Taitnapum Falls
Skamania County, Washington
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 16 ft (4.9 m)
- Location
- Skamania County, Washington
- Access status
- Short national forest trail from the Quartz Creek Trailhead
- The walk
- About a third of a mile from the Quartz Creek Trailhead, per WTA and the Northwest Waterfall Survey
- Ground & access
- Forest trail along the river canyon.
Taitnapum Falls is the uppermost and smallest of the four major falls on this stretch of the North Fork Lewis River, in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The river drops about 16 to 20 feet over a ragged, undercut ledge across about 60 feet of river. From the Quartz Creek Trailhead on Forest Road 90, about 2 3/4 miles east of the Lower Falls Recreation Area just before the road crosses Quartz Creek, walk downstream on the Lewis River Trail a little over a third of a mile to the falls. Steep canyon walls and trees prevent a full view. Return the same way, or continue downstream to Upper Lewis River Falls.
Plan your visit
Quartz Creek Trailhead on Forest Road 90 (the upper end of the Lewis River Trail, No. 31), downstream along the Lewis River Trail to the falls
WTA says Taitnapum Falls is about one third of a mile from the Quartz Creek Trailhead. The Northwest Waterfall Survey says just over 1/3 mile downstream from the upper trailhead. WTA's 8.8-mile round trip is the longer hike from the Lower Falls Recreation Area.
Forest trail along the river canyon.
Where to start
Quartz Creek Trailhead (upper trailhead of the Lewis River Trail) on Forest Road 90, about 2 3/4 miles east of the Lower Falls Recreation Area, just before the Quartz Creek bridge.
Timing & water
No season limits are stated.
Before you go
WTA lists a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful pass for the Lewis River Falls hike, and a Recreation.gov parking permit in summer at the Lower, Middle and Upper Lewis River trailheads. It does not say whether the summer permit applies at the Quartz Creek Trailhead.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Upper Lewis River FallsNational forest river trail from the Quartz Creek Trailhead58 ft (17.7 m) · Skamania County, WA0.2 miSW- Middle Lewis River FallsShort national forest trail from a fee trailhead; summer parking reservation required33 ft (10.1 m) · Skamania County, WA1.0 miSW
- Lower Copper Creek FallsShort national forest trail from a fee trailhead; summer parking reservation required32 ft (9.8 m) · Skamania County, WA1.1 miSW
- Upper Copper Creek FallsShort national forest trail from a fee trailhead; summer parking reservation required26 ft (7.9 m) · Skamania County, WA1.1 miSW
Lower Lewis River FallsResearched visit notes43 ft (13.1 m) · Skamania County, WA2.2 miSW- Chickoon Creek Falls78 ft (23.8 m) · Skamania County, WA2.5 miSW
- Little Niagara Falls74 ft (22.6 m) · Skamania County, WA2.7 miSE
- Tribulation Falls277 ft (84.4 m) · Skamania County, WA6.0 miS
- Big Creek FallsSkamania County, WA6.4 miSW