Racehorse Falls WA
March 30th, 2026
Hi, we're the Mountain Goats, and today I (Terrence) did Racehorse Falls near Deming, Washington, with my friend Cameron. This is less of a traditional trip report and more of something I wrote while at the falls.
General Notes:
1. The road sucks; the number of potholes is ridiculous.
2. There is no parking lot; we simply parked along the side of the road. The trail is marked by a Discover Pass sign.
3. The main trail ends at the falls. However, a climber's trail snakes along the river walls descending below the falls. Wear decent shoes; my Docs' lack of traction caused me to slip.
4. The views are far superior from below, so if capable, I'd highly recommend going the extra distance.
5. Overall, the falls make up for the rough road, but I wouldn't recommend going up without a high clearance car; my Crosstrek did fine.
6. As always, Happy Hiking and Stay Safe!
Lot of water coming down
Sadly, it will be closed for the summer
Bump, bump, bump. My car is groaning. Every pothole felt, every stone crushed, I hope the destination is worth it.
There is no trailhead, no formal markings, no concrete parking lot, just the side of the road and a faint trail. The trees whisper. The moss covers their screams. The creak rumbles, it yearns to be heard, even when out of sight. Don't we all? We continue, me in front, Cameron behind. Ferns line the trail, guiding us, touching us, watching us.
We arrive. Gravity has transformed Racehorse Creek into Racehorse Falls. The smooth walls shine with moss, showing off centuries of erosion. The official trail ends here. We don't. We follow an even fainter trail; it snakes along the walls.
Pat, pat, pat, slosh...; my Doc Martins find a wet tree trunk and gravity does the rest. I fall, I stop, the water does not. Unmoved, unbothered, it continues.
We reach the bottom. The falls tower above. Greenery dots the rocky walls, their limbs reach towards the war, as if by instinct. The sun is hiding, the air is damp and cold, only we are present.
We retreat and ascend. The whisper of the trees can no longer be heard; only the rumble of the creek is audible. We leave. Unmoved, unbothered, the creek continues.
Cameron writing
The trees
Be careful people have gotten seriously hurt here
