Cave Falls

Cave Falls is the tallest and second-to-last in an impressive series of waterfalls found along the Gifford Pinchot's Big Creek. The falls occurs as Big Creek has pushed through the edge of the Lewis River canyon and in the process scoured its own very impressive gorge through the volcanic bedrock. The creek drops 320 feet in a series of at least seven distinct tiers within one of Washington's few true slot canyons. The uppermost tier of the falls - which has been dubbed The Corkscrew by the few canyoneers who have braved the chasm - can be heard from the now mothballed Big Creek Trail, but the shape of the gorge prevents views of the 105 foot tall cataract without undertaking some dangerous scrambling. The four middle drops are functionally inaccessible without technical climbing gear - one meter resolution lidar data indicates the 2nd and 3rd drops to be about 23 and 28 feet tall respectively. The second-to-last tier of the falls, a drop of 54 feet, can be partially seen from near the base of the falls but the shape of the alcove at the bottom of the falls, along with a building-sized boulder which is situated directly in front of the falls blocks a direct view up the gorge. The final tier, which can be partially seen from the Big Creek Trail over 400 feet above the floor of the canyon, drops 85 feet out of the final narrows in Big Creek's gorge into a verdant grotto, spraying almost directly onto the aforementioned building-sized boulder which plugs the streambed and causes it to sink underground temporarily. Behind the bottom tier of the falls is an enormous undercut cave which gives the falls its name - so in fact deep that light seemingly never penetrates the back wall of the cave. Unfortunately there is no easy access to any part of this waterfall. The base of the falls can be reached via a moderate to difficult bushwhack up from the Lewis River, but high water may create impassible obstacles in multiple locations along this route earlier in the year. We do not recommend attempting to visit the bottom of the falls without plenty of off-trail experience. During the winter of 2012-2013 a huge wind storm toppled numerous trees in the area and destroyed the viewpoint for Big Creek Falls further upstream. The Forest Service in response have indefinitely mothballed the Big Creek Falls trail and its parking lot after assessing the danger of additional falling trees to be too high. Since Big Creek Falls is a fairly popular attraction, it is assumed it will be re-opened at some point but no time frame has been given yet. This closure also affects the trail which leads to the birds-eye views of the final tier of Cave Falls.Cave Falls was named quite appropriately for the massive cave-like undercut behind the bottom of the falls. Unfortunately due to the difficult access to the base of the waterfall, very few will get to experience it up close.