This hike starts at the Herman Creek trailhead and takes the Herman Creek trail to the Pacific Crest trail, crossing Herman Creek on a footbridge and passing by Pacific Crest Falls and the Herman Creek Pinnacles before continuing to Dry Creek Falls.

distance: 9 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 1,800 ft.
difficulty: strenuous
best season: all year
drive time from Portland: 1 hour
parking pass: NW Forest Pass

Trail Map

The Hike

We started at the Herman Creek trailhead, stopping for lunch at the Pinnacles before continuing to Dry Creek Falls and back. There is a shorter route to the waterfall that begins near the Bridge of the Gods, but we were looking for a longer hike in the woods. We lucked out and it didn’t rain all day – and while it was cold, the forest protected us from the wind that we could hear howling above us.