Falls Creek Tr152
Overall: 8
Aerobic: 7
Technical: 6
Steepness: 6
Flow: 7
Singletrack: 100%
Falls Cr Tr152 and McClellan Meadows Tr157 share a common TH at FR6500, and offer classic Northwest singletrack, with long stretches of twisting, flowing terrain.
Type
OAB
Length
Avg: 20mi
Ascent
Intense
Elevation Change
TH:1350'
Avg Ascent:3700'
Ascent Incline
15%
Duration
Avg: 4hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
popup
USFS
Trail
Review
There are two FR30 access points, at the southern Falls Creek Tr152 TH (2mi on FR3062 to the TH) and at the northern McClellan Meadows Tr157 / Oldman Pass Tr154 TH (riding from the Valley Ski Tr151 TH).
Covered in the guide below, the best way to experience Falls Cr Tr152 is to shuttle from Oldman Pass, a very popular 16mi (1400' ascent, 3100' descent) ride which starts at Oldman Pass Sno-Park, riding Snofoot Tr150 or Valley Ski Tr151 to McClellan Meadows Tr157, then Falls Creek Tr152 to the FR3062 TH.
Note: The lower TH is at the midpoint of Falls Creek Tr152. The lower road (FR3062 has been decommisioned along with that parking area).
A more challenging option is to start at Old Man Pass and ride McClellan Meadows Tr157 then Falls Cr Tr152 to the cliff exposure section and back for a total of 27.5mi and (3500', 15% ascent), a slightly inverted, but rideable elevation profile.
Expect to pass hikers on the steep cliff exposure section, which also includes a few drops and a loose gravel surface.
Shuttle this ride if at all possible. An 8mi OAB option would be to park at the FR6700 5-way intersection and climb to the FR6500 TH.
Bring some lighting and check out the lava caves, located near the mid point of Falls Cr Tr152.
More for hikers, the Lower Falls Cr Tr152A starts from FR3062 and follows the southern banks of Falls Creek through old growth forest for 1.5mi.
Lower Falls Cr Tr152A crosses a rock gorge cable suspension bridge, providing a view of Falls Creek white water, then continues uphill for 0.7mi to the base of the waterfall.
From the FR3063 TH, a 20mi (3700' ascent) OAB is possible, but expect to hike-a-bike the first 2mi and many other sections along the way, due to the often rocky and rooty terrain.
Directions from FR90: FR90E to Curley Cr Rd (just prior to the Lewis River TH). Turn right onto Curley Cr Rd then go 6mi to FR30. Turn right onto FR30 and go 3mi to Old Man Pass.
Directions: From Carson: SR141 (Wind River Rd) past Wind River then go right on FR30 (just past the Fish Hatchery), and go north for 13.7mi to an unsigned Sno-Park on the right with a restroom, picnic table, and area map. View Larger Map. No Map?.
Shuttle Directions
lava tubes
- TH: From the Oldman Pass Sno-Park TH, ride across FR30 onto Snofoot Tr150 (next to the gravel road that accesses the kids sledding area). Snofoot Tr150 is a zippy downhill which parallels FR30. Ride through the Wind River drainage and then climb to FR3053.
- 1.6mi: Go right onto FR3053 and descend to to the end of the road, then go onto McClellan Meadows Tr157.
- 2.2mi: Ascend McClellan Meadows Tr157 over moderate terrain, climbing to a small campground, crossing a wooden bridge over Pete's gulch at 3.7mi, another bridge at 4.2mi and FR6701 at 4.7mi.
- 6.1mi: Go right onto FR6500, .2mi to the Falls Creek Tr152 TH, passing the Racetrack Tr171 TH on the left along the way. Go through the Falls Creek Horse Camp, at the top of the hill, then take Falls Cr Tr152 on the right.
- 7.3mi: The smooth trail gently descends, crossing FR179 then crossing FR6701 and passing the lava caves at 9mi. Look to the left for the big holes in the ground. Walk past this hole and find the next one. If you brought a bike lock (and maybe a light) or have someone to watch your ride, then crawl down into and 50yds through the first cave. Come back into the open then find the entrance to the larger cave. The lava tubes have 50ft ceilings and continue for miles.
- 10mi: After another amazing section of twisty singletrack, cross FR6700 at the 5-way intersection and note the sign for Falls Cr Tr152 (straight and to the left, when entering the road from the trail). Continue on doubletrack (for about .5mi, not shown on the map), which turns back into the trail.
- 12.2mi: After traversing a hillside on a sandy gravel surface, go through a sharp switchback and pass a marsh.
- 14.1mi: After zipping through the last section of fast singletrack, carefully descend the final 2mi to the TH. Really watch the speed on this section, as there are plenty of hikers and little room for error on the steep, gravel surface, which includes a few rooty drops along the way.
- After crossing the bridge, go LEFT onto Lower Falls Cr Tr152A and ride upstream to the TH. The lower parking lot and road are full of stumps.
Trapper Creek Wilderness Hiking
The 3mi Big Hollow Trail 158 upper TH is at the primitive Berry Camp (at the intersection with Observation Peak Tr132). Descending 400' over the first 1mi, the Hollow Creek fork crossing then must be forded with care (avoid after heavy rain or during Spring runoff). The Big Hollow Creek crossing is also challenging during Spring runoff.
Observation Peak Trail 132 ascends steadily (2600' in 5mi) along the ridge to the summit, through a second-growth Douglas fir forest, crossing terrain steep enough to remain snow-bound till late Spring.
The easily accessible Soda Peaks Lake Trail 133 traverses a saddle, then switchbacks through a conifer forest to the bowl shaped (glacial-carved cirque) Soda Peaks Lake.
Sunshine Primitive Trail 198 is a rarely used, steep and often treefall-strewn excursion, which may seem a shortcut but only if GPS-equipped. The trail surface is sometimes loose and sandy, and often hard to find.
Trail Index
This Ride
Falls Creek Trail 152, McClellan Meadows Trail 157, Snofoot Trail 150, Valley Ski Trail 151
Area
Trail 124, Lava Butte Trail 200, Oldman Pass Trail 154, Paradise Trail 153, Siouxon Trail 130, Terminator Trail 159
Trapper Creek Wilderness Hiking
Big Hollow Trail 158, Observation Peak Trail 132, Soda Peaks Lake Trail 133, Sunshine Primitive Trail 198, Trapper Creek Trail 192
XC Ski
Dry Creek Trail 194, Snofoot Trail 148, Snofoot Trail 150, Valley Ski Trail 151
Campgrounds
Beaver Campground, Government Mineral Springs Campground, Panther Creek Campground, Paradise Creek Campground
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
