Picture of the Week

Panther Creek Falls - September 18, 2013

Panther Creek Falls is one of Gifford Pinchot National Forest's hidden gems.  Since there is no real hike to the falls, it stays off the radar of most hiking guides. There is a short trail from the road that leads to a viewing platform.  Panther Creek is in the Wind River Watershed in Skamania County, Washington.The waterfall consists of two drops, with the largest at a height of 102 feet.  

It is a really unique waterfall combination (here Tom has combined more than one photo so the whole falls can be seen.)   You see two separate waterfalls converging into the bottom of a moss covered canyon. The main fork of Panther Creek comes in from the right and swerves around a corner.  Then on the canyon wall a series of gushing springs spread out over the rock face, creating a beautiful stream of white rivulets. (thanks to Curious Gorge Blog,  http://curiousgorgeblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/49-1.jpg) for some of that description--he gives it *****)

After viewing the waterfall, we headed for another trail "off the radar" of most hikers: nearby Whistle Punk Trail.  It is a trail around logging relics, left after steam logging of the area in the 1920s.  Interpretive panels explain the logging history.