Falls Creek Falls Trail, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA 9/29/2018 (#54)
This trail provides fall foliage along Falls Creek, and an impressive waterfall at the terminus.
Colorful vine maples at the trailhead
Into the woods
Over the first bridge
Along the creek
Over the upper bridge
Around this turn we hear the falls
Then look up and see the upper falls
Middle and lower tiers (about 225 feet high) of Falls Creek Falls viewed from the end of the trail.
Lower plunge pool
Downstream view
After eating our lunch, we returned back down the trail,
Through the vine maple corridor
Under the big leaf maple canopy
With a pause by the stream
And another pause near the trailhead to play with the impressionistic reflections…
We saw a variety of leaf displays…
Vine maple – green
Vine maple – turning orange
Vine maple – orange
Solomon seal, with berries
Vine maple – red
My new identification for the day was Pacific dogwood without the distinctive white flowers. In the fall it has red leaves and red seed pod clusters.
About 4 miles round trip and 800 feet.
CRAFTING
I have made knitting progress on my Ivy Lace Cardigan and a round dishcloth.
