larger. With a 58-foot drop and a 175-foot span, Upper Lewis River Falls is the tallest of the four major falls on this section of the river.
Logistics + Planning
Preferable season(s)
Spring
Summer
Fall
Congestion
Moderate
Parking Pass
NW Forest Pass
Pros
Multiple large waterfalls. Old-growth forest. Wild flowers and fishing.
This was a great trail and the waterfalls were spectacular! From the lower falls to the upper Falls, my GPS recorded about a 6 mile round trip. There were a few patches of snow but the trail and road were mostly clear, and we only saw one other person on the trail.
NF 90 had a section of dirt road that was seriously congested this weekend. There was a small section that was significantly pot-holed and on an incline which made it difficult for cars to pass through. As a result, many people decided to simply park their cars there and walk the remaining mile or so to the campground.
The 0.3M section of the trail that the Middle Falls rests on is closed so you'll have to go around it via the Middle Falls Trailhead and the Copper Creek Falls.
The camp sites at the Upper Falls are all right on the river and are well suited for 1-2 hammocks/tents. You could probably squeeze in a third, but it would be a tight fit.
Comments
The 0.3M section of the trail that the Middle Falls rests on is closed so you'll have to go around it via the Middle Falls Trailhead and the Copper Creek Falls.
The camp sites at the Upper Falls are all right on the river and are well suited for 1-2 hammocks/tents. You could probably squeeze in a third, but it would be a tight fit.
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