ELK CREEK FALLS RECREATION AREA

ELK CREEK FALLS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA TRAIL #740, 745, 742, & 740A

WATERFALL : ELK CREEK FALLS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA TRAIL #740
DROP: VARIES FROM 20' TO ABOUT 70', with a total of 140 '
WATERFALL TYPE: Slide, tiered, plunge
DISTANCE CAR TO FALLS: Lower 4 Falls are about a mile. Middle Falls is about .3 of a mile, and the upper falls is about .4 miles
MAPS: Clearwater National Forest, and the Palouse Ranger District. 208.875.1131
GPS: 46°76’62” N 116°1820” W

DESCRIPTION:

BEFORE I START THIS WRITE UP, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN ITS RAINY OR WET, THIS AREA CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.
PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION EVEN IN DRY CONDITIONS.
KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON YOUR CHILDREN IN ANY SEASON. DO NOT ALLOW YOU OR THEM TO GET TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGES.

From the parking area, head down Trail#740 to the info sign. Bear right on Trail #745 to the Lower Falls and its overlook.
When you continue on, look for Trails#742, and turn right (NW) to a spur trail to a view point for the Middle Falls.
Hike #742, past Trail #740, and look for another view point for the Upper Falls.
Along the way, you will notice several small falls well worth the effort to photograph.Then head north on Trail 740A.
If its a warm summer day, you can go for a swim below the Upper Falls. BUT IF YOU DO, TAKE TENNIS SHOES, BECAUSE THE CREEK BED IS ROUGH.

OPTION #1:

Drive north past the town of Elk River on F.R 382 to the Old Growth Cedar Grove also named there Morris Creek Cedar Grove. Some of the trees are 500 years old. The walk is short, but offers views of cool Cedar trees.

OPTION #2:

Once done here, continue north to the Upper Basin Interpretive Trail.

OPTION #3:

But the big draw here is just a ways further on 382 to F.R. #4763. Turn right (SE) for a short distance, and turn left (NE) onto F.R. #748 to the Giant Western Redcedar.
DO N0T MISS THIS SHORT WALK. ITS AS BIG A DRAW AS THE ELK CREEK FALLS.
Follow the trail thru some very large cedars to one that will blow you away..
The U.S.F.S. built a deck around the base of this monster, because people were climbing on it lower trunk and damaging it.
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO WALK ON THE TREE.

DIRECTIONS:

From St.Maries, drive south on Hwy 3 past Wayland and turn left (E) staying on Hwy 3 thru Santa , Fernwood, Emerald Creek and Bovil. At Bovil , turn onto Hwy #8 for about a mile west of Elk River, turn right at the signs. From Hwy 8 drive south to the Elk Creek Falls parking area.

COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:

There is another falls wettish from Elk Creek called Bull Run Falls, bit I have never been there.

HAZARDS:

ALL WATERFALLS ARE A HAZARD, DUE TO THEIR SLIPPERY NATURE. ALWAYS BE EXTRA CAREFUL NEAR ANY WATERFALL.
I CAN'T STERESS ENOUGH. KEEP YOUR CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE EDGES OF THESE WATERFALLS VIEW POINTS.

R & P:

PLAN YOUR TRIP:

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