Explore the Early Autumn Beauty | Green River Gorge | Washington State

Today was another exploration journey of the social trails surrounding the Green River Gorge Resort and they certainly did not disappointed. There are pay kiosks to get mineral water, park in the roadside lots on either side of the river (Franklin Ghost Town Site & Old Green River Gorge Resort Site) and to access the trail down to Hanging Gardens $5 each. There are no facilities so plan to use a restroom before you arrive. The trip into the gorge was from the old Green River Gorge Resort site. ($5 entry fee) access via chain link fence gate. The Hanging Gardens trail was spectacular from the get-go descending wooden stairs under the bridge to manmade stairs carved in the rocks all the way to the riverbed at the bottom of the gorge. The 400’ plus spring fed waterfall awaits you. Rock features have been potholed, scrubbed and smoothed over by centuries of water crashing through the canyon. Signs at the old resort warn you of the serious threat that swimming, jumping and diving into the gorge can create. Followed the meandering path along the river’s bank and hard rock surfaces as far as you could navigate (about .7 miles). You could feel the water’s pull to get right in with lower water flow and warmer temperatures. By all the initials carved in the rocks over the last 70 years this area appears to be quite the hangout on a hot summer day. Getting here: Head East on Lawson Road out of Black Diamond, Washington State, you will come to a single lane bridge (stop light) with an awesome view of the river and waterfalls below. On the far side of the bridge is a green cabin with a sign “Green River Resort”, there isn’t much here but a gate to the left of the cabin will lead you to a path that takes you under the bridge and down to the river. There are some cool soaking pools, one even sits behind the waterfall. There is another fee box at that entrance ($5) The gate was locked today so I walked back over the bridge to the Franklin Ghost town parking lot (gate was locked there as well). Headed towards the river. There's a sign that says river trail. It's a bit steep in places so watch your step! There are multiple social trails mainly to the cliff jumping areas, but totally awesome views of the river/gorge abound! #nature #waterfall #river #forest #mountains #hiking