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Vicinity Location:
The trailhead is 39 miles east of Portland, OR in the Columbia River Gorge.

Directions:
From Portland, Oregon, take I-84 east for about 40 miles and take exit #44 for Cascade Locks. Drive into town for .3 mile, heading east. Look for the sign for Wasco Street and turn right.

Drive one block and turn right on Moody and drive to the freeway overpass.

Near the freeway underpass is some parking on the shoulder. Alternately, go under the freeway, drive about 100 feet farther and turn left, following the pavement. The road will turn into Sternwheeler Drive. Park on the right side of the street beginning at the chainlink fence.

To get to the trailhead from the alternate parking, walk back downhill and walk left, instead of turning right to Moody. Take the gravel road and walk uphill about 120 feet. The Pacific Crest Trailhead will be on your left.

There is no bathroom at the trailhead. The closest public restroom is at the Bridge of the Gods rest area which is just before the toll booth. These restrooms and parking area are open seasonally.

No permits are needed to park at the trailhead.

Length and Elevation:
3.7 miles round trip Elevation gain of 750 feet and loss of 150 feet. Total gain and loss is 1,800 feet. Elevation at the trailhead is 240 feet, Dry Creek Falls is at 850 feet.

Trail:
Pacific Crest Trail #2000.

Trail Maps:
Topo MapDownload Garmin .gpx file

Review: April 22, 2012.
One of the first things you come to on the trail is a small brook that is an easy step-across stream with stepping stones provided. From the brook, the trail continues gradually uphill through a beautiful forest on a beautifully engineered trail with sweeping switchbacks. The trail passes through an emerald carpet of mosses and other green plants on the forest floor.

After walking .8 mile the trail comes to a service road. Walk up the service road about 200 feet and you’ll see the sign for the Pacific Crest Trail pointing straight into the woods, just after you pass underneath the powerline.

The trail becomes progressively rockier as it climbs away from Cascade locks. After walking for about 1.1 miles uphill on a gentle grade the trail goes over the toe of a mountain ridge. From here there are some limited views into Dry Creek Valley through the somewhat open forest. It is a delightful woodsy trail through the forest with Ladyslipper Orchids and Trillium along the trail.

The trail drops gradually down to another service road and a trail bridge over Dry Creek Falls at 1.6 miles from the trailhead. Turn right, before crossing the bridge, and walk up the service road for about .25 mile to the falls. The creek drowns out any remaining noises from the trains running continually up and down the Gorge.

The service road is somewhat steep as it follows close to the creek up to Dry Creek Falls. The waterfall is about a 60 foot plunge type waterfall coming from a cleft in the basalt cliffs. There is a headgate structure near the falls for a pipeline that leads to Cascade Locks. It used to supply water to Cascade Locks but it looks like the structure has been abandoned to time and the elements.

This trail is one of the prettiest forest trails in the Gorge with mostly gentle grades and a trail that curves gracefully through a lush second growth forest. This trail is okay for children and pets. There is one steep slope traversed where the trail passes on the forested shoulder of a mountain about 1.1 miles from the trailhead. Remember the Pacific Crest Trail is open to horses. Always leash your dog and find a safe place to stand downhill off the trail until the horses pass.

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