Tower Creek Trail

Tower Creek Trail is a 7-mile out-and-back from Tower Fall Campground, following Tower Creek upstream through stretches of burned and blown-down forest. It’s a longer creek walk, separate from the short Tower Falls overlook. The mapped trail runs about 3.5 miles one way, so the return retraces the same corridor. Allow three to four hours with stops.

From the campground, descend to the junction and take the left branch toward Tower Creek. The early route crosses the creek, then enters an old-burn meadow with crumbling rock across the water. Farther on, open meadows and tree cover alternate; small ponds sit against the hillside, and a climb brings you to a creek overlook. You’ll see this same ground in reverse on the way back. For a shorter walk from the same area, the separate 2-mile Roosevelt Lodge–Tower Fall Trail follows a wooded hillside to the lodge.

A sign photographed at the trailhead in 2019 warns that the trail is not maintained beyond that point. A 2016 account also describes hard-to-follow tread farther up. The current maintenance status isn’t clear, so check with park staff before setting out. This walk begins with a ford of Tower Creek; current crossing conditions aren’t established. Campground parking is limited, and vault toilets are there. Pets aren’t allowed on park hiking trails.