Gorge Creek Falls - North Cascades National Park

Continuing our September 2022 visit to North Cascades National Park, we left our vehicle in the  paved parking lot for the Gorge Overlook Trail at mile 123.4 on the North Cascades Scenic Highway or Washington Route 20 and walked north to the bridge spanning Gorge Creek. This bridge has sidewalks on both sides to allow visitors to see both the Gorge Creek Falls on the north side of the bridge (compass northwest) and the creek's confluence with the Skagit River in the Skagit River Gorge on the other side. Since the parking lot is on the south (compass southeast) side of the road, we started on that side and walked to the middle of the bridge for the following pictures.

Mouth of Gorge Creek at Gorge Lake on the Skagit River

Looking down at the boulders in Gorge Creek

Colonial Peak (7771') visible in a saddle between
two unnamed ridges above Gorge Lake

Having retraced our steps to the parking lot, we crossed the road at the marked crosswalk and proceeded back to the bridge for some views of the Gorge Creek Falls. The falls are so high and in so much shade that I couldn't get a good view of the entire spectacle.

Looking back at the crosswalk and parking lot

The packed gravel path should be smooth enough for wheelchair use

Sidewalk on the north side of the highway bridge

Gorge Creek Falls (242' high)

Three of the five drops of the falls

Another view

View across the bridge and the Skagit River Gorge to Colonial Peak (7771') visible in the saddle

There is no entrance fee at North Cascades National Park.

The North Cascades National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm.