*Photos from http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/
Lewis River Falls Waterfall Run
The Upper Main Lewis River is a very scenic area with multiple large falls and old growth forests. The run is of novelty sorts and often done as more of a park and huck. The large falls should only be attempted with adequate safety measures and a solid group of skilled paddlers with safety and medical experience in case of accident This is not a run that has been documented as a true run but usually the Lower Falls is documented on its own. I believe it is a classic style waterfall run and is worth publishing in its entirety! People have done trip reports of park and hucks but there is not a lot of beta on running it from above Taitnapum to Lower Lewis Falls. So here it is. I have personally run all the falls that are shown in this blog. However with that said Upper Lewis and Lower Lewis Falls are very large! I only now a few people that have run Upper Lewis because of its consequences. If you have ever visited either you will know that they are very scenic and often there are people that have driven the 1.5-2 hour drive just to catch a glimpse and go for a hike. It is well worth the drive just to do the hike and view the four falls. If you are planning on running the two larger falls you better bring it, because the Upper and Lower Falls are STOUT! With that said it can be done as a run with a put in and take out and will take anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on what paddlers decide to run. Here is a link to a nice map. Lewis River map Check out this link for some more good pics Lewis River.com
Directions:
The Best route to drive from Portland is through Woodland WA. on Highway 503. Follow 503 past the reservoirs until you reach NF 90. Once paddlers are on NFD 90 follow the road past Lower Lewis Falls past the signs for Middle Lewis Falls until you come to the pull out on the left side of the road just before Quartz Creek. From the trail on river right of Quartz Creek head to the confluence of the Lewis River with Quartz Creek. Don't put in on Quartz Creek as you will end up walking anyways because of logs! Put in on the small beach just past the confluence of the Lewis and Quartz Creek.Taitnapum Falls: Once you have put in you are a few hundred yards above Taitnapum Falls. You can get out on river left to scout the Falls. You can see the nice boof flake pictured below on river left under the fir tree branches.
Taitnapum Falls 
After Taitnapum there is a class 3-4 rapid depending on the flow about 30 yards or so below the waterfall. After the class 3-4 make your way down towards Upper Lewis Falls BUT BE CAREFUL as you DO NOT want to wash over this falls!!!!"The Giant" Upper Lewis Falls
Upper Lewis Falls: I am not recommending that anyone run this falls. Paddlers need to look at the falls and decide for themselves. There is an 10 minute portage on a nice trail for paddlers not up for the Giant! However Upper Lewis Falls can be run in a few different spots. The far right channel can go at LOW water. This requires a few small ledge drops that lead to the two large falls on river right. The first falls has a potentially deadly room on river left. Unfortunately if you are running this line you will not be paddling the rest of the run as it will be too low. When we where there a few years ago we ran the middle drop that faces the right side wall between the two right channel falls. This is a tricky move and VERY intimidating! because of the sliding entrance paddlers must absolutely be in the right spot when landing above the second drop. If you do not line it up correctly you risk major injury. We had a paddler come off the top drop too far upstream overshooting the pool impacting the wall on far river right of the middle pool above the second drop. The paddler was knocked unconscious and swam over the second drop landing out of her boat still unconscious at the very bottom. She was VERY LUCKY and miraculously escaped major injury. Far river left is the tallest drop standing at least 70ft tall. I have not been there when this line has enough water but I am sure it is runnable and is rumored to have been run by Steve Fisher. If there is enough water for the middle and left lines than Lower Lewis Falls may not be runnable on the traditional line.
Upper Lewis Falls: I am not recommending that anyone run this falls. Paddlers need to look at the falls and decide for themselves. There is an 10 minute portage on a nice trail for paddlers not up for the Giant! However Upper Lewis Falls can be run in a few different spots. The far right channel can go at LOW water. This requires a few small ledge drops that lead to the two large falls on river right. The first falls has a potentially deadly room on river left. Unfortunately if you are running this line you will not be paddling the rest of the run as it will be too low. When we where there a few years ago we ran the middle drop that faces the right side wall between the two right channel falls. This is a tricky move and VERY intimidating! because of the sliding entrance paddlers must absolutely be in the right spot when landing above the second drop. If you do not line it up correctly you risk major injury. We had a paddler come off the top drop too far upstream overshooting the pool impacting the wall on far river right of the middle pool above the second drop. The paddler was knocked unconscious and swam over the second drop landing out of her boat still unconscious at the very bottom. She was VERY LUCKY and miraculously escaped major injury. Far river left is the tallest drop standing at least 70ft tall. I have not been there when this line has enough water but I am sure it is runnable and is rumored to have been run by Steve Fisher. If there is enough water for the middle and left lines than Lower Lewis Falls may not be runnable on the traditional line.
Middle Lewis Falls
Middle Lewis Falls: In contrast to Upper Lewis Falls, Middle Lewis Falls has two lines, a easy slide down the middle/middle right or a nice 25 footer on far river left (be careful not to land on your head)! The middle slide is a no brainer, have fun! Right side is a little more challenging but nothing in comparison to Upper or Lower Lewis Falls.
Lower Lewis Falls
Lower Lewis Falls: Lower Lewis Falls is about 50-60 feet tall but the drop paddlers run is in the 40 ft range with a class 4 ledge about 10-20 ft above the main drop. Usually run at low summer flows this is a common place for paddlers looking to step it up during the summer months when other rivers are dry. The catch with running Lower Lewis is that if you want to do the run than Lower Lewis is often to high and when it is in the rest of the run is to low. Paddlers can park at the park and hike to the view point for a look. If you have paddled down from the middle falls take out on river right for a scout or to takeout. If you are at the viewpoint walk upstream on river right to get a closer look. Paddlers usually run the right channel.The lead in ledge just above the main drop on Lower Lewis Falls
Lower Lewis Falls with the lead in visible
The main drop on Lower Lewis Falls
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