This astonishing whitewater cataract is formed where a high-volume creek blasts through a bedrock slot. It can be viewed from above—straight above—on a little-known trailhead bridge. While not a waterfall per se, the hydraulic beneath the Gulch Creek bridge is one of many spectacular rapids on the challenging descent down the East Fork of Sixmile Creek, running parallel to the Seward Highway through the Kenai Mountains about 70 miles south of Anchorage. Only a few dozen yards from the paved bike path, and close to paved parking, the cascade has the feel of a secret gorge in an adventure movie, offering a safe glimpse of a harrowing natural wonder.
Best Viewing Spots
The bridge across the gorge—marking the beginning of the historic mining trail up Gulch Creek—is the perfect viewing platform for this cataract. The trail begins at a pullout at about Mile 57.5 on the north side of the Seward Highway (the side overlooking the gorge) about .75 miles north of the Hope Cutoff wayside. It has room for a few cars, but working placer miners use the site to park their rigs and you should avoid blocking them in. For a more spacious parking option, try a double-ended pullout a quarter to the north at about Mile 57.7. It’s an easy stroll to the trailhead and its short-but-steep descent to the bridge. Bikers can also reach the site on the paved trail from the wayside.
