Loowit Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 210 ft high | Washington
9.2 mi round trip
1,200 ft
Hard
Loowit Falls Hike at a Glance
The Loowit Falls hike is 9.2 mi round trip with 1,200 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 210 ft |
|---|---|
| Distance | 9.2 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 1,200 ft |
| Difficulty | Hard |
Your time: about 3 h 40 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 4 h 35 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 2,080 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 9.2 mi distance and 1,200 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 Loowit Falls
Loowit Falls is a waterfall in Washington, about 210 feet high, on land managed by Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Its height is from waterfallsnorthwest.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Loowit Falls Trail: 9.2 miles round trip with about 1,200 feet of elevation gain, from Windy Ridge Viewpoint. Distance from wta.org. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Hard.
Before You Go
- Dogs are not allowed. (wta.org)
- A Forest Service order closes this trail Monday through Friday from May 15 to October 31 through the end of 2027; it stays open on weekends and federal holidays. (wta.org)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Loowit Falls?
The Loowit Falls Trail to Loowit Falls is 9.2 miles round trip with about 1,200 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Loowit Falls hike start?
It starts from Windy Ridge Viewpoint.
How tall is Loowit Falls?
Loowit Falls is about 210 feet high.
Are dogs allowed on the Loowit Falls trail?
Dogs are not allowed.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
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 Loowit Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- wta.org
- Distance
- wta.org
- Falls height
- waterfallsnorthwest.com
- Falls location
- waterfallsnorthwest.com
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Loowit Falls.