There are two routes to Kalama Falls. One is a single-track forest trail 3.8 miles long and the other is a two-track road 1.9 miles long. The forest trail is for hikers and horsemen, and the gravel road for casual walkers and bikers. Both are easy to walk, with some elevation change, and both reach the same destination – Kalama River Falls.
Forest Trail
The forest trail to Kalama Falls begins at the Kalama Horse Camp off the FS 81 road (closed from December to March but available parking outside the camp). From this campsite, five Gifford Pinchot NF trails radiate. The Cinnamon Trail crosses the Kalama River on a wooden stock bridge, ascends upon the bank of the river, and heads east for ¼ miles to a primitive campsite (see map). At this site, the Kalama Falls Trail begins south on an old two-track clay road. No signage but take the only route heading south as the old road wends past a few dispersed camping sites. At the south end of the dispersed campsites, the route becomes a single track. After a mile on the single track, the paved FS 81 road is reached. Crossing the FS 81 road the trail parallels the river with a worthwhile spur to an overlook. For the most part, the tread is pumice, relatively flat, and traverses a replanted Douglas Fir forest (ca. 1999) with little elevation change for 2 miles where it crosses the gravel road (#7800). Remain on the footpath (and enter an older forest) as it passes pahoehoe type lava formations. This smooth, stacked magma looks like layers of arrested molasses and flowed approximately 1200 years ago damming up a stream that created Merrill Lake. At mile 3.5 the trail crosses the 7500 road once again (near a concrete bridge) and enters an old-growth forest of Douglas Fir and Western Redcedar. The falls are ¼ mile south on this footpath.
Road Route
A shorter 1.9-mile route begins at a gated two-track gravel road (#7500 road). The location is at mile 6 on the 81 Road. The road is through the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife - Merrill Lake Wildlife Area. This road route ends just before a single lane concrete bridge. A sign points to entering the forest and is a 1/4-mile footpath to the Kalama River Falls.
The Falls
The Kalama Falls is a two-tiered, plunge type waterfall, and a worthwhile destination viewed from two upper bank levels with an old-growth forest in the background. The geology suggests the lava ended here before it pushed further south forming the north bank of the Kalama River downstream. Beyond the falls the Kalama River heads west as a wild and scenic river eventually reaching the Columbia River. The falls are active year-round, and the river’s origin is spring-fed McBride Lake on the south slope of Mt Saint Helens. The Merrill Lake stream that converges with the river the bottom of the falls doubles the volume. The trails from the bluff overlooking the falls are primitive and difficult to traverse. Aside from the riverbank at the foot of the falls the bank peters out for exploring.
The Kalama River Falls and trails are public access and part of the 1448 acres acquired by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) between 2015 and 2019. The WDFW does not maintain trails so the forested paths are overseen by the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington. The longer forest trail spans three land managers: The Gifford Pinchot Forest, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the WDFW land bordering the east side of the river.
Driving Directions
From Woodland, take Highway 503 east for approximately 28 miles to Forest Road 81. Take a left on Forest Road 81 towards Kalama Horse Camp Recreation Area. Follow Forest Road 81 north for approximately 8 miles.
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