Five Reasons to Check out the Green River Gorge this Year | Ten Trails News and Blog

Ten Trails residents enjoy an active lifestyle close to outdoor activities and area recreational destinations like the nearby Green River Gorge. Read more to find out five reasons you should explore this local conservation site this year!

Search for Local Wildlife

The Green River Gorge is home to abundant wildlife like deer, elk, and black bear. Bald eagles have also been spotted in the area, and Chinook salmon use the Green River as their spawning grounds in the fall.

Hike the Hanging Gardens Trail

The 150-foot white sandstone cliffs of the Green River Gorge are home to native plants and some small cedar trees which cling to the cliff’s edge and give the Hanging Gardens Trail its name. Access to the trail is tricky as the trailhead is unmarked. Hikers can look for the red gate on the north side of Enumclaw/Franklin Road SE and take a short walk down the road to a primitive trail that leads down to the Green River and offers views of the cliff gardens.

Go Tubing on the Green River

In the summer months, the Green River is a popular tubing site for locals who are looking for some relief from the heat. Popular tubing routes are from Flaming Geyser Park to the SR18 Bridge (2.5 hours) or from Flaming Geyser to Whitney Bridge (45 minutes.) Be sure to wear a life vest and keep an eye out for local kayakers who are also known to spend time navigating these portions of the river.

View the Maid of the Mist Falls

Also commonly known as the “Green River Gorge Falls” the 50-foot Maid of the Mist waterfall is clearly visible with just a short hike from the historic Franklin Ghost Town trail. The trail is part of privately-owned land, but the public is welcome to visit the falls and tour the Franklin Ghost Town trail for a $5 fee.

Search for Fossils and Petrified Wood 

The Green River has been known to wash up the ancient remains of plant and wildlife and visitors to the Green River Gorge have come across fossils and petrified wood while strolling the riverbanks. Bring the kids and let them have a blast playing archaeologist for the day while hunting for prehistoric treasures. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com