Mowitch Falls

Mowitch Falls is an incredibly graceful three-stepped sliding cascade found along Woodward Creek on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Woodward Creek is a stream of modest size which drains to the Columbia River west of Beacon Rock State Park. Along its length are no less than a half-dozen waterfalls of varying size and shape, and while none of these falls are terribly large, all of them are quite scenic - Mowitch Falls standing out in its own right simply because none of the other falls on the creek interact with the bedrock in such a smooth, effortless way. Having incised itself into a narrow gully, Woodward Creek slides over back-to-back-to-back sliding cascades in drops of 14, 19, and 15 feet respectively. In between each of the drops are perfect pothole pools that may offer excellent soaking during the hot summer months. As the volume of Woodward Creek decreases during the later season, the water will shift from broad sheets gliding down the rock into thin rivulets which zigzag down the tiny channels cut into the bedrock. Framing the falls are stands of Alder, Big Leaf Maple, and Vine Maple, all of which cast an exceptional fall color spectrum on the scene during late October. This section of Woodward Creek and the road used to access the trail leading there appears to be Gifford Pinchot National Forest land, however along the road used to access the trail is a sign nailed to a tree which claims the road is private and that public travel is not allowed. We have not been able to verify the legitimacy of this sign, and since just a few hundred feet past the sign along the road is a Forest Service road number marker (and this road is the only road which can access the National Forest land further up), we have reason to believe this sign is "unofficial" and meant simply to deter people from the area (there are several private tracts and homes passed en route to the trailhead). That said, if you find any further indication that public access is not allowed via the route described below, please be respectful of the landowners and do not continue.This waterfall has no previously known or recognized name as far as we have been able to uncover. Portland-based photographer and waterfall hunter Zach Forsyth proposed the name Mowitch Falls after "discovering" the falls in 2010, so we will use that title until and unless information can be uncovered indicating a previously used title.