Camp Benson Falls

The Path to the FallsLindsey Creek State Park. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. May 2, 2013

The waterfall is a decent scramble up the Summit Creek ravine from the HCRH, but it is a nice one!

Lower Waterfall on Summit Creek, Camp Benson Falls in the BackgroundLindsey Creek State Park. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. May 2, 2013

Northwest Waterfall Survey: Camp Benson Falls

Years ago while browsing online for data on a few waterfalls in the Mount Defiance drainages, I stumbled upon a digital copy of the 2007 Oregon State Register. In it, it mentioned a Camp Benson Falls located on Summit Creek. I had assumed for the longest time this might have been a name of the waterfall shown on the Mount Defiance Quadrangle.

Proper scouting of the drainage proved there to be a second, lower, waterfall which wasn't mapped. This is clearly the major waterfall of Summit Creek, at least in the lower section, and the much more logical one to bear any historical name. The falls occur where the creek breaks about 90 feet through a cliff band surrounded by several large deciduous trees, before cascading steeply for another hundred feet or so before gurgling into a talus field and disappearing entirely shortly before reaching Interstate 84.

The falls can be partially seen from I-84 in the winter, but really can't be appreciated without being up close.


Northwest Waterfall Survey: Camp Benson Fallshttp://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/falls.php?num=2804
Camp Benson Falls (Lower Summit Creek Falls) from top of ravineLindsey Creek State Park. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. May 2, 2013
Base of Camp Benson Falls (Lower Summit Creek Falls)Lindsey Creek State Park. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. May 2, 2013
Base of Camp Benson Falls & Nurse Stump (Lower Summit Creek Falls)Lindsey Creek State Park. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. May 2, 2013

Photo Currently Unavailable

Summit Creek RavineLindsey Creek State Park. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. May 2, 2013

Links

Northwest Waterfall Survey: Camp Benson Falls

http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/falls.php?num=2804

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway