Just like the Myrtle Creek drainage to the north, the Snow Creek drainage also features a waterfall. Two, in fact, not counting the gorge immediately below the upper falls. It’s not even a two-mile hike to both falls on a well-cared-for packed-dirt path shaded by giant pines and western red cedar.
Location
Selkirk Mountains
Rating
2.7 out of 5
Difficulty
Moderate (some gentle uphill hiking on the way back)
Distance
1.7 miles
Duration
0:31 hours moving time (Hiking)
Elevation Gain
132 feet
High Point
2,475 feet (above Upper Falls)
Low Point
2,243 feet (Lower Falls)
Features
Waterfall
Grove
Outing Type
Daytrip
Trail Type
Out-and-back
Trailbed
Packed dirt
Trail#
189
Water
Snow Creek
Camping
Not available
Conditions
Excellent
Administration
Kaniksu National Forest
Status
Unprotected
Maps
USGS
Moravia
Fees & Permits
None required
()
Open To
Hikers
Dogs
()
Directions
On US-95, take the Deep Creek exit about 2 miles south of Bonners Ferry (going north, this is shortly after the Mirror Lake golf course). Follow Deep Creek Loop westwards for 3 miles, then turn right onto Lions Den Road. After .6 miles Lions Den will turn into West Side Road at a right angle. Continue north for another 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Snow Creek Road #402 (Snow Creek is a gravel road with a fair amount of washboarding). Continue for 1.2 miles to the trailhead (it is signed). There is parking for 4-5 cars.
The trail is a wide single-track, leading lower towards Snow Creek, nicely shaded by a coniferous tree canopy. Shortly after the half-mile mark you’ll happen on a fork, with the left branch leading to the lower falls and the right to the upper. This is signed, and both trails are fairly wide, so don’t mistake them for game trails.
The left branch leads through a jumble of downed trees (but the path is cleared) to a cedar grove. A short side spur deposits you at a meditative spot with a bench overlooking Quiet Creek. Shortly afterwards you’ll hit on the lower falls, where a wooden stair and observation deck offer prime viewing angles.
Back up to the fork and take the right branch through glens of ferns and old-growth forest to the upper falls. This branch, too, includes a short side spur to a spot on Quiet Creek with a bench. At the upper falls you can step out onto a rocky ledge for a good view of the falls and peer downstream as the water tumbles into a gorge towards the lower falls.
Alternate Routes
Things to Consider
Not so great
TrailheadThe trail is nicely sprinkled with inviting benchesCedar groveSnow CreekLower fallsFerns on the way to the upper fallsGiant hollow tree on the Upper Falls trailUpper fallsLooking downstream from the upper fallsUpper falls from a different angleBasin below upper fallsQuiet Creek
We visited Snow Falls on Mother’s Day. In anticipation of a large number of families on this sunny spring afternoon, the U.S. Forest Service cranked the dial up to the high flow position. Personally I enjoy the gentle summertime trickle of water cascading over the rocks more than during spring runoff. But you have to see the falls at this time of the year to appreciate the energy of water.
It was quite a wet spring; all the creeks seem to carry lots of water. We were out in Odessa a couple of weeks ago, expecting mud flats and not much else. Instead, all the lakes and creeks were full of water! I bet Palouse Falls is very impressive right now.
Well, there a lot more hikes to do around here…I have more than 100 on my to-do list right now and it seems that every time I venture out I find yet another…
We visited Snow Falls on Mother’s Day. In anticipation of a large number of families on this sunny spring afternoon, the U.S. Forest Service cranked the dial up to the high flow position. Personally I enjoy the gentle summertime trickle of water cascading over the rocks more than during spring runoff. But you have to see the falls at this time of the year to appreciate the energy of water.
Thanks, NH.
It was quite a wet spring; all the creeks seem to carry lots of water. We were out in Odessa a couple of weeks ago, expecting mud flats and not much else. Instead, all the lakes and creeks were full of water! I bet Palouse Falls is very impressive right now.
Second that!
I well know how that goes! We live in a beautiful part of the world!
That would be an excellent hike for a morning or afternoon, and an excellent way to introduce folks to the outdoors who have nvere hiked much!
Very true. This and the Myrtle Creek Falls trail, which isn’t far away. Thanks for reading!
Keep up this excellent blog long enough and you will have a lot of people reading and enjoying it!
Well, there a lot more hikes to do around here…I have more than 100 on my to-do list right now and it seems that every time I venture out I find yet another…