Yacolt Falls Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Moulton Falls Lower Trailhead
- End point: Yacolt Falls
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and back
- Distance: 0.6 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 80 feet
- High point: 585 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: Year round
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Hike Description
This short trip in Clark County's Moulton Falls Regional Park is great for young kids and can be combined with other hikes in the area. Yacolt Falls, about 35 feet in two tiers and also known as Big Tree Falls, takes Big Tree Creek over a rocky ledge and can be quite impressive in the winter. There's a loop option in the summer months when a swing bridge allows hikers to cross the creek at the falls.
From the Moulton Falls Trailhead, walk east on a developed trail next to the highway. After about 1/10 mile, cross the road at a signed crosswalk before a footbridge. The trail heads up the west bank of Big Tree Creek through hemlock, Douglas-fir, salal, and sword fern woods. Look for trillium and false solomon seal here in the spring. You'll pass some shaded picnic tables and head up to a rocky overlook over Yacolt Falls, which plunges over a basalt ledge. Stone walls, steps, and cables hem you in at the viewing area.
A swing bridge over the gorge is tied back in the winter months, but when it's in place, you can cross it and follow a trail up to cross Lucia Falls Road. After crossing the road, you can hike up to the Moulton Falls Upper Trailhead, whence you can bear right to descend to the Moulton Falls Lower Trailhead (0.9 miles round trip).
From Yacolt Falls, a trail leads up to the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, constructed in 1888, but now only used by excursion trains. The railroad was damaged by a flood in 1993, but has since been repaired. The Moulton Falls Station is still here.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Regulations or restrictions, etc
- Open 7:00 a.m. to dusk
- Restrooms, picnic tables
- Dogs on leash
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Yacolt Falls
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Yacolt Falls
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Urban Trails: Vancouver by Craig Romano
- Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
- 100 Hikes: Northwest Oregon by William L. Sullivan
- The Disabled Hiker's Guide to Western Washington and Oregon by Syren Nagakyrie
- Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest by Gregory A. Plumb
More Links
- Moulton Falls Regional Park (Clark County)
- Lucia & Moulton Falls Parks (wanderingyuncks)
- East Fork Lewis River, Yacolt Falls, and Moulton Falls Loop (All Trails)
- "Chasing waterfalls around Clark County" (The Columbian)
- Yacolt Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)