Gorge Creek Falls

Gorge Creek Falls at North Cascades National Park near Newhalem, Washington is a short 0.1-mile out-and-back walk that leads to a vista point of the 390-foot tall waterfall, Gorge Creek Falls.

Explore Gorge Creek Falls

This super short walk leads from the Gorge Overlook Trail parking lot to the middle of a bridge that spans Gorge Creek canyon along the North Cascades Highway. From the bridge, you'll find a view of the ~390-foot tall waterfall as it spills down the steep canyon of Gorge Creek. At the base of each tier, you'll find pools of turquoise-hued water that flows down into Gorge Lake further downstream. When done taking in views of the waterfall, the walk back to the parking lot makes for a super easy, short, and accessible 0.1-mile walk. If you haven't explore the views of Gorge Lake from the Gorge Overlook Trail, planning to visit both locations while parked at the same spot is well-worth your time.

Universal Access

This route leads from a paved parking lot, crosses a flat paved road, and follows a paved sidewalk out to the metal-grated bridge. The entire walk is flat and should be considered universally-accessible for almost all visitors.

Parking & Fees

Visitors will find a large parking lot at the coordinates provided, on the south side of North Cascades Highway just west of Gorge Creek. The lot is large enough to fit a few dozen vehicles as of June 2025.As of June 2025, there are no fees to enter North Cascades National Park, making it one of the few national parks that does not require an entrance fee.

Pets

Dogs are allowed only if leashed and must be cleaned up after. However, due to the slots of the metal-grated bridge the bridge portion of this route may not be suitable for four-legged friends, like dogs.

Warning

Sheer drop-off: This short walk leads across a North Cascades Highway bridge that spans the ~200-foot deep canyon of Gorge Creek. Hold on tight to your cell phone (or buy a wrist leash) to ensure you don't accidentally drop your phone since the bridge is comprised of countless slots, just large enough to let a bouncing cell phone fall through, which you'll never be able to retrieve. For obvious reasons, do not attempt to leave the bridge for any reason or you'll plummet to your death.