Lower Lewis River Falls Cougar, WA 98616

"We visited on Christmas day, so we pretty much had the entire place to ourselves. Parking was plentiful, requiring a $5 fee. The waterfall was beautiful and likely a highlight of our trip. However, the trail leading to the bottom of the falls was not well-maintained, with fallen trees and a mudslide closing off parts of the trail. Nevertheless, we had a great time exploring the area and enjoying the serenity of nature."

"The falls are beautiful no matter what time of year. Well worth the drive and if you go during the fall, the colors only add to the splendor that is Lewis River Falls. The parking area is very close the the falls, literally only a three minute walk. There is a viewing area that gives you a top down view if the falls. You will be surprised at just how large the falls are once you arrive. A must see in the Northwest."

"One of the best looking falls in Washington state in my opinion. Easy access from the recreation parking. I have heard it gets really busy during the summer. There is a $5 charge for parking which can be paid with cash or check at the parking lot. The views shown in my pictures are from river level which takes a little more work to get to than the easily accessible view points."

"The lower Lewis River Falls is an amazing place. There are in other areas, larger or taller falls and bigger rivers, but this falls, and the surrounding area is uniquely beautiful. We were able to obtain a parking pass for the day ahead of time using the online USFS website. Arriving early allowed us the opportunity to view the falls without hurrying. There's a nice hike down the river for a couple miles that provides a great forest experience. An interesting historical fact was that the falls were impassable to the salmon that ran up the river. This allowed the Native Americans to harvest some of the fish that congregated below the falls. All in all, it is a great starting place to go for a day hike and then expand out to other available trails, in-season berry picking (which needs a free permit as well) or hiking from the lower falls to the middle or upper falls. On our drive to the falls, the roads were generally paved, with some gravel portions. Some parts of the roads were sunken or heaved, creating some really deep and rough areas that you'll want to slow down for. Watch for the red and white striped vertical markers and paint on the road that marks these areas."

"Amazing waterfall that requires only a short hike from the parking lot. But please do bring proper shoes, as it is important if you want to reach the water. Look for the rainbow reflection and enjoy the nature in it's natural beauty!"