Spirit Falls, Washington: What to Expect on This Challenging Hike

If you’re on the search for one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Washington state, then you’ve found the one.

Spirit Falls in Washington is one of the most magical waterfalls you’ll ever see, with turquoise waters that feel straight out of the Caribbean.

But the green moss, draping trees, and huge ferns bring you right back to the Pacific Northwest.

While it’ll definitely be a challenge to reach this waterfall, you’ll be glad that you did it once you catch your first glimpse.

In this post, I’m going to go over everything that you need to know before you head out for this southern Washington hike.

Spirit Falls Hike Details

Distance: 0.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Terrain: Rugged
Type: Out & Back
Average Time: 1 Hour
Dogs: Allowed, not recommended

Spirit Falls is surrounded by a mossy green forest.

Spirit Falls is an absolutely magical waterfall that is worth everyone’s time to see, located near the Columbia River Gorge.

But don’t take that short distance lightly, because you will cover almost 500 feet of elevation gain in just under a mile.

A steep descent to the waterfall and a steep ascent back up to the trailhead sure will test your skills and physical shape.

Whether you actually consider this a ‘trail’ or not, is up to you!

What to Expect on the Hike

Now that you have a pretty good understanding of what the terrain and elevation changes are like on the trail, let’s go over what else to expect.

Here, I’ll walk you through the entire trail so you can prepare yourself accordingly.

The Start

Once you’ve arrived at the trailhead, you’ll see a small footpath near the overlook into the Columbia River Gorge.

Head this way and take a left, to begin making your way over the short boulder field before you jump on the trail.

Yes, there is a boulder field straight ahead, but you don’t want to go over that one. It’s the wrong way!

A boulder field marks the start of the trail.

Once you’ve traversed the boulders (they’re not very big), continue for just a bit further before taking another left onto the trail, where it starts to go downhill.

If you continue straight here, you’ll just have a nice viewpoint over the gorge, but then continue back to the trail.

The Descent

As you start to make your way down, you’ll notice that it gets pretty steep fairly quickly.

A few sources say that there’s a rope lining the trail to assist in getting to the bottom, but when I visited a few months ago, there wasn’t one.

After a while, the trail seems to fade and it just becomes an open path of dirt and rock, although it’s easy enough to follow.

Continue making your way down, using the trees, stumps, and large rocks to aid in keeping your footing.

The trail to Spirit Falls in Washington is rugged and narrow.

There are a few parts of this dirt path that are very slippery, and it would be extremely helpful to have trekking poles.

I also wouldn’t recommend doing this hike if you don’t have sturdy shoes with a grippy bottom.

It certainly won’t be long before you start to hear the roaring of the waterfall, and you’ll know you’re getting close.

Cross 2-3 small streams, and your first glimpse of the falls will come into view. But don’t look up for too long, because it can be very slippery here.

The Waterfall

After you’ve finished the challenging but short climb to the bottom, it’s time to enjoy some time at Spirit Falls.

First, take a left and make your way along the rim of the river for an up-close view of the falls.

Please always watch your footing and take it slow along this narrow path, as it’s unmaintained, has steep drop-offs, and is slippery.

There are many viewpoints from the rim of the river.

Enjoy the few viewpoints of the turquoise waters that spill over a moss-covered cliff. Underneath, a small cave can barely be seen.

You can walk almost over to where the waterfall starts to fall over the cliff, but again, use caution.

On your way back to the path, stop at some of the viewpoints further from the falls, to see it surrounded by greenery.

The Ascent

The hike back to the car follows the same path that you took to get down to the falls.

So prepare for slippery loose rocks and sand, steep elevation gain, and lots of breaks.

A very steep climb up after viewing the waterfall.

Trust me on that one, you’re going to need plenty of stops to grab water and catch your breath!

Since it’s the same way back up, you’ll already be familiar with the route. Just take your time, and soon you’ll be back in the parking lot.

Where is the Trailhead for Spirit Falls?

The trailhead for Spirit Falls, Washington can be tricky to find, as it isn’t marked and quite honestly, isn’t much of a trailhead.

It’s located on the side of a road, that has just a small parking lot that can fit maybe 5 cars, that is if everyone parks kindly. 😉

From Highway 14 in Washington, turn onto Cook-Underwood Road and drive for about 2 miles.

After those 2 miles, you’ll come to a small pull-off on the righthand side of the road, which is the parking lot.

To be sure that you’re in the right place, walk over to the overlook and check for a short boulder field.

If you spot the boulder field, you’ve made it!

Here’s the Google Maps location to help you find it-

Distances From Major Cities:

Portland: 1 hour 15 minutes
Seattle: 3 hours 45 minutes
Hood River: 30 minutes
Bend: 3 hours
Salem: 2 hours

How Long is the Hike to Spirit Falls?

The hike is only 0.8 miles, so just shy of that one-mile mark.

But because of the terrain, the hike might feel much longer than that.

Is the Hike to Spirit Falls Hard?

I’m not going to sugarcoat anything here, the hike to Spirit Falls is very challenging and will definitely get your heart pumping!

There is a lot of elevation gain in a super short distance, which makes it very tricky.

Aside from just the elevation change, the terrain on this trail is very uneven, slippery, and rough.

Expect loose rocks and sand for most of the trail, which can be very slippery.

There are also quite a few large tree roots growing out of the ground that you’ll need to step over.

Around the falls, there are very steep drop-offs that can be dangerous because the trails are usually slippery due to the mist.

When Should I Hike in Washington?

You can really visit Spirit Falls any time of year, as long as there isn’t snow on the ground (this will make it even more difficult).

I personally recommend that you do this hike in the spring because the snow melt makes the water flow super strong.

Plus, the rainy weather makes the greenery surrounding the falls even greener.

Spirit Falls with less water flow. — *Summer*

The waterfall with a strong, steady flow. — *Spring*

During the summer, the waterfall looks smaller because there is less water in the river.

And in the winter, if you’re lucky, you may be able to catch the falls with a layer of frost around them, making them even more magical.

Tips for Hiking in Washington

Since you’re pretty well versed in what to expect from the hike, let me just throw a few more important tips your way

Wear sturdy shoes that have strong, grippy bottoms to help with traction and not slipping.
Use trekking poles to make the steep climbs easier on your knees and joints.
Hike with a buddy, as this trail can be dangerous and it’s nice to have a friend along.
Leave small children and pets at home. The strong water current, trail conditions, and slippery paths make it dangerous for them.
Stay on the trail as some areas around here (including the falls itself!) are on private property.
Leave valuables at home or bring them with you because break-ins are common in the Columbia River Gorge.
Use a GPS system (All Trails, Cairn, etc.) to help you find the trail and stay on it.

FAQs

Is Spirit Falls on Private Property?

For a while, the entire area around Spirit Falls was closed because it was on private property and the owners did not want the public on their land.
Now, the trail is open to the public, but it’s important to note that a lot of the land around the trail and the waterfall itself are on private land.
Always stay on the trail to avoid trespassing and to respect the local’s wishes.
Use a GPS system to help you do so.

How Tall is Spirit Falls, Washington?

Spirit Falls definitely isn’t the tallest waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge area, measuring only 33 feet tall.
But what it lacks in height, it makes up for in pure beauty, magical sights, and that turquoise color that most others don’t have.

Is Spirit Falls in Washington or Oregon?

You’ll see things about both states, but Spirit Falls is on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.

Wrap-Up: Spirit Falls, Washington

Although it’s challenging and required some mental and physical toughness, the hike to Spirit Falls in Washington is worth it.

You’ll have the chance to experience one of the most epic waterfalls in the state, and will get a true feel of the PNW’s nature.