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While Big Creek Canyon and its series of impressive waterfalls are clearly the water features of note seen in the immediate area, those who venture to the canyon-rim viewpoint overlooking the lower Lewis River Canyon will be treated to another sizable, albeit overlooked waterfall. Hemlock Creek, small enough that it isn't even mapped, but large enough that the Forest Service has named it, jumps out of the thick woods, and plunges over 200 feet down the rim of the canyon. The small watershed limits the impressiveness of the falls, which usually run dry or near to dry late in the summer, but a week or two of constant precipitation will bring it back to life in spectacular fashion. The picture above was taken in late September, after nearly 3 weeks of almost constant rain, and I'd never seen the falls running higher.
- Hemlock Creek Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
Located near Eagle Cliff, along FR 90. Drive for about 8 3/4 miles east of the end of SR 503 (SR 503 becomes FR 23, and FR 90 turns to the right), or about 5 1/2 miles west of the Lower Falls Recreation area to the signed Big Creek Falls trailhead. Follow the easy trail for about 500 feet to the viewing area for Big Creek Falls, then proceed another 100 feet downstream, to a trail forking to the right, marked only by a sign that states "trail"Â. Follow this trail to its end in about 3/4 of a mile, at a fenced viewpoint looking out over the Lewis River Canyon, with Hemlock Creek Falls off to the left.
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