Upper Lewis River Falls drops 58 feet where the Lewis River spreads across a basalt shelf in Skamania County, Washington.
The falls
The river spreads across the shelf here, dropping vertically beside a stepped channel; at low flow, the vertical section can run dry.
Getting there
The falls sit along the Lewis River Trail, about 0.75 mile from the Quartz Creek Trailhead or 1.25 miles from the Middle Falls Trailhead. From June 15 through Labor Day, a vehicle reservation is required through Recreation.gov, with a $2 transaction fee; permits are valid for ten hours, and vehicles are limited to 22 feet with no trailers. The Skamania County visitor guide describes the reservation pass as required at all three parking areas along the river, but Recreation.gov limits that requirement to the Lower Falls lot.
When to go
Best flow is listed as year-round, though how much of the ledge the water covers changes substantially through the seasons.
On site
The trail passes the base of the falls near Alec Creek before climbing to a cliff above the falls.
History and name
The falls are also known as Upper Falls and Upper Lewis Falls.
Nearby
Alec Creek Falls and Taitnapum Falls are each about 0.2 mile away, and Middle Lewis River Falls is about 0.8 mile away.
Distances are straight-line.