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TRIP 5 Moulton Falls Trails

Distance		2.5 miles, Point-to-point
Elevation Gain		100 feet
Hiking Time		Up to 2 hours
Optional Map		USGS Yacolt (trail not shown)
Usually Open		All year (except during winter storms)
Best Time		Any
Trail Use		Good for kids, dogs OK, wheelchair accessible, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing
Agency		Clark County Parks
Difficulty		Easy
Note		Good in cloudy weather

HIGHLIGHTS Although the trails in Moulton Falls County Park barely qualify as “wild,” the excellent scenery makes this trip worth including. The star attraction is the crystal clear East Fork Lewis River, with its rocky benches, sandy beaches, cascading waterfalls, and great swimming holes. But the hike also features a small wildlife-rich lake, impressive rocky cliffs, a varied and interesting forest, and, for those willing to make a quick side trip, a lovely waterfall on a tributary stream. All in all this county park offers a fun hiking experience that is suitable for the entire family.

DIRECTIONS From the intersection of State Highways 502 and 503 in Battleground, drive 5.7 miles north on Highway 503. Turn right on N.E. Rock Creek Road, which soon becomes Lucia Falls Road, and proceed 5.4 miles to the junction with Hantwick Road. If you are leaving a car at the lower trailhead, turn right on Hantwick Road, drive 0.6 mile, and then turn left into the large trailhead parking lot.

To reach the starting point, return to Lucia Falls Road, continue east another 3 miles, and then turn right into the small, signed parking lot for Moulton Falls County Park.

East Fork Lewis River from trail bridge in Moulton Falls County Park

You start by walking east on a gravel path that goes 80 yards along the right (south) shoulder of Lucia Falls Road. Just before the bridge across Big Tree Creek, a marked crosswalk goes across the road to a trail going north. This very worthwhile side trip goes upstream through the forest along Big Tree Creek for 0.15 mile, passing an inviting picnic area along the way, to an overlook of a very attractive waterfall. Stone steps take you down to a bridge just below the falls. This bridge provides access to a loop trail that takes you across the road and then south to the main part of Moulton Falls County Park. Unfortunately, the bridge is closed in winter, so off-season hikers must backtrack from the falls, recross the road to the main trail, and cross Big Tree Creek on a wooden trail bridge that parallels the road bridge.

By either route, you now enter the developed part of Moulton Falls County Park. To find the continuation of this trail, loop to the south through a picnic area and past a popular summer swimming hole and then pick up a wide gravel trail that climbs slightly to a tall arching bridge spanning the East Fork Lewis River, fully three stories above the green-tinged waters.

After crossing the river, the 10-foot-wide, virtually level, and wheelchair-accessible trail heads downstream through a forest of Douglas firs, western red cedars, bigleaf maples, and red alders towering over an understory dominated by ferns and thimbleberries. Although well above the river, the trail remains close enough to allow hikers to look down into the stream’s lovely waters. The path soon passes Moulton Falls, really just a rocky cascade, and then, at 0.35 mile from the arched bridge, comes to a junction.

The narrow trail that goes left (uphill) is the Bells Mountain Trail (Trip 6). For this hike you continue straight on the wide gravel path. As you walk (calling it “hiking” would give the impression that the trail is much more challenging than it really is) you will frequently see homes and cars on the other side of the river. From spring through fall, however, leaves on the deciduous trees hide most of these unnatural sights, while in winter, traffic on the road is less frequent and not too intrusive. In fact winter is a particularly nice time to visit because several seasonal side creeks are filled with rainwater then and cascade over small waterfalls into the river. Unfortunately this canyon gets almost no sun during the winter months, so it can be dark and chilly.

At about 1.5 miles a railroad track crosses the river and parallels the trail. A nice highlight comes at 1.9 miles when you reach a lovely unnamed lake on the north side of the trail. Here you can look for wildlife such as deer and a variety of birds or eat lunch on a small bench and picnic table at the lake’s west end. The trail’s last 0.5 mile are paved and include a bridge over a small but very attractive side creek just before trail’s end at the Hantwick Road Trailhead.

While in the area, take the time to check out Lucia Falls, in a small county park 0.3 mile west of the Hantwick Road turnoff. Swimming is not allowed here to protect the fish, but the cascading falls is picturesque and well worth a visit.