Gooch and Downing Creek Falls – 08/10/2024

Before getting to the post please note that Gooch Falls is located on private land and access may be restricted at any time. Please be respectful of the landowner’s property and requests.

A busy weekend combined with the large number of wildfires currently burning across the state we decided to stick closer to home and check out a pair of waterfalls that we’d been wanting to see in person. Our son Dominque was also in town and was able to join us for the outhing.

Neither of these hikes use an official trail, so neither has a trailhead either. As I mentioned before the route to Gooch Falls in primarily on private land. Due to these circumstances, we’ve decided not to go into much detail on how to drive to either fall. However, as of the date of our outing they could both be found on AllTrails and other websites, so they aren’t exactly a secret.

We started off with Gooch Falls by parking on the shoulder of a gated forest road.

After confirming that there were no “Private Property or “No Trespassing” signs we continued up the road and picked up a clear trail leading into the forest.

We followed this path to Gooch Falls where there was a rope to assist with the steep descent to a viewpoint partway down the hillside.

The rope for the steep (and slick) section.

Gooch Falls

After admiring the falls for a while we headed back to our car. This hike was roughly two thirds of a mile round trip with a little over 100′ of elevation gain. This was an impressive waterfall and we were glad to have the opportunity to visit. In order to keep access open if you do visit please be sure to pack out any trash and don’t damage any trees or plants.

We headed for our next stop to visit Downing Creek Falls. Be aware that the short forest road to the trailhead described on AllTrails is truly one lane except for a small pullout near the highway meaning there is no way for vehicles to pass one another.
The road widened briefly near the pullout that acts as the trailhead.

We walked up the road following a description posted by Off the Beaten Trail! to its end where a use trail began.

Delicious red huckleberries provided morning snacks along much of the road and trail.

We followed the path as it brought us to Downing Creek.

We forked right when the ancient roadbed headed uphill.

The trail continued along the creek to Downing Creek Falls.

Not Downing Creek Falls, just one of many streams along the mossy hillside flowing into the creek.

Downing Creek Falls

This was another wonderfully scenic waterfall and worthy of a nice break before heading back. On the way back we took a right-hand fork that led us out to the ancient roadbed uphill just enough to see the tops of Coffin and Bachelor Mountains (post) over the tress.
The flat top of Coffin Mountain to the left of the tall trees at center and Bachelor Mountain to the right.

Coffin Mountain

We followed the roadbed downhill to rejoin the trail, but I soon split off to find the creek again to see what was making the creek roar with sound.
It took us a bit to realize that this was indeed a really old roadbed.

As I headed cross-country toward the creek I picked up a fainter trail running between the creek and the trail we’d come in on. I could still see Heather and Dominque so I communicated to them that I was going to try and follow it as far back as it would allow and I’d meet them at the car. I made several stops along the way to look at the creek flowing through the green forest.

There was sporadic flagging along the creek.

Another flag ahead.

The faint trail running along Downing Creek.

When I lost the path a couple times I just looked for signs like this old log cut for where the tread might be.

Sun starting to rise above the forest.

I wasn’t expecting to see caution tape. Maybe that’s all the person had because I couldn’t identify any hazard here.

A forested island in Downing Creek.

I was able to follow the creek all the way back to the pullout where I found Heather and Dominique waiting.
It was a short climb back up to the road.

This hike is just over a mile round trip with just under 300′ of gradual elevation gain giving us a grand total of just over 1.75-miles for the day (and a little under 400′ of elevation gain). Both of the waterfalls were impressive, especially given the time of year. We tend to avoid waterfall hikes in the Summer when flows tend to be lower, but that wasn’t an issue with these creeks. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Gooch & Downing Creek Falls