Dry Creek Falls and The Pinnacles

Activity Notes

We will carpool from the MMC at 8:00, Drive is 80 miles roundtrip.  The hike is 9miles, with an elevation gain of 1300 feet.

Starting from Cascade Locks, you'll immediately feel the burn in your legs as you climb steadily through a lush forest of towering Douglas firs and cedars. The switchbacks are relentless for the first mile and a half, but your efforts are rewarded with increasingly spectacular views of the Columbia River Gorge unfolding below. After mile 2, the grade mercifully eases a bit as you traverse several open talus slopes that offer breathtaking vistas up and down the gorge. The Pinnacles appear around mile 5 - these dramatic basalt spires are worth every step of elevation gain, offering a perfect lunch spot with panoramic views of the river, Bridge of the Gods, and Mount Hood on clear days. The return journey takes you past Dry Creek Falls, a refreshing 74-foot waterfall tucked into a peaceful grotto. The contrast between the wide-open gorge vistas and the intimate forest waterfall setting makes this moderate 9-mile hike particularly satisfying.

Description with help from Claude AI .... let me know what you think?