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    Panther Creek Falls

    4.8 (16 reviews)

    Panther Creek Falls Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Panther Creek Falls

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    At the bottom of Panther Creek Falls.
    Seth A.

    Panther Creek Falls is nice, it's pleasant, but among all the grand waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge area, it's just okay. Panther Creek is located 13 miles north of the town of Carson, Washington off Highway 14. It won't blow you away, but could be worthwhile for those people who are waterfall enthusiasts...and who are trying to check off seeing as many waterfalls as possible along the Washington - Oregon border. There are so many. This part of the USA is just spectacular to visit, and very underrated in my opinion. And so the trailhead for Panther Creek Falls is situated right off the road. I parked along the shoulder which was fine. Also, I entered the falls' address into Google Maps ahead of time because the closer you get to Panther Creek, the more likely you'll lose cell phone reception and there are no road signs assisting you for finding this quick roadside stop. Once here, a small trailhead sign directs you to Panther Creek Falls. It's only 1/3rd of a mile long. So ultimately you don't need to allocate much time for the visit. The trail passes through the quiet forest where you'll have 2 options to pick from...the Viewpoint or the Bottom of the Falls. Since it's so short of a hike/walk, you might as well stop at both spots. First heading to the Viewpoint, the falls are right in front of you for the most part. I took a picture or two. It was nothing special and so after a couple of minutes I returned back onto the trail and headed for the Bottom of the Falls. At the base of Panther Creek Falls, there's a wooden railing separating you from entering the creek that the waterfall splashes down onto. A warning sign says not to venture past it because of dangerous footing. Standing at the bottom of the falls didn't give me a chills type of moment. Panther Creek is marginal looking when comparing it to what else is around. When I reflect back on the experience (with places like Multnomah Falls, LaTourell Falls and Horsetail Falls so close by and much more heralded), coming here was just average. Some last notes... - I showed up at 6pm back at the end of July and the forest started to cover what remaining sunlight was left in the sky. - It's free to visit. There was no one else here on the trail or at the falls but myself. They say it's a 130-foot waterfall, but it didn't appear to be that tall. - I used one hour to walk down to the base with returning back to my car. That's how fast it takes. Also, the walking trail isn't elevated. There were a few switchbacks heading down to the bottom. From here, the next stop the following day along my waterfalls journey was Spirit Falls, about 25 miles east back along Highway 14 and near the town of Cook, Washington. Spirit Falls was a much better time, and still, yet another hidden gem situated along the Columbia River Gorge. In the end, Panther Creek Falls can be visited, but it can also be skipped. For me, it was like a fun game to see how many different waterfalls I could get to so I didn't mind stopping by.

    Kim R.

    Gorgeous and unique! It's definitely worth going out of your way to see the Panther Creek Falls. There's some parking right across from the trail entrance (no bathrooms). The walk is railed off to lead you to a viewing area near the top of the falls. They don't want you going beyond the walkway, made clear by frequent signs. The short trail down to the upper viewing area is beautiful, but do not stop at the upper view (as long as you're able). The narrow and rocky trail down to the lower level viewing is pretty short, but semi-steep with some slippery rocks. The view from the lower level is amazing. The falls are lush and wide, with water streaming from various spots at different rates. It's a very unique and peaceful site to see. Highly recommend!

    creek
    Lauren F.

    Gorgeous waterfall | quick hike We visited this waterfall a couple of times. Once was during Memorial Day Weekend and another time was during a fall weekend. There's more people out during a holiday. There's dirt parking off the side of the road. Many people are tempted to scramble up this pile of rocks and then look down regretting their poor decision. Every single person I've seen, kids included, have a difficult and slow descent as some rocks slide down. (don't do it in the first place) Cross safely across the road. There's actually a sign pointing you in the direction to where the fall is. There's a small opening of a trail head, and that's where you begin your trek down to the falls. It's literally a 5-minute hike. You'll come to the viewing platform and see the huge waterfall. Some folks go down, which I hear is actually treacherous, as some folks have died. Beautiful waterfall that's basically roadside, but not handicap accessible. No bathrooms. Camping nearby. An hour from this waterfall is another beautiful hike and waterfall called Falls Creek Falls.

    View from the upper outlook
    John K.

