Are there fees or permits required for Paradise Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Paradise Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Paradise Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Paradise Falls.

Nearby gauge (Muddy River) · 310 ft³/s · Lower than usual

Paradise Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Paradise Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Paradise Falls. Leashed dogs are allowed in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, but the steep off-trail approach is not suitable for dogs.

Washington • 126 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 3 other waterfalls also named Paradise Falls, see below

Gifford Pinchot National Forest NF · US Forest Service

Photo Credits (5)

diana_robinson CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Jaykhuang CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

jb10okie CC BY-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Alaskan Dude CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Hard

About Paradise Falls

Paradise Falls is a broad, sheer plunge of about 126 feet on Clearwater Creek in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, just outside the area where the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption killed the trees. There is no trail or developed access. Reaching it means a short but difficult off-trail descent on steep, crumbly ground with cliffs, suited only to experienced off-trail hikers.

The Setting

Paradise Falls sits at 1,975 feet within Gifford Pinchot National Forest, in the hills of Washington. At 126 feet, it is among the taller waterfalls in Washington.

Height: 126 feet

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Lower Falls (43 ft) lies 8.3 miles to the southeast.

Lower Falls

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

There is no official or maintained trail to Paradise Falls. The off-trail route is not long but is steep, loose and difficult, and taking the wrong line leads to cliffs.

What to Expect

The falls cascade 126 feet.

Accessibility

The trail involves steep, uneven terrain with significant elevation change and is not accessible to mobility devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Paradise Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
Leashed dogs are allowed in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, but the steep off-trail approach is not suitable for dogs.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Paradise Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are ideal times to visit, as the waterfall is typically at its fullest due to snowmelt and rainfall. Fall offers beautiful foliage, while summer provides warmer weather for hiking.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check with Gifford Pinchot National Forest for seasonal road closures.

Safety Information

The approach is a bushwhack down steep, crumbly slopes with cliffs nearby. A misstep or a wrong route can be dangerous, and there is no cell coverage or nearby help.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Roaring

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Muddy River, 10.9 miles away, not on Paradise Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

310 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Lower than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

217 325 1.1k 1.8k

Based on 70 years of record

14.91 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is lower than usual for this time of year.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

MUDDY RIVER BELOW CLEAR CREEK NEAR COUGAR, WA

USGS 14216500

10.9 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 135 sq mi

Altitude: 1,036 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge MUDDY RIVER BELOW CLEAR CREEK NEAR COUGAR, WA (18 km away).

Moderate confidence

Roaring right now

313 cfs

↑ Rising

Today

Roaring

338 cfs

6/10

Tomorrow

Roaring

338 cfs

8/10

Thu

Roaring

350 cfs

8/10

Fri

Roaring

401 cfs

6/10

Sat

Roaring

428 cfs

6/10

Sun

Roaring

440 cfs

6/10

Mon

Roaring

488 cfs

6/10

Best window: Tomorrow — roaring flow, mostly cloudy (trip score 8/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late March to late May, peaking in May.

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 Cougar hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Paradise Falls Frozen?

Updated about 8 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately strong flow slows freezing

Paradise Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 48°F to 41°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 315 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.

The laser survey finds one clean step here: roughly 217 feet of drop concentrated at the brink. Only part of that is the waterfall, which is listed at 126 feet; the rest is the canyon carrying on downstream. Elevation at the pin is about 2,001 feet.

Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 200 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 92 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing southwest, the falls glow in afternoon and evening light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Paradise Falls near Cougar, Washington, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Paradise Falls near Cougar, Washington, showing about 217 feet of drop, a single sheer drop, facing southwest

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 2,001 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 217 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Southwest; Glows in afternoon and evening light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southwest).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Elevation

1,975 feet above sea level

Coordinates

46.232890° N, -122.010646° W

Land Management

Gifford Pinchot National Forest NF

Managed by USFS

Visitor Tips & Gear

Carry a map and navigation tools and go with someone who knows the route. Do not attempt the descent in wet conditions.

Where to Stay

Lone Fir Resort

8.3 101 reviews

4-Bedroom Chateau in Southern Washington- Luxurious Retreat with Pond & Creek

9.7 3 reviews

Explore Mt St Helens A-Frame Chalet with Deck!

Riverfront Woodland Cabin: Wooded & Forested Views

10.0 9 reviews

See all hotels near Mossyrock

Cabins & Rentals VRBO

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

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Nearby Campground

LOWER FALLS CAMPGROUND

8.2 miles away · 44 sites

Reservable

Overview Lower Falls Campground is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Visitors enjoy several waterfalls in the area and access to the Lewis River Trail. The campground is open from mid-May through October.Recreation Near the campground are several trailheads that provide visitors with a variety of recreational opportunities. There are hiking trails, mountain bike trails, horse trails, and motorcycle trails within 10 miles of the campground. The Lewis River contains rainbow, cutthroat

Book on Recreation.gov