WaterfallNear Me

Curtain Falls

Lewis County, Washington

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
75 ft (23 m)
Location
Lewis County, Washington
Access status
National forest trail to a walk-behind waterfall
The walk
Half a mile to a signed junction, then half a mile on to the falls, per WTA
Ground & access
Well-maintained but rugged forest trail with steep switchbacks; the trail goes behind the falls.
Washington Trails Association: Angel Falls Loop

Curtain Falls, officially Covell Creek Falls and also called Covel Creek Falls or Phantom Falls, drops about 75 to 80 feet over a basalt cliff on Covell Creek in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near the Cispus Center. The cliff is undercut, and the trail passes behind the falls. From the trailhead across from the Cispus Environmental Learning Center entrance, switchback up half a mile to a signed junction. Go right for Covel Creek Falls; the trail runs under basalt cliffs over 200 feet high for another half mile to the falls. Return the same way, or continue on the loop past Angel Falls, which has its own listing. The best full views are from the far side of the creek; stay on the trail because the vegetation is fragile.

Plan your visit

Covel Creek Trail across from the Cispus Environmental Learning Center entrance on Forest Road 28, up to the signed junction, then right under the basalt cliffs to the falls

WTA says the trail climbs half a mile to a junction and that the falls are half a mile beyond it. WTA lists the full Angel Falls Loop as 3.4 miles round trip; the Mountaineers call it about four miles.

Well-maintained but rugged forest trail with steep switchbacks; the trail goes behind the falls.

Where to start

WTA says to park at the Cispus Environmental Learning Center, two miles up Forest Road 28 from Forest Road 23; the trail is across from the entrance. Discover Lewis County suggests asking at the main office for permission to park on the center grounds. Another start is the Burley Mountain Trail sign board about 2 miles farther along the gravel extension of Forest Road 28.

Timing & water

No season is stated. WTA calls it a good winter hike. Flow is low in late summer.

Before you go

Sources disagree on a pass: WTA lists no parking pass, while the Mountaineers list a Northwest Forest Pass.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore Washington

Waterfall location

Lewis County, Washington.

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