    My wife was smart enough to write down the details for finding Panther Creek Falls, because, as she suspected, we had intermittent cell service the closer we got. And, this wonderful spot isn't really marked out at the road when you're driving by. But, once you make it here, the reasonably spacious parking area at the bottom of a rubble stone hillside make it easy to know you've arrived. A couple of unofficial, spray painted arrows pointed us towards the trail. There are two short hiking options once you find the trail. One branch leads to a viewpoint looking at the top of the falls, and the other takes you on a switchback down to the bottom. The second is somewhat steeper, but neither option is particularly strenuous. As you get to either viewpoint, there are fences along the edge of the trail and warning signs (sadly, largely ignored) intended to protect visitors from their own stupidity. This is a wonderful, little known but easy to get to, place to enjoy part of Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

    Panther Creek Falls

    A very beautiful Waterfall. If you see a bare parking lot. You have arrived. The falls is across the road. You have to walk a short distance,

    Some ideas of the road conditions.
    Leah W.

    Beautiful natural landscape and drive. Paved road with some trees down. Single lanes road at times. Some needing repair but mostly fine. The falls are not marked well. We drove to the 4 corners and missed it. We turned around due to snow. Finally found someone to ask. While driving up you will come across a rock wall on the left side that is kinda open and looks like a mountain shooting range. Best parking for the falls. The trail is on opposite side of road and hard to see but walking along the road you can see it. If you are more experienced hiker continue to walk past the opening of the trail and just before the corner you will find another trail that will lead to the base of the waterfall.

    German A.

    This place is a little hidden, you ride down a small 2 lane country road and park at the first opening/gravel parking lot on the right. There is a spray painted arrow on the street that shows you the entrance to the small trail to the overlook. There is a way down, to the bottom but I couldn't find it, but it was still a cool place to take the kids.

    Avy C.

    the hike is a bit dangerous, but it was most definitely worth it. the view was spectacular, very very very beautiful. i plan on going again.

    Trail head sign on the street. Next to rock quarry.
    Drew H.

    This is a quiet sanctuary found less than half a mile from the main road. The observation deck provides a decent view, however, the main attraction is at the foot of the falls. Getting to the bottom requires some flexibility and athleticism as there is a vertical wall segment and small horizontal 'traverse'. This is an easy decent and re-ascent for those with rock climbing experience.

    Step on some mud.... A lot of it. But look, it's worth it!

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    Review Highlights - Panther Creek Falls

    There is a spray painted arrow on the street that shows you the entrance to the small trail to the overlook.

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    Hamilton Mountain Trail - Picnic tables

    Hamilton Mountain Trail

    5.0(10 reviews)
    10.5 mi

    When researching hiking trails to add to our vacation itinerary, I chose Hamilton Mountain Trail…read morebecause of the waterfalls..Pool of The Winds, Hardy Falls, & Rodney Falls and also, because it was located across the way from Beacon Rock. It was perfect weather for our hike on September 3, 2021 & it took my hubby & I almost 2 hours to hike up to the Pool of The Winds waterfall & back down. We did make multiple stops along the trail to take pictures/videos & to catch our breath. :)) While, I don't consider myself an avid hiker, I do consider myself in pretty good shape BUT I did NOT feel in good shape a few times during our hike up Hamilton Mountain! Going straight up that mountain is no joke! No worries though, I pulled through & made my way up that mountain & back down w/out any assistance...barely! :)) There are a few spots where the climb is very steep & slippery so be mindful of your steps. For sure having actual hiking boots would have served me better than the running shoes, I had on. Okay, so enough of my "out of shape" info..let's move on to the awesomeness of Hamilton Mountain Trail. As you are climbing up the trail, you're surrounded by huge trees & everything around you is so still & just peaceful. There is a small bench for sitting along the way & if you keep going pass that, you eventually come to an open clearing and the waterfalls. The waterfalls themselves are just so awesome! Mother Nature really is displaying her best work when you're standing right next to a waterfall! The Pool of The Winds waterfall was my favorite & there's a bridge right beneath it that is the perfect picture backdrop. I also wanted to add that it wasn't crowded at all during our visit & we did go on a Saturday around 2:30pm. Lastly, there was plenty of parking & a restroom at the beginning of the trail head. Hope this info helps! ~Rebecca out

    We hiked Beacon Rock the day before, and this trail is right across the street. In fact, you can…read moreget a good view of Beacon Rock through the trees from the Upper Parking Lot. The hike to Rodney Falls and Pool of the Winds seemed do-able, and we had a short amount of time, so we thought we could knock it out. As we started out, we learned that it had a pretty steep incline, and was a bit of a butt burner on the way up. I'm not an avid hiker, so let's just say I had a bit of a rough time (gasp) with lots of stops for photos (read: to catch my breathe). There are tons of trees for shade, with a few sun spots here and there. Just as I thought I couldn't hike another step, a fellow hiker offered encouragement, letting me know it was just a few minutes farther. And boy was it worth it. Pool of the Winds is a gorgeous falls with a clear pool of mountain water. And there are several spots to get good views of Rodney Falls and to continue on the hike if you choose (I did not!). Easy time going down. Quite a few people had hiking poles, to make it easier on the knees. I'd call this a success! (even with sore legs for a day or two afterward).

