The Portland Hiking Meetup Group

Dry Creek Falls, accessed by the northernmost section of the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon, is a well-known destination and a favored winter hike for many. The usual excursion is an out and back on the PCT. However, a loop that takes you into the town of Cascade Locks ties together some of the history behind Dry Creek as a community water source (and thus the provenance of the name). In 1896, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a diversion system on the creek, with one set of structures below the waterfall and others down the creek next to Dry Creek Road. The diverted water was used to operate the chamber gates at the new locks constructed as a navigational bypass of the Great Cascades on the Columbia River. After construction of the Bonneville Dam, which drowned the cascades and rendered the locks obsolete, Cascade Locks used the system for its municipal water supply until the late 1960s, when the source was switched to Herman Creek. During the 70 years Dry Creek was used as a water supply, the stream often ran dry below the waterfall.
An alternative trailhead for this hike is the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead at Toll House Park, but you’ll need a current Northwest Forest Pass for that. Also note that you can skip the lower road and town section of the hike by hiking back to the PCT using the powerline corridor.
Take the Pacific Crest Trail where it enters the woods across the road from the parking area. The trail heads gradually uphill, never too steeply, through a pretty, dappled sun kind of forest dominated by Douglas-fir and big-leaf maple, the latter providing a colorful display in the fall. In the spring, forest wildflowers, including columbine and Solomon plume, are common here. Almost immediately, you'll see evidence of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. The trail swings right and then loops back along a slope of larger Douglas-firs and hemlocks. About one mile in, you'll come to a powerline access road. Turn right here and follow the road a short distance under the powerlines to the resumption of the trail in the woods. Pass an impressive Douglas-fir on the left side of the trail. Soon after the powerline road, you'll make a traverse along a very steep slope. Then the trail begins a gradual descent to Dry Creek. This section of trail heads gradually downward through an interesting area of large lava boulders and trees for almost another mile.
At Dry Creek, the trail comes to another dirt road. (Ten yards before this road is the almost invisible junction with the abandoned Rudolph Spur Trail.) Across the road, you'll see the Pacific Crest Trail crossing Dry Creek on a wooden footbridge. To get to Dry Creek Falls, instead of crossing the bridge, turn right here and head up the rough track about 0.2 miles to the falls. Trees at the top of the 74-foot falls were more heavily damaged by the Eagle Creek Fire than those below. Dry Creek hasn't run dry since the diversion apparatus was decommissioned, and the falls put on a pretty display throughout the year, although with much greater volume in the wet months. Try to imagine other drops pouring through mossy defiles that are out of sight above; by some estimates there are over 200 feet of plunging drops here.
Walk back down the road bed (Dry Creek Road - FR 211), and keep straight at the junction with the PCT. Dry Creek Bridge is to your right. First, the road passes through a maple/cherry clearing and then under more Douglas-firs. There will be more debris and perhaps downed trees on the road as it is not an official trail. The creek and road then plunge through a narrow defile. Just before this, there’s another diversion apparatus on your right next to the creek. You’ll also see some gate abutments in the defile itself. This is the prettiest stretch of the creek, as it drops through mossy boulders under overarching vine maples. The road bed passes higher above the stream and then descends to pass a large bunker-like building before reaching the powerline corridor.
There’s a brown gate here as you pass from Forest Service land to the beginning of the county road, which is narrow and gravel here and also hemmed in by blackberries. NOTE: This stretch of county road sometimes sees illegal camping, partying, and target shooting, especially on weekends. If you're uncomfortable with encountering such behavior, you can loop back to the PCT using the powerline corridor.
Otherwise, if you're game to continue on this section, follow the road where it swings left, and you’ll get views up to the rim of the Benson Plateau. A line of conifers partially blocks views to Greenleaf Peak and Table Mountain. When you reach a road junction on an open bench infested with Scots broom, bear right.
Descend this better gravel road, which becomes paved at the first homes. The road swings east as freeway traffic rushes nearby. At the junction with Ruckel Street, turn left to walk under I-84. Keep following Ruckel Street for about three blocks until you come to the T-junction with Adams Avenue. Turn right, and walk down a block to a corner. You can cut across the grass here to Wa Na Pa Street at the entrance to the Cascade Locks School. Use the crosswalk to reach the other side of Wa Na Pa, and then walk west to Portage Road, the entrance to the Port of Cascade Locks’ Marine Park.
Stroll down Portage Road to pass under the railroad tracks. At the park, you’ll see the historical museum, a former lockmaster’s house, up to your left. (The museum is closed in winter.) A small exhibition gazebo houses the Oregon Pony, the first steam locomotive used in the Oregon Territory. Before the construction of the locks, the Oregon Pony hauled goods and passengers along the 4.5 mile portage track, beginning in 1862. Behind the museum is a barn that houses antique equipment. Farther to your left are the park’s campground, the port office, a community center and garden, and the Thunder Island Brewing Company. To your right, there’s more parking, a playground, a pavilion, a visitor center and restaurant, and the dock for the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler.
Walk towards the locks and take the pedestrian bridge over to Thunder Island. These locks took 21 years and several redesigns to construct, eventually opening in 1896. When river levels were raised after completion of the Bonneville Dam, the locks were decommissioned. Now some Native American fishing platforms take advantage of the site. There’s a great view downriver to the Bridge of the Gods, Thunder Island being part of the geological “Bridge of the Gods”, the giant landslide that slumped down from Table Mountain about 600 years ago. A set of interpretive signs across the footbridge tell of the local geology, human presence, transportation, and lock construction.
Take a stroll around Thunder Island, which was once part of the Oregon mainland. There are wedding arches at either end. On the north side, there are great views to Table Mountain and Greenleaf Peak. Any rocks protruding from the river were part of the Great Cascades until most of the feature was drowned by dam waters.
Then return to Portage Road. After passing under the railroad tracks, take the steps and path leading up to the sidewalk on Wa Na Pa Street. Cross the road at a crosswalk, and walk as far as Regulator Street, at the Cascade Locks Ale House. Turn left for one block to reach Moody Street. Walk up this street to pass under the freeway and reach your car.

While I'm not setting up an official carpool, I do encourage folks to do so. Just post a message here if you can give a ride or if you need a ride. We will meet at the traihead at 9, hiking time will be around 3 hours.

C'mon out and meet some folks, get some exercise and view nature. Sounds like a good plan to me.