Destination: Loop trail

Elevation gain: None

Getting there: Highway 20 to 3.5 miles east of Newhalem (milepost 123.4). The parking area, which is off to the right, is large and well marked. If you cross Gorge Creek Bridge, you’ve gone too far.

If you go: Prepare for a nice walk on pavement and crushed rock. It’s a walk that is easy on the knees and lungs. The views are excellent. The body may not get the workout, but the eyes do.

The Trek: This is a leisurely stroll with breathtaking views of deep canyons, Gorge Lake and Gorge Dam.

From the parking lot, venture up either a ramp or a set of stairs. Continue along a path of pavement.

The first stop is at the gorge overlook. On this day, a rainstorm had just blown through, leaving puddles on the pavement and a rainbow stretching from one side of the gorge to the other.

The first of several placards details the work of water, stating “Climate and steep terrain intensifies the force of running water.”

Continuing on to the second vantage point, Gorge Dam can be seen far below. A placard details the history of the dam, which was built in 1924.

Leave the paved portion of the trail and venture upon a carpet of crushed rock. Each step is accompanied by the crunch and grind of gravel.

The trail leaves the gorge’s edge and enters the forest as it begins its return route. A couple of switchbacks have had their corners reinforced with massive stone walls. Many of the stones boast a covering of green as various lichens have taken up residence on their rough surfaces.

Looking skyward, massive stone monoliths boast the same covering. The area is a haven for moss.

A glance to the left reveals the final resting places of many smaller rocks, which have cleaved from the massive overhangs above. Many of the rocks are nothing more than clumps of green.
Reach the trail’s east end, which is at the west end of the parking lot.

This, however, is not the end of the trek.

A stop at the Gorge overlook simply isn’t complete without venturing out onto Gorge Bridge. The steel-grated sidewalk gives you a dizzying vantage point.

If you’re not a fan of heights, avoid this side trip. The canyon floor can be seen several hundred feet below your feet.

Looking north, Gorge Creek Falls plummets over a precipous, crashing into solid rock before pooling. The white water snakes its way downstream, racing amid a plethora of boulders before reaching Gorge Lake.

Adding to this adventure, the entire bridge begins to bounce as cars and trucks pass over the span. If you’re mid-span when a large recreational vehicle is going across, it’s a heart-pounding experience.

After taking in the views both above and below the bouncing bridge, return to the rig.