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    Hamilton Mountain Trail - Columbia River

    Columbia River

    Hamilton Mountain Trail - Bathrooms

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    Hamilton Mountain Trail - Columbia River

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    River Drifters - White Salmon River

    River Drifters

    4.7(99 reviews)
    18.3 mi

    I've never had such an amazing Mother's Day! I ended up going on this rafting trip alone because we…read morecouldn't find a babysitter so my husband could come too, and I was honestly a little nervous at first. But from the moment I arrived, everyone made me feel so comfortable and welcome that those nerves disappeared immediately. Our guide, Peter, was absolutely amazing. He was extremely thorough with safety instructions and made sure everyone felt safe and confident throughout the trip, while still keeping everything fun and exciting. He had such a great way with people and really helped make the experience memorable. The entire staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and even the owner took the time to be kind and personable, which made the whole experience even better. You can tell they genuinely care about giving people a great experience. This trip made me want to come back before it was even over, and I'll definitely be returning this summer to hopefully try one of the more challenging rafting trips. Thank you all so much for giving me such a fun and unforgettable Mother's Day!

    Had such a blast white water rafting with this group today! River Drifters is well prepared, and…read moretheir guides are complete experts in taking you down the river. Spencer and his fellow guides made our day so enjoyable and fun. The camaraderie they have with each other and their guests makes this adventure, nice and easy. It was my first time doing it, and even though I wasn't nervous, Spencer did an incredible job guiding us over the rapids. I will definitely do this again with them and I highly recommend!

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    Awesomeness is what's in this picture!

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    Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking - Beginner kayaking class on the Klickitat River.

    Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking

    4.9(195 reviews)
    18.3 mi

    There are some days that feel less like a vacation and more like you accidentally wandered into an…read moreaction movie directed by a sugar fueled mountain man, and Wet Planet in White Salmon was exactly that kind of glorious madness. Four of us rolled in on a perfect sunny day, the kind where the sky looks so blue it feels suspicious, like somebody turned the saturation too high. Right away the crew greeted us like old friends who owed them money. Everybody was laughing, cracking jokes, getting us geared up, teaching us how not to immediately perish in the river. Confidence inspiring, honestly. Then came the bus ride down to the river, packed with excitement, nervous laughter, and two groups of Boy Scouts who apparently had been training for a Broadway musical in the woods. These kids were singing songs, hyping each other up, chanting like tiny warrior poets preparing for battle. By the time we got off the bus I felt like we were either going rafting or marching into medieval combat. And then there was Marcus. Sweet merciful Neptune, this man was born for whitewater. The guy had spent seven years guiding in Colorado doing extreme rafting and had enough wild stories to fill three campfires and a History Channel special. One minute he was talking about brutal rapids, the next he was casually mentioning adventures in Japan like this was all perfectly normal human behavior. Meanwhile I'm over here trying not to lose a sandal. The river itself was absolute chaos in the best possible way. At one point we straight up rammed another boat like two pirate ships fighting over treasure. Our raft launched sideways into a wall of waves and half the crew disappeared into the water face first. I came up sputtering like an old lawn mower while everybody screamed and laughed like maniacs. Somewhere in the madness Marcus was calmly steering us through the carnage with the confidence of a man who has absolutely seen worse. Halfway through the trip we stopped near this insane waterfall pouring down dripping cliffs that looked like something out of Jurassic Park. Then the instructors started jumping off the bridge into the water because apparently these people have no fear and possibly extra bones. Naturally everybody followed because once adrenaline takes over, common sense quietly packs its bags and leaves the building. By the end of the day our entire crew was completely jazzed, soaked to the soul, exhausted, and grinning like fools. Wet Planet delivered one of the finest adventures I've had in years. Great guides, incredible scenery, nonstop laughs, and enough excitement to make you question your life insurance policy. Absolutely smashing experience. I'd recommend these guys to anybody who wants to laugh, scream, get launched into a river, and come home feeling gloriously alive.

    We had such a fun experience and 10/10 would definitely recommend. I had friends visiting me in…read moreOregon so we did the full day. Some first timers for a few of them and they had a blast. This was my 2nd trip with Wet Planet on the White Salmon river and it did not disappoint! Derek was our raft guide and he was awesome. Super professional, conversational, knowledgable, funny and overall great vibe including Kirk and Denison who also kept it safe and fun! Even the photos came out great and for sure would do it again.

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    Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking
    Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking
    Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking

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    Panther Creek Falls - hiking - Updated May 2026

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