Woodward Creek

Woodward Creek is a quiet drainage on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. The creek sports a number of short drops between 1000’ and 2000’ elevation. This is another good creek for training and practice, but requires more work to reach (-i.e., it's a high pay-to-play). Woodward is similar in character to Duncan Creek next door, but has a lot more creek-walking. The approach and exit require bushwhacking. Update: May 2020: In shuttling up to the top, we ran into a bunch of new "No Trespassing" signs along the road about 0.5mi up from the end of pavement and a hostile local. We've been using Kueffler Road to access the falls for years, so barricading the road is of dubious legality. Update: May 2023: While walking the road, we met a couple of friendly locals (Torbin and his mother). They encouraged us to drive the road and use the trails as they are getting overgrown without use. The "hostile" is known to the neighbors as the local curmudgeon and is harmless. If driving the road, please pass his home (bus) slowly, minimizing dust, and keeping noise to a minimum. If confronted, we were advised to smile, wave, and keep moving. If anyone in the area asks questions, we were told to say: "We are friends of Torbin."

From SR 14, follow Woodard Creek Rd ~2mi to an intersection. Turn right and follow the somewhat overgrown road downwards 0.5mi to small pullout just before a bridge over the West Fork. There's room for a few vehicles here. From the lower trailhead, backtrack to Hwy 14 and continue east 1.7mi. Just before the Park HQ building, turn off left/north on Kueffler Rd (signed). Follow Kueffler Rd upwards for ~4mi. Park on the shoulder at a location where the road swings north. One-way drive time: ~20min. There may be a cairn marking the location to drop into the creek. Special Notes: From the lower trailhead: cross the bridge and bear right on the gravel track. The track heads south, then swings back north, emerging into a powerline corridor. Follow the powerline east to approximately UTM 10 573849mE 5055197mN where an old logging grade crosses the corridor. Watch carefully as the grade angles back sharply left / northwest; it's easy to miss. This grade is not hiked very often and may be brushy. Follow this track (now trail) northwards, then east. Once you get going, the old grade is easy to follow. It eventually reaches the east fork of Woodward Creek. Boulder/log-hop across at the old bridge site and scramble back up to the grade. Follow the grade upwards past a burned-out car and continue following the grade to the left which will end at a gate at Kueffler Rd. Turn left and follow Kueffler Rd about 1.8mi to the upper trailhead. The hike takes about 1.5 hours. Total distance: ~3mi, 1200ft gain. As of 2023: the hiking route was a little overgrown, but passable.

Suit up on the road, then follow a faint user trail down easy forested slopes into the upper eastern tributary of Woodward Creek (2min). Go downstream. There are a few minor downclimbs before the first rappel. Below, downclimb two rock steps (8ft, 10ft). From here, it's 0.25mi downstream to the next rappel, passing the confluence of Woodward's two northern tributaries along the way. Walk/slide downstream a short distance and downclimb into narrows above R8. Downclimb DCL (easier than it looks) to top of R9.

Continue downstream 0.5mi. Pass the confluence with Little Woodward and eventually reach the bridge. It will probably take ~30min. Lots of creek-walking. Requires some off-trail navigation and bushwhacking. There wasn't much left when attempting this route in 2023.