Lower Falls Creek

It was a near perfect day for a hike. The sky was clear, the air crisp. and there was no one else out on the trail until the very end.

The road to the trailhead is N of Carson via the Wind River Highway (the 30 Road on the GPNF map). Just past MP 15 turn onto the 3062 Road. This time of year (Dec 1 -Apr 1) the gate protecting the area for winter wildlife is closed. This adds about 1.5 miles to the hike in each direction. Follow the signs to the Lower Falls Creek Trail #152A.

The hike from the trailhead is 1.7 miles in to the falls. It is an easy to moderate hike along Falls Creek. There is a steady elevation gain the last half of the hike, but well worth the effort. Falls Creek Falls is one of the most spectacular falls in the Gorge. Children should be watched closely on this hike as some of the trail is on the edge of the high creek bank. Dogs should be leashed.

The trail was is well maintained, although the back slope on some of the trail had sloughed off onto the tread, and some other areas along the creek bank where the trail was eroding. The trail drainage was very good and there were very few spots along the trail that were muddy.

Total hiking time was about 5 hours, including a 30 minute lunch/photo break at the falls. As stated earlier, the air was crisp partly because the sun doesn't hit much of the area this time of year.