About this spot
Lake Merwin is a Lewis River reservoir near Ariel, Washington. From Portland take I-205 north, then Highway 503 toward Battle Ground and Amboy, following NE Chelachie Road to a one-lane bridge crossing a narrow arm of the lake — this is the jump spot. A rope swing off the bridge sends jumpers about 25 feet into the water; a natural rock ledge farther east along the shoreline rises roughly 35-40 feet. Hazards: fluctuating reservoir level (it's a hydroelectric lake), boat wakes, submerged timber and rock, and a long swim back to shore. Landing-zone depth is not independently verified — check it yourself before jumping. No lifeguards or official supervision.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.
Watch & read
- ▶ Watch — Cliff Jumping - YouTube
- ▶ Watch — Bridge Jumping at Lake Merwin, Washington 80' high one lane ...
- ▶ Watch — Washington Lake Day: Lake Merwin Vlog #56 - YouTube
- ▶ Watch — Gifford Pinchot and Lake Merwin - YouTube
- ♪ TikTok — Merwin Lake Washington | TikTok
- ♪ TikTok — Lake Merwin Washington | TikTok
- ♪ TikTok — Beautiful view of Lake Merwin from Yale Bridge in Ariel... | TikTok
- ◉ Instagram — Lake Merwin on Instagram • Photos and Videos
- r/ Reddit — 80-90ft cliff jump (Lake Merwin, Wa)