We camped in the campground and explored these falls multiple days in a row since we'd come all the way out. It was a pretty soggy couple days which may have kept some folks away. Few bugs around but not bad although I was already covered up pretty good with the rain.... We overlapped the new reservation system opening and did see rangers on 90 on our way out that many have been checking folks entering the area had the reservation (on top of the nw forest pass you need). Only saw a handful of people over a couple days in the trails beyond the lower falls day area. We did lower to upper falls trail multiple days. There's a ton of water and the roar of the falls can be heard from some distance. The trail is pretty muddy from the middle to upper falls although we tried to stay in trail to minimize impact. The dog lost a few pawz shoes in the process.... Its also quite muddy at the lower falls viewpoints. Tons of little trail branches to explore too. We did luck out and get some full sun on our last day to appreciate those aqua colors of the lower falls. The entire trail has additional falls (Copper falls especially right now) cool trees and a bunch of fungi to appreciate as well as an overwhelming rush of green and that evergreen forest smell. We saw a few flowers in spots although again with the rain others were closed up. Its a long drive out there and the road has a few big bumps for a paved one-especially in a car loaded for camping so we went a little slow but its still way better than nearly any gravel road I've taken to numerous other trailheads.
End of general trail review.
Swimming note!#!%*
As we were getting ready to leave we saw one pair of guys preparing to swim along the river possibly in wetsuits (I tried to watch but kept mistaking logs for bopping heads) and a large family with multiple small children asking where the swimming area was for their floats. Hopefully they didn't attempt it due to scramble down to the water past the viewing platform area (doable and people have tied ropes to help get down but not easy for a full family with lots of gear and small children expecting a beach or something?) as there is SO MUCH WATER now that the spots I've seen folks swimming and floating in the past are currently underwater/swift current. Plus it wasn't that warm out for the frigid water. I think I've heard that this area has gotten popular from social media (and it is breathtakingly beautiful) which explains the reservation etc. Anyways I hope my vague explanation of "its kinda down here but there isn't really a spot" and " but I'm not sure its safe right now for that.. " encouraged them to just look or hike (despite my significant others grumbles I should let them decide for themselves- they had also asked us for driving directions entering the area so were clearly not very informed of what to expect). And that those just wanting a beach and float can find another spot. There are river access points above the lower falls via stairs that I've descended in the past and waded out to the area above the falls in lower water level times (still several feet under water and a ways from the current shoreline with tons of water rushing through). Worth enjoying later in the summer perhaps.
Hopefully the reservation system will help preserve this magical area for many more folks in the future.
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