One of the Columbia River Gorge’s most incredible falls, Spirit Falls, is a nearly-40-foot waterfall with a deep pool below and is surrounded by mossy rocks and forested hillsides. For decades there has been an unspoken agreement between the private land owners and hikers, allowing the public to traverse down the steep slope to view Spirit Falls. However, at the beginning of 2023, the landowner informed the local police and the State of Washington that they would no longer allow hikers to access the falls. Spirit Falls is now closed to the public.
Why the private landowner closed access to Spirit Falls
The private landowner, that owns the land surrounding the falls, points to reckless behavior and vandals as the reason why they finally decided to close their land to visitors. This represents a huge blow to Pacific Northwest hikers and adventurers that cherish these falls. This blog is therefore in homage to the falls, in the hope that it may re-open someday with significant social change.
Where is Spirit Falls in Washington?
Spirit Falls is a waterfall located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is well-known by locals for its deep blue waters cascading over a curved basalt rock shelf. If you are a kayaker in Washington, you know that Spirit Falls is the mecca for technical challenges and extreme views.
The waterfall is situated on the Little White Salmon River, a tributary of the Columbia River. In addition to kayaking, Spirit Falls is also a popular whitewater rafting opportunity. Or should I say…was. We’ll get to that shortly.
Getting to Spirit Falls, Washington
As mentioned above, there is currently no way to get to Spirit Falls on foot. Kayakers and rafters are still able to drop into the Little White Salmon River. A popular parking spot for this is the Willard National Fish Hatchery, with access to the river.
Due to its remote location and rugged terrain, Spirit Falls is not as well-known as some of the more popular waterfalls in the region, but that has been changing over recent years with its popularization on Instagram and other social platforms. Indeed, even I’ve been reluctant to share its location when posting to my accounts due to the real dangers of nefarious human activities. It appears as though I was too late, however.
The Beauty of Spirit Falls, Washington
The way we all used to access Spirit Falls was by parking in an unofficial turnout parking lot on the side of Cook-Underwood Road. From there, you’ll find a steep path winding down the slope. The hike was never for amateurs or those with bad knees as it descends sharply. However, this makes for a short hike, with a massive payoff. As you approach Spirit Falls, you’ll hear the sound of cascading water and feel the cool mist on your face. The falls drop over 40 feet into a pool below, surrounded by towering trees and moss-covered rocks.
The natural beauty of the falls is truly breathtaking and worth the effort to get there. The water truly is as blue as you’ve seen in photos, owing to natural volcanic filtration. The trail takes visitors around the front of the falls to the top, with panoramic views of ancient basalt rock and unoccupied caves beneath the falls below.
Alternatives to Spirit Falls in the Pacific Northwest
Due to the fact that Spirit Falls is now closed to the public, hiking enthusiasts and waterfall chasers will now have to find alternatives in the Pacific Northwest. Luckily, most of the Pacific Northwest’s current topography being the direct result of volcanic activity, there is no shortage of waterfalls in the region that cascade over basalt rock shelves.
Basalt shelves and blue waters
Abiqua Falls near Silverton, Oregon, for example, plunges 80 feet into a punch bowl of basalt and is on private property that its owners will never close.
Tamanawas Falls in the Mount Hood National Forest is another example of water and basalt coming together for natural beauty and wonder.
If you’re looking to find the vibrant blue waters you’re missing at Spirit Falls, consider heading out to the McKenzie River area of Central Oregon, west of Bend. Here, an ancient lava flow ran directly over the McKenzie River, forcing its waters underground before the lava cooled into hardened rock.
The result is a natural volcanic filtration process as the water bubbles back up to the surface at Tamolitch Blue Pool. Waterfalls downriver such as Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls (a personal favorite, Koosah Falls is pictured at right) are therefore vibrant blue and clear.
Note: This view of Koosah Falls requires scaling down an unofficial trail from the main viewpoint.
In fact, this entire region features this blue water, with nearby Clear Lake being 100 feet deep. Fishermen on this lake can actually see the trout take their bait on the end of a line 30 feet down. While fishing on this lake, you might also look down over the side of your boat to see scuba divers combing the ancient underwater forests of Clear Lake.
The McKenzie River area is also popular for camping, biking, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Clear Lake Resort is located directly alongside the northwestern shore of Clear Lake, and Coldwater Campground represents its southeastern counterpart on the shores of the lake.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a fan of these blogs and have been following each one, first of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Your support is recognized and greatly appreciated! Secondly, you’ll notice that I get on my soapbox about Leave No Trace principles. Spirit Falls is now closed to the public due to a hardened heart from a private landowner. This is a classic example of why we can’t have nice things. I’m sure 90% of us are respectful of natural lands and courteous to all. However, change starts with systematic education of the public, teaching unwritten rules of etiquette and common decency.
If we endeavor to protect the natural wonders of the region by understanding how special these places truly are, then we can begin to gain back the trust of those in charge of the beauty we get to see. Consider joining the Trailkeepers of Oregon or the Washington Trails Association to learn more about educating the public on Leave No Trace Principles.
Catch you on the next one, and Happy Trails!
