Photos by Cheryl Landes

Lucia Falls Regional Park is a nice escape for a short, easy walk along the north bank of the East Fork of the Lewis River to enjoy a view of Lucia Falls and have a picnic. From the day-use parking lot, the trail to the falls is about the length of two city blocks.

The trail from the parking lot ends at a viewpoint with a picnic bench. It’s a great place to enjoy lunch while watching the falls. Sometimes steelhead jump to the top of the falls.

Salmon spawn in the area around the falls, so swimming is not allowed.

The 24-acre park has nine picnic tables, a barbecue grill, and restrooms.

For a longer hike, follow the 2.5-mile trail from Lucia Falls Regional Park to Moulton Falls Regional Park, the site of another beautiful waterfall.

Lucia Falls Regional Park is located at 21803 NE Lucia Falls Road in Yacolt, Washington. It’s open daily, 7 a.m. until dusk. Admission and parking are free.

Be careful entering the park. Drivers often miss the entrance, because it isn’t marked clearly, and enter through the exit. The exit has metal teeth that puncture tires when drivers enter on that side.

For more information, go to clark.wa.gov/public-works/lucia-falls-regional-park.

Yacolt is 41 miles northeast of Portland and 166 miles south of Seattle.