Panther Creek Falls
Washington · 136-foot drop · Gifford Pinchot National Forest · Last verified 2026-05-23
Flow at Panther Creek Falls is 177 cfs today, around its seasonal average.
Right now
Streamflow
177 cfs
WIND RIVER NEAR CARSON, · 36m ago
Overnight
56°F
Partly Cloudy
Tuesday
71°F
Mostly Sunny
Today's daylight
Sunrise 5:45 AM · Sunset 8:42 PM · 14h 57m
Snapshot built 7m ago. Sources: USGS · NWS PQR.
No verified photo yet
Panther Creek Falls is a two-tiered 130-foot waterfall on Panther Creek in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Skamania County. Two creeks converge into a single basin at the lip, then drop through a moss-covered amphitheater. A short 0.3-mile trail leads to a viewing platform — the scramble route to the base is dangerous and unofficial.
Panther Creek Falls sits in Skamania County, Washington. It drops along Panther Creek. The falls are inside Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The base sits at roughly 1,883 feet of elevation. Drive time is about 13 minutes from Carson. A trail — Panther Creek Falls Trail #137 — runs within 20 meters of the marked location. No public parking is recorded within 2 km, so a longer approach is likely. It draws modest visitor attention — busier weekends, quiet weekdays. Source records come from OpenStreetMap and usfs:giffordpinchot.
Entry is free. Dogs on leash are welcome on the access trail. The approach is short and gentle enough for young kids. Parking: Trailhead parking on Wind River Rd, 5.8 mi from Carson. No fee required.. Swimming is not recommended — The base of the falls is a steep, rocky drop and the viewing platform is well above the basin — there is no safe access to the pool. Best viewing window: most of the year (best 4–10).
The trail
0.3 miles each way, rated easy with 114 feet of elevation gain. Trailhead parking on Wind River Rd, 5.8 mi from Carson. No fee required.
Is the water flowing right now?
Most waterfall sites don't tell you this. The waterfall itself is almost never gauged, but a USGS streamgage in the same watershed can tell you whether snowmelt has started, peaked, or run dry.
USGS gage 14128500 · 9.8 mi away
WIND RIVER NEAR CARSON, WA
View live discharge data →
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panther Creek Falls (this page) | — | 136 ft | easy · 0.3 mi | Y | Free |
| Falls Creek Falls | 5 mi | 335 ft | — | — | — |
| Shipherd Falls | 9 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Steep Creek Falls | 11 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Lower Rock Creek Falls | 12 mi | 53 ft | — | — | — |
| Upper Rock Creek Falls | 12 mi | 39 ft | — | — | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~136 ft)
- Franklin Falls135 ft
- Niagara Falls135 ft
- North Falls135 ft
- Pratt's Falls137 ft
- Winter Falls135 ft
Same best season in Washington
- Hamma Hamma Falls75 ft
- Cherry Creek Falls25 ft
Questions visitors ask about Panther Creek Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Panther Creek Falls?
Panther Creek Falls is 136 feet (41.5 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Panther Creek Falls in a national or state park?
Yes — Panther Creek Falls is inside Gifford Pinchot National Forest. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Panther Creek Falls?
Yes — dogs are allowed (Gifford Pinchot National Forest permits leashed dogs in most areas). Always leash and pack out waste.
Can you swim at Panther Creek Falls?
No — swimming is not safe or not allowed at Panther Creek Falls. The base of the falls is a steep, rocky drop and the viewing platform is well above the basin — there is no safe access to the pool.
When is the best time to visit Panther Creek Falls?
Peak flow is typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Season-wise: spring, summer, fall. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit Panther Creek Falls?
No entrance fee. Gifford Pinchot National Forest is free to access. Some trailheads may charge a parking fee separately.
How far is Panther Creek Falls from a major city?
Panther Creek Falls is 9 miles from Carson (about 13 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in Washington
Where it is
45.8672, -121.8286
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-23
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