Explore Lower Lewis River Falls

Nearly a 4 hr drive from Seattle and 2 ¼ from Portland, these falls more than make up for the distance with their sheer beauty and easy access from the trailhead. Only a couple hundred yards from the trailhead parking area, the Lower Lewis River Falls is nearly 50 feet tall and 200 feet across with several cascading levels on its way down. There are several viewpoints to view the falls once you get to them, each with a unique view of the structure and beauty of the falls.

The Lower Lewis River Falls are the draw here, but the Middle and Upper Falls are sites to see as well. From the Lower Falls, the Middle Lewis River Falls are located 1.5 miles upstream. There aren’t as many viewpoints for the Middle Falls but they are still fun to see. From Middle Falls, the Upper Lewis River Falls are another 2.5 miles away. These falls are impressive at 58 ft high and 175 feet across and are a great spot to sit, each lunch, or enjoy a tasty adult beverage.

The best time to visit the falls are when the water levels are lower, in late summer or early fall. This will allow you to get closer to the falls and will emphasize their beautiful cascading levels, as well. Going in early spring when the water levels are high will allow you to see the falls' beauty, but the increased amount of water going over the falls doesn’t allow the nooks and crannies of the cascading water to be as prevalent.