We set up camp at the Lower Lewis River CG and then did these two very short hikes to 2 beautiful waterfalls. Curly Creek Falls is located 5 miles east of the Eagle Cliff Bridge on No 90 Road.The falls is viewed through a natural rock arch and is reached via a short, level trail. Big Creek Falls is about 4 miles east of Curly Creek Falls. The trail has been heavily damaged by huge fallen trees. The area looked like a tornado had come through. The trail has been cleared to the damaged viewpoint which is not as open as when we were last there. The falls was full and thunderous, but it was not possible to get an unobstructive view. We did see two people at the base of the falls, but did not see how they could have gotten there.

Incredible difference that a week can make-the past week of high temps really lowered the snow levels-as much as 2-3 feet in some places-the trail to the Spiral Butte, about 4.3 miles-around 4800 in elevation is mostly clear-beyond that is almost all snow-some still very deep. Shellrock is open, I didn't catch any fish, but saw a huge otter. Otter Lake still had ice on it-while fishing, a large bull elk prowled the shore grazing on grass on the open area above the lake. A few mosquitoes-as the snow melts they'll be out in hordes soon.

Did some rainy day hikes on Sunday: Ape Cave - road snow free and open to parking lot (however parking lot itself is gated off) Toilets were in rough shape and lots of garbage everywhere - especially in the cave - how sad - return trail mostly snow covered but easy to follow Curly Creek, Big Creek & Lower Lewis Falls - as impressive as anything I saw in the Gorge the previous day. Hwy 90 completely snow free. Rush Creek Falls - This waterfall was listed in ""A Waterfall Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest"" by Gregory A. Plumb. It is reached by a rugged bushwack of 0.3 miles from County Stockpile 2-7 on Road#51 (The stockpile - literally two giant mounds of gray stone - is on the right hand side of the road just past mile marker 3 - 4.2 miles from the junction with Road#90) If you go there you will see a large pile of tree stumps, get past them and you will see the remnants of an old road. If you look closely you will see the first of about a half dozen sparsey placed pink flags. These lead you across the old clearcut and to the lip of the ravine. You can't see the river but if you keep heading downhill you can't miss it. We managed to get to the falls and back in less than an hour (including time for pictures). The falls were equally impressive as any of the others listed above and there really should be a more established route to find them. Hopefully this post will help generate some interest in this area. Happy Hiking David&Karen

We were surprised to have no snow here at this time of year....there was a lot of blow down but it was mostly smaller branches...an easy two miler with beautiful views