Lewis River Trail

Lewis River Trail (Trail #31) is a long, point-to-point hike in Gifford Pinchot National Forest that stays close to the Lewis River as it runs through old-growth forest and side drainages. Expect a gentle uphill grade overall, with the main effort coming from occasional steeper pitches and the rougher, wet-footing stretches typical of river corridors.

The trail is built around repeated waterfall stops along the river, including Lower Lewis River Falls, Middle Lewis River Falls, and Upper Lewis River Falls. Popular variations extend to nearby Copper Creek Falls and Taitnapum Falls depending on which access points you choose.

Several access points line the route, with Curly Creek Falls Trailhead as one end and Quartz Creek / Upper Falls (north) as another. The park/road setup supports this as a “move your car and make multiple day hikes” route as much as a single continuous thru-hike.

A mid-route highlight is Bolt Camp Shelter, constructed around 1921 and later restored by volunteers in 1991, encountered after hiking west from the Curly Creek Falls Trailhead and reaching it roughly a couple miles in.

A major river milestone occurs after the Lower Falls Recreation Area: the Lewis River plunges over a cliff of about 60 feet at Lower Lewis River Falls, and the trail continues upriver past remnants of historic logging-era infrastructure near the river.

Logistics matter here in summer. Advanced reservations are required daily for day-use within the Lewis River Recreation Area during the peak period from June 15 through Labor Day, and the area requires a printed hard copy placed on the vehicle dashboard. A valid Recreation Pass is also required at the Lower Falls Day Use lot (and the park notes that additional pass rules apply specifically to that lot).

For trail conditions, plan on wet-rock and slippery cliff areas along the route and slick footing around the river. The Forest Service also flags that downed trees, washouts, and/or landslides can occur, and that late spring snow can linger in spots on north-facing terrain.

More information: Booking, Conditions, Visitor information