Chinook Falls
Skamania County, Washington
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 62 ft (19 m)
- Location
- Skamania County, Washington
- Access status
- Long national forest trail; ford of Siouxon Creek required
- The walk
- Oregon Hikers lists Chinook Falls at 13.6 miles from the Siouxon Trailhead
- Ground & access
- Long trail through a burned area, with a slippery side-stream crossing on a cabled log, a ford of Siouxon Creek, and a log or ford crossing of Chinook Creek. Do not ford when the water is high.
Chinook Falls is a 60-foot waterfall on Chinook Creek in the Siouxon Roadless Area of Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Oregon Hikers says the old Siouxon Trailhead and the last three miles of road to it are closed after fire damage, so start at the newer Siouxon Trailhead. Walk down the road past the vehicle barrier about 125 yards to where the trail leaves on the left, and follow the Siouxon Trail upstream past Horseshoe Creek Falls and Siouxon Falls to the Siouxon-Chinook Trail Junction, where a footbridge once crossed a narrows. The bridge is out: ford Siouxon Creek below the chasm, then take the Chinook Trail 130A up Chinook Creek to the crossing below the falls. The falls are best seen from mid-creek or the west bank. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Siouxon Trailhead on FR 5701, Siouxon Trail to the Siouxon-Chinook Trail Junction, ford of Siouxon Creek, Chinook Trail 130A to the crossing below Chinook Falls
Oregon Hikers lists Chinook Falls at 13.6 miles from the Siouxon Trailhead, with a ford required. The page does not say whether that figure is one way or round trip. The old, closer trailhead is closed.
Long trail through a burned area, with a slippery side-stream crossing on a cabled log, a ford of Siouxon Creek, and a log or ford crossing of Chinook Creek. Do not ford when the water is high.
Where to start
Siouxon Trailhead: from NE Healy Road and FR 54 near Chelatchie, turn uphill on FR 57, then sharp left on FR 5701 and drive 0.75 miles to a sharp bend; pull off on the left. The trail starts about 100 yards down the road.
Timing & water
Fords are easiest in summer and early fall.
Before you go
Oregon Hikers lists no pass required at the Siouxon Trailhead.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Middle Siouxon FallsPartial guide: steep national forest trail with a ford; no distance and only a partial trailside view37 ft (11.3 m) · Skamania County, WA0.5 miSE
- Lower Wildcat FallsPartial guide: long forest trail with creek crossings; partial trail view and no distance to this fallsSkamania County, WA0.8 miW
- Wildcat FallsPartial guide: long forest trail with fords; no distance to this falls223 ft (68 m) · Skamania County, WA0.8 miW
- Upper Siouxon FallsPartial guide: steep national forest trail with a ford; distance to the falls not stated16 ft (4.9 m) · Skamania County, WA1.3 miSE
- Siouxon FallsNational forest trail from the relocated Siouxon Trailhead28 ft (8.5 m) · Skamania County, WA1.8 miW
- Horseshoe Creek FallsNational forest trail from the relocated Siouxon Trailhead; spur trail to the base57 ft (17.4 m) · Skamania County, WA1.9 miW
- Black Hole FallsLong trail hike to a signed spur; Discover Pass requiredSkamania County, WA5.0 miNW
- Lower Siouxon FallsSkamania County, WA5.5 miW
- Northwoods FallsSkamania County, WA7.6 miNE