Nick Eaton Falls
Hood River County, Oregon
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Hood River County, Oregon
- Access status
- Established trail from Herman Creek Trailhead
- The walk
- 2.1 miles one way; 4.2 miles round trip
- Ground & access
- Steady climb on trail and old roadbed through an area burned in 2017. Poison oak.
Nick Eaton Falls is an unofficial name for a 90-foot waterfall on an unnamed creek beside the Herman Creek Trail; some maps and books call it Falls Creek Falls. From the Herman Creek Trailhead, the trail switchbacks up, crosses a powerline corridor and reaches the Herman Bridge Trail junction at 0.6 mile. Keep on the main trail, stay right at the Talus Ridge junction, and follow the old road to a five-way junction at Herman Camp at 1.3 miles. Keep right on the old roadbed into the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, pass the Nick Eaton Trail junction, and continue to a lush gully where the falls splash down a mossy face beside the trail at 2.1 miles. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Herman Creek Trailhead near Cascade Locks, Herman Creek Trail #406 past Herman Camp to Nick Eaton Falls
Oregon Hikers gives 2.1 miles from the Herman Creek Trailhead to the falls and 4.2 miles round trip with 970 feet of elevation gain.
Steady climb on trail and old roadbed through an area burned in 2017. Poison oak.
Where to start
Herman Creek Trailhead at the end of FR Spur 215 through Herman Creek Campground, 1.7 miles east of Cascade Locks on Frontage Road from I-84 Exit 44. Do not park on the access road; if the lot is full, park by Frontage Road.
Timing & water
USFS lists the trail as year round, snow dependent.
Before you go
USFS requires a valid recreation pass at the Herman Creek trailhead; Oregon Hikers lists a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass. Free self-issued wilderness permits at the wilderness boundary.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Pacific Crest FallsPacific Crest Trail hike to a trailside waterfallHood River County, OR1.2 miW
- Gorton Creek FallsPartial guide: official trail ends at Emerald Falls; last 100 yards is an unofficial creek scrambleHood River County, OR2.4 miE
- Dry Creek FallsEstablished Pacific Crest Trail route from Cascade Locks72 ft (22 m) · Hood River County, OR2.5 miSW
- Emerald FallsShort creekside trail to the end of the official pathHood River County, OR2.5 miE
- Lower Rock Creek Falls53 ft (16.2 m) · Skamania County, WA4.1 miNW
- Upper Rock Creek Falls39 ft (12 m) · Skamania County, WA4.3 miNW
- Summit Creek Falls30 ft (9.1 m) · Hood River County, OR4.6 miE
- Camp Benson FallsPartial guide: the last section uses a powerline maintenance road that is not confirmed as an official trail85 ft (25.9 m) · Hood River County, OR4.6 miE
- Lindsey Creek Falls53 ft (16.2 m) · Hood River County, OR4.9 miE