Hiking Upper Gold Creek Falls

Once you arrive in Golden Ears Park, follow the road to the end and look for signs to the Gold Creek Day Area. The road will turn to gravel, and after you cross a small, one-line bridge, you will reach the parking lot.

After you have parked, head north past the yellow gate, marked East Canyon Trail. You will follow an old logging road that winds through second generation growth, lush moss, ferns, and a few streams. Keep on the road and you will eventually reach a very rusty, old gate. Go through the gate to continue.

At around the 2.5k mark, you will see a pile of rocks and trail marker – this is the goat trail to the lower falls. Don't take this one, but keep walking. At approximately the 3k mark, there is a large flat rock on the lefthand side, with a tree directly above, and a pink trail marker. Take this trail to the left. This path is small and not very well marked; it can also be muddy, so use caution when walking.

The trail leads you downhill with various switchbacks, and soon you will be able to hear the falls, long before you see them. At the falls, there is a small lookout you can stand on – if you are brave enough, you can also climb down the embankment to stand on the rocky ledge. This is a dangerous area, however, and you must exercise extreme caution when close to the falls. If you decide to climb down, make sure not to go during spring runoff, as the volume of water passing the falls is enormous.