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| Vincent Creek & Rocky Brook Falls, WA | |
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| | Vincent Creek & Rocky Brook Falls, WA | | | |
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Vincent Creek & Rocky Brook Falls, WA
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| Scenic Drive | 1.00 Miles |
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| | Scenic Drive | 1.00 Miles | | | |
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| no partners | | This day was originally planned as a hike, but since Radmila's leg has been bothering her, we modified it to more of a sightseeing trip with short jaunts outside the car. There is an online pamphlet for a roadtrip waterfall tour throughout the Olympics. It totals over 20 waterfalls and has to be easily near 200 miles of driving, so no way this could be a daytrip to see all the falls. We got a late start and picked two.
First trip was to Vincent Creek Falls and the High Steel Bridge. We got to the farther side of the bridge and walked across it and then back. the views on the bridge were phenomenal. On the near side of the bridge there is a trail, but it very quickly gets steep. There are signs posted that say the trail closed, but they're more like warning signs. No yellow tape. I think once you see how steep the inner gorge walls are to the river below, common sense would hopefully take over. I got about 50' on the trail before it made a hard left to a very steep section covered with wet leaves. After that there was a level section, but it wasn't far before the trail would take you to the more treacherous sections, which even I wasn't in the mood for today.
Walking across the bridge was similar to walking across the Navajo Bridge. Looking over the edge is pretty safe, but you can't help but feel nervous, at the very least that you might drop your phone or camera or drop something else. The views were just gorgeous, though.
The second stop was at Rocky Brook Falls, a little further north off the 101. There is a small parking area on the road and then you follow a maintenance road past a hydroelectric station to the falls. the was is about a quarter mile one way. These falls reminded me of Reavis Falls, about as high, and kind of similar at the bottom. These falls had way more water than I remember at Reavis Falls, however. Sitting at the bottom right next to the pool there is a constant wind heavy mist. Getting a decent picture in this "event horizon" area was impossible. It was still thrilling to sit there and feel the wind and water, hear the roar and feel the cold. I immediately had to put my gloves on or I couldn't feel my hands. 20' downstream, totally different environment. We had fun taking pics, walking around the rocks and checking out the area. It's a long drive from where we were staying, but easily worth the time for such a short walk and huge payoff.
We probably hiked about a mile total between both sites. Even though it was a long drive, the scenery along the sound, along with the fog, rain and evergreens and overall contrasted scenery, made it a very nice family road trip, which was more of the point. |
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