Outbound Collective logo

Michael GabbertExplorer

Minnesotan. Livin' in the North. Email: mjgabbert@gmail.com

A short hike from the Horsetail Falls area and parking lot. The ability to walk behind the falls was why I was originally drawn to hike these falls. That aspect did not disappoint. Going here in the winter, gave the falls an additional feature of 3 to 6 foot icicles hanging down behind the falls. From a crowd perspective, I went around 11am on a Friday and there were 8-10 people visiting the falls during the 45 minutes I spent there. All in all another must see falls in an area full of amazing waterfalls.

Trekked this trail in January. I'd highly recommend bringing micro spikes with you if you go in the December to February timeframe. I did not and took a number of spills as I hiked to the falls. The hike to the falls was longer than I had anticipated despite it being a shorter hike. The layers of the waterfalls are amazing. In my mind I had envisioned the falls to be larger, but this didn't take away from the experience once there at all. If you are near the Columbia River Gorge, definitely put this on your list of trails and falls to explore!

I visited the falls in early January. Since the road in was covered in a bit of snow, I parked in the main lot. This made the trek to the falls a bit more confusing and likely took longer than it normally would in the spring or summer months. However, once I got to the short trail which leads to the falls, it was smooth sailing. The falls are absolutely stunning in the winter and probably less busy than the summer months. I went around 9am on a Thursday and had the place to myself for a solid 45 minutes.

Great trip report by Lorene. The lower falls themselves are stunning and the middle and upper falls are fun to see as well. My biggest suggestion would be to go late summer or early fall. In the winter, spring, or early summer the water flow of the river might be too significant for the beautiful cascading flow you see in most pictures of the lower falls.

Great spot right outside of Vancouver. Not a ton to explore but there are solid views abound. As other reviewers state, walk the rock bridge to the island for the best views.

Just 60 minutes from Portland, the trailhead was quite busy. However, most of these people seemed to be doing just the Mirror Lake trail. The hike to the summit is straightforward w/ a nice break at Mirror Lake about 1/2 way up. Once at the summit I was amazed at the Mt Hood view. Absolutely nothing between me and the mountain. It was a crystal clear day so I could see peak after peak (Mt Jefferson, Mt Washington, and possibly Mt Bachelor) across the horizon as well. Staying until Sunset made for a doozy of a hike down in the dark, but it was well worth it.

Literally just an old school bus in the middle of nowhere. But that's what makes it so damn intriguing. It doesn't take more than 5 minutes to explore, but I came away thoroughly enjoying the time spent in, on top of, and all around the bus soaking in the moment and taking pictures. Definitely go if you find yourself in SE Washington.

Great views from the lookout points. Driving here is the biggest challenge since because its the most NW point in the US, you really have to set this as a destination. The boardwalk through the forest to the lookout points is quite impressive. We spent about 15 minutes taking in the views so all-in-all its less than a one hour excursion.

Pictures cant even do this place justice. We toured the lower canyon. Went mid-day to attempt to see the light beams and were not disappointing. The tour we used was Ken's Tours which I thought was very solid. As a couple other reviewers say, I'd HIGHLY recommend the Photography Tour as it gives you double the time in the Canyon. Also, I'm not sure if this is normal but since we had so many people in the tour, 1/2 of us started from the back of the canyon. This made the crowding issue much less of a problem since we weren't stuck within the myriads of other tour groups.

As other reviewers elude to, the falls are absolutely spectacular. The dual falls along with the bridge suspended over the middle is a sight to be seen. That said, the location of it being directly off the highway makes it accessible to virtually anyone. To see the falls you only need to walk a couple steps from your car. The accessibility is great, but this leads to an ever crowded environment. If you can, go at dawn or early in the morning for the smallest crowds.

Slightly over-hyped in my opinion but if you're in Vancouver area this is still a place you should see at least once. Don't get me wrong, this is a stunning bridge and area but the cost and crowds can be less than ideal. If anything, aim to be there first thing in the morning.

Rialto Beach is a gem. Strolling along the coast with the seastacks lining your walk is absolutely stunning. Camping overnight makes it even more stunning. Not only is there solitude once the droves of people are gone, but on a clear night the stars and milky way are brilliant. The seastacks make for perfect foreground when taking pictures. Be prepared for your tent to be pretty moist when you wake up from the night and ocean mist. Bring a towel or you'll be fighting the tough challenge of breaking down your wet tent over the sandy beach. Also, note that dogs can only go halfway down the beach and not into the camping area. A huge bummer if you want to bring your four-legged friend along.

The hike to Elowah falls takes a little bit of effort and that's precisely what makes it more intriguing than the other popular, easy to get to (ie. walk right outside of your car) waterfalls nearby. The earlier you go in the day, the more likely you are to have it all to yourself. Not only is the waterfall stunning, but the bridge, river, and punchbowl the waterfall dives into make for great picture opportunities. I did this with our dog and 1 yr old kid and it was very doable. Not to be missed if you are in the area.

Whenever we have friends in town, we hit up Kerry Park. Great view and easy to get to within Seattle. Plus, there are solid solid restaurants and bars nearby. Make sure you go on a clear day. Much different and more impressive view when you can see Mt. Rainier in the distance.

Went on a Friday at 7am. Gorge was completely empty both to and from the falls and up until we got back to the parking lot. I'd strongly suggest going early. It's a whole different experience when you're there with just the gorge, falls, and your party there to enjoy it. Plus, it may allow for some good wildlife viewing. During our visit a Great Blue Heron was chilling in the gorge. A fun sight to see.

A very solid hike and relatively close to Seattle. Not as crowded as many of the other closer to the city and one of the shorter routes along the Mountain Loop Highway. Spectacular payoff for little pain.

Stunning. The falls combined with the gorge make for an amazing view. I'd suggest exploring as much as the trails around the falls - especially along the river flowing to the falls.

Explorer

01/15/16

Great description and distance markers by Ella. Key takeaway for me was "if you want seclusion avoid this hike". In the summer it is a very busy hike. The two key benefits of the hike are its proximity to Seattle and its low difficulty (great for kids especially). While the payout at the peak is pretty solid, there are far better hikes if you're willing to drive a little bit further and up for a slightly more difficult hike. Great for beginners though.

Unreal spot. Could literally spend an entire week with nothing but a book, a beer(s) and the treehouse. Although its a quick turn off of relatively busy road, it feels as though you are in a completely different world once you enter. Burl and Blue Moon are my personal favorites and to a degree the most private and set apart from the main area. As the adventures states, make sure you go down to the river when you're there. Gorgeous area to walk around and explore. We found out the hard way to book in advance as much as possible. They have plenty of weddings here which rent out the entire place at one time.