A rare cluster of old-growth trees creates an inspiring shadow to stand in. Rainbow Falls State Park, 16 miles west of Chehalis, is a walker’s paradise. Miles of loamy trails wind through the forest and along the river, to a small cascade that throws rainbows of spray at the sun.
Tree lovers, maybe you’d rather see towering Douglas-fir, western hemlock and western red cedar trees from your bike or the back of your steed. Many of the park trails are mixed-use, and if you need more, take to the nearby Willapa Hills State Park Trail, a rails-to-trails fixture that goes over trestles and bridges, through forest, farmland and tiny towns.
Rainbow Falls is the obvious overnight stop for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders tackling the developed 22 miles of Willapa Hills Trail from Chehalis to Pe El. Such explorers may stay at hiker/biker campsites, or camp with their horses in one of two equestrian sites.
Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, Rainbow Falls showcases several structures designed in the rustic style of the National Park Service during the Great Depression, including kitchen shelters and comfort stations still in use today.