The Lewis River Falls trail does not disappoint. Ever. The snow is gone, the falls are running full right now and are gorgeous, wildflowers are beginning to bloom (vanilla leaf, false Solomon seal, Sitka valerian), there are very few people (on a weekday, I met 4-5 parties on the return), and until June 15 you don't need a parking reservation. It's an easy trail, I didn't take my poles out of my pack, and I always use them.
That said, the uncleared blowdown is epic. To amuse myself on the return, I counted the trees I had to go over, under, or around: 31. My 72-yo body was complaining when I got home! Also 4 trail washouts (at least a couple of them were not new, tho). I did try to continue on the trail to the top of Upper Falls, which is the only hard climbing bit of the entire trail. I've been before, and really wanted to get back. But once at the top of the climb, the falls not yet in view, there was another blowdown I could not navigate. Multiple small trees with branches, fallen close together; the trail completely hidden.
I clocked 6.8 miles from the parking area near the campground, and including the aborted trek to the top. (I cut through the campground on the return.)
Note to newcomers: you can drive to a parking area at a trailhead to middle falls (the least impressive of the three), as well as another to upper falls. I didn't know about the latter, and I wonder if it goes to the top of the falls (if so, the blowdown would make it difficult to get to the lovely beach below). You would miss the hike, of course, but also much of the blowdown!
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