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.

Sandstone Falls - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River. Its two main falls span the river from bank to island to bank with a drop of ten to twenty-five feet. The crest of the river left falls is over 400 feet while the crest of the river left falls is about 800 feet. The falls are located a few miles north of Hinton, West Virginia in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. 

To reach the waterfall from the Sandstone Visitor Center at exit 139 on Interstate-64, head south on Meadow Creek Road 0.3 miles until it becomes WV-20. Continue south on WV-20 for 10.3 miles following the designated one-way Summers Street in Hinton before turning left onto 2nd Ave, driving two blocks, and turning right onto Temple Street. Once back on Temple Street, drive 0.3 miles south crossing the New River just south of the town. Once across the river, turn right onto Madams Creek Road/New River Road, also known as County Route 26. Continue north on New River Road for 8.3 miles to a parking area on the right for the Sandstone Falls day-use area. Gravel pull-in parking is provided for possibly three dozen vehicles. We visited in October 2021 and hiked the quarter-mile boardwalk, but did not hike the Island Loop Trail. 

Boardwalk trailhead

Information boards

Bridge over a man-made channel that once diverted water to a water-powered gristmill

The upstream end of the diversion

The river-left series of waterfalls

Another view

Continuing on the boardwalk

Waterfall visible through the fall foliage

Island Loop Trail trailhead

Bridge over a natural channel

A portion of the river-left falls and a natural channel

Calm water below the bridge

Access to the "beach"

Another opportunity to explore

View of part of the river-right falls from the boardwalk

Rapids just downstream from the river-right falls

Another view of the river-right falls

A closer view

A closer view of a different section of the falls

Another view of the rapids

A closer view

There is no entrance fee at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve website is https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm.

Brooks Falls - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Brooks Falls is a river-wide waterfall on the New River in the southern part of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Reported variously to be four to ten feet high, it is about 700 feet wide. For kayakers, it is a Class III rapid.

To reach the waterfall from the Sandstone Visitor Center at exit 139 on Interstate-64, head south on Meadow Creek Road 0.3 miles until it becomes WV-20. Continue south on WV-20 for 10.3 miles following the designated one-way Summers Street in Hinton before turning left onto 2nd Ave, driving two blocks, and turning right onto Temple Street. Once back on Temple Street, drive 0.3 miles south crossing the New River just south of the town. Once across the river, turn right onto Madams Creek Road/New River Road, also known as County Route 26. Continue north on New River Road for four miles to Brooks Falls Roadside Park. Very limited parallel parking is available at the falls. We visited in October 2021.

The deepest drop appears to be near the west bank

Fall colors above Brooks Falls

There is no entrance fee at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve website is https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm.

Sandstone Falls Overlook - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Continuing our October 2021 visit to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, we drove 3.1 miles south of the Sandstone Visitor Center on County Road 7 and WV-20 to the Sandstone Falls Overlook. A gravel parking area on the right side of the road has room for at least five and possibly ten vehicles. A short path leads down to a stacked-stone retaining wall with views of Sandstone Falls on the New River. A couple of picnic tables and a possibly seasonally open pit-toilet complete the facilities.

Ramp passes the toilet building

Stone retaining wall

New River

Sandstone Falls

A closer view

Sullivan Knob looms over the river

Another view of Sandstone Falls

There is no entrance fee at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve website is https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm.

McDonald Falls - Going-to-the-Sun Road - Glacier National Park

Our third stop on the way back west from Avalanche was at the McDonald Falls Overlook located 10.6 miles from the four-way stop at Apgar to view the waterfall on McDonald Creek. All views on this side of the creek are somewhat obstructed by the forest and are at the road elevation and not creekside. We visited the park in May 2021.

McDonald Creek with snow-covered Mount Vaught

McDonald Falls

A closer view

Streambed downstream

Mount Vaught (8850')

Another view of the falls

Closeup of the brink of the falls

One final view

A Glacier National Park entry fee of $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, or $20 per person is valid for seven consecutive days. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($80 for a lifetime), Access Pass (free with a documented disability), and Military Annual Pass (free for active-duty personnel). Also available is a Glacier Annual Pass for $70. 

The Glacier National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm.