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Lava Canyon Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 200 ft high | Washington
5 mi round trip
1,600 ft
Hard
Lava Canyon Falls Hike at a Glance
The Lava Canyon Falls hike via the Lava Canyon Trail is 5 mi round trip with 1,600 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 200 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Lava Canyon Trail |
| Distance | 5 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 1,600 ft |
| Difficulty | Hard |
Your time: about 2 h 30 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 3 h 5 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,400 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 5 mi distance and 1,600 ft of gain for this hike are verified (wta.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Lava Canyon Falls
Lava Canyon Falls is a waterfall in Washington, about 200 feet high, on land managed by Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument). Its height is from en.wikipedia.org.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Lava Canyon Trail: 5 miles round trip with about 1,600 feet of elevation gain, from Lava Canyon Trailhead. Distance from wta.org. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Hard.
Before You Go
- Day use costs $5 per vehicle per day. (fs.usda.gov)
- The suspension bridge on the Lava Canyon Trail is closed because of cable damage. (wta.org)
- The first 1/3 mile is paved and accessible. (wta.org)
- Visitors should use extreme caution at this site due to the swift water. (fs.usda.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Lava Canyon Falls?
The Lava Canyon Trail to Lava Canyon Falls is 5 miles round trip with about 1,600 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Lava Canyon Falls hike start?
It starts from Lava Canyon Trailhead.
How tall is Lava Canyon Falls?
Lava Canyon Falls is about 200 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Lava Canyon Falls?
Day use costs $5 per vehicle per day.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Lava Canyon Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- wta.org
- Distance
- wta.org
- Falls height
- en.wikipedia.org
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Lava Canyon Falls.