LiDAR terrain view · USGS 3DEP
Fisk Falls
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
Fisk Falls is on Weyerhaeuser timberland behind locked gates, with no public trail. Check Weyerhaeuser's recreation access rules before going.
About Fisk Falls
Fisk Falls, which paddlers also call Cape Horn, is a short bedrock gorge with a series of drops on the upper Chehalis River about 5 miles south of Pe Ell in Lewis County. The river here runs through Weyerhaeuser timberland, and road access is behind locked company gates. There is no public trail to the falls.
Trail & Hike Details
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Fisk Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Fisk Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
At high flows the gorge has powerful, recirculating hydraulics, and the bedrock shelf beside it can be under water. Stay well back from the river.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Chehalis River, 8 miles away, not on Fisk Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
362 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 87 years of record
307.53 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge CHEHALIS RIVER NEAR DOTY, WA (13 km away).
Today
Roaring
403 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Roaring
412 cfs
6/10Thu
Roaring
428 cfs
6/10Fri
Roaring
517 cfs
6/10Sat
Roaring
599 cfs
6/10Sun
Roaring
568 cfs
6/10Mon
Roaring
598 cfs
6/10Best window: Today — roaring flow, rain (trip score 6/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late November to late January, peaking in December.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Pe Ell hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Fisk Falls Frozen?
Updated about 8 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded
Fisk Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 53°F to 44°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 204 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Washington.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
Here the descent is spread out: 1-meter lidar measures about 51 feet of drop through Fisk Falls, stretched along the creek rather than stacked in one wall. The brink sits at about 587 feet above sea level.
The ground changes about 47 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 56 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing north, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 587 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 51 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- North
- Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading north).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Hours
Elevation
600 feet above sea level
Coordinates
46.502047° N, -123.287365° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
Where to Stay
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Centralia
Timberland Inn & Suites
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Chehalis - Centralia by IHG
Pitchwood Inn
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Nearby Hot Springs
Hot springs near Longview, Washington
Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Longview, Washington on SoakingSprings.
Explore Washington springsAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
The Willapa Hills State Park Trail passes through Pe Ell.
Wildlife
The area may feature typical Pacific Northwest wildlife, including birds, deer, and small mammals.
Cities near Fisk Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
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