Dodge City Falls
Far upstream from Twin Falls and Huron Mountain Club property, the East Branch Salmon Trout River flows over worn bedrock between forested banks to form a scenic waterfall. A relatively easy walk in from Northwestern Road with a brief period of bushwhack takes you to this pretty, remote waterfall.
Note: this waterfall is also called Emerick Falls.
Directions
Head west on the Northwestern Road from the Triple A for 4.8 miles to Dodge City, a tiny hunting camp consisting of a few cabins. Do not head north through the camp itself. Almost all of the land along Northwestern Road is private, and the owners here are not welcoming. Instead carry on a tenth or two of a mile north of Dodge City and look for a small access point onto Commercial Forest land on the east side of the road, where the corner of the parcel barely reaches the road. It is easy to drive past. A gated two-track heads east from it, with room for a couple of cars so long as the gate stays clear, and a large pile of timbers sat beside it in the fall of 2024. Follow the two-track east a little over a mile to the rock quarry, then bushwhack down to the creek and the falls.
Photographs
Comments
7 comments
Hmmmm, this fall has been dubbed Emerick Falls by Phil Stagg. I was sad when I couldn't find it in his book, and then there it was.
Phil Stagg is indeed a master of waterfalls, I just feel guilty referencing one that he named after me. I should add that in the notes - thank you Jenn.
You may want to check the point placement on your waterfall map, as it doesn't match how I read your directions. There is indeed a small 3-4 foot drop at the location of your mapped pin, but it isn't the one you have pictured above.
Thanks Shane - I checked back on my past routes and updated the location. Should be correct now.
Access here is very limited. Most of the property on Northwestern road is private property, and let's just say some of the owners are intolerant of guests. There is a small access point to Commercial Forest land along Northwestern road, and l do mean small! The SW corner of this property barely crosses the road. There is a gated 2 track that heads east here, and was a huge pile of timbers in October 2024 to further aid in locating it. Room for a couple of cars without blocking the gate. Follow east a bit over a mile to the mentioned rock quarry and bushwhack to the creek and falls. Returning to the rock pile and continuing North on the hilly two-track will eventually get you to sidetracks taking you to canyon falls, not listed here but is in the Phil Stagg books, and finally to hogger or twin falls. This hike is listed as extremely difficult by Mr Stagg. I do believe ATV traffic has opened up sidetracks that gets you closer to the falls then when he was there. Still, we are talking about a good nine mile round trip if you don't make any mistakes and the two track is hilly as mentioned. I think we figured we did something like 7 or 800 ft of elevation change. Each time we came out of the bushwhacks we had a good dozen or more deer ticks on each of our pant legs as well! Keep an eye out for moose as we saw quite a few tracks. I have heard confusion about hogback and twin falls. Having searched the area I can confidently say they are one in the same. Be careful as you are very close to Huron Mountain club property at Hogback falls. Phil's recommendation to stay on the west side of the river is very prudent. The two tracks are easy to follow if not direct, and there is indeed a very tall steep cliff at the canyon falls on the East bank.
Apologies, failed to mention that the access point is just north of "Dodge City" on the East side of Northwestern Rd, probably between one and two tenths of a mile.
Thank you for sharing these updates, Mark. I (finally) updated both of the pages. Appreciate you!
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