Trail Overview
West Falls Creek Road (FS 3015100) is accessed from North Thorne River (FS 3015); at about the 0.4-mile mark, turn right onto West Falls Creek Road (FS 3015100). This is a one-lane, gravel, grass-lined road with large potholes and areas where water crosses the road. This scenic road winds through trees lining the trail with tall grass and ferns. This road veers to the right at a Y that has a steep slope down the West Falls Creek. The road on the left is currently a closed road, and there is active logging, so be extra mindful of logging trucks and/or equipment coming down the road before the turn off Y, as there are limited places to pull off the road. Check with the Radio Channel or CB channel to verify if they are coming down the hill. Once past the Y, the forest gets more dense, and we finally are stopped by a large tree in the road that looks like someone has been working to cut it up. The road was getting denser, and the road is darker. There is no real turnaround area at the tree blocking the road. The road still continued after this tree in the road. This road winds around hills and crosses creeks. On this scenic hilly road, the elevation is between 75 to 194 feet. This is a down-and-back road. You can see Sitka spruce, Western Hemlock, Red cedar, Yellow cedar, poplar, and birch, as well as lichen, moss, ferns, and dense old-growth forests and flowers in this temperate rainforest. There is wildlife in this area. Be safety-minded for Black bears, changing weather conditions, and sudden changes to the road due to rain and landslides. Always plan your trip with basic survival items and local wildlife safety in mind, in case you get stuck in-between roads during a road washout or landslide. There are limited resources here for clearing roads. It is advisable to have a contact and some form of tracker so that your contact can make sure you are on plan and not stuck somewhere. This road connects to other recreational roads and is not a main road for travel. Prince of Wales has Black Bear, Sitka black-tailed deer, Alexander Archipelago Wolves, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Mink, Marten, Beaver, Ermine, and Flying Squirrels, along with a variety of Marine life and Sea Birds. Salmon, Trout, and Steelhead run in the rivers and creeks here. Weather plays a part in the level of difficulty, as this is in a rainforest, and a lot of these roads go through areas of muskeg/wetlands and hills. There are great views of tree-lined, winding roads, hills, and creeks. Tall grass, ferns, a variety of trees, lichens, moss, muskeg, forest, and flowers can be seen, as well as scenic landscapes. Warnings: Keep on the road and watch hillsides for landslides, watch for falling or down trees, and be cautious of water over the roadway. Watch for signs of road deterioration or washouts due to heavy rainfall. No cell service noted. Check weather conditions and be prepared for rain, fog with low visibility, and lower temperatures. It is a rainforest. Suggested best time of year: June - October.
