Trataka Falls

RATING - 14.5

VR - .9 (Tiny) HR - 5.0 SR - 10/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Roadwalk + Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Fairly Difficult

LOCATION - Lake Whatcom Area

TYPE - Tiered

HEIGHT - 100'

WIDTH - 10'

GPS - N48 42.277 W122 20.614

ELEVATION - 930'

DIRECTIONS - From Lower Austin Creek Falls, continue along the road over Austin Creek and take the second left. The road heads uphill steeply and forks in a couple hundred feet. Take the right fork and follow this road to its end at a gate. Park and walk up to the logging road in front of you. Turn left along the road and follow it for 3/4 of a mile taking the left hand road at the "Y" along the way. The road will turn to the right and the falls are downstream to the left. Getting a clear view is somewhat difficult but if you take your time and climb down through the woods you'll get there.

Trataka Falls occurs on an unnamed branch of Austin Creek. The falls consist of three main drops: a 20' tall horsetail, a 50' plunge, and another 20' horsetail. There are a few cascades between the top and middle tiers adding to a total of about 100'. Thanks to Brad Walton for pointing this one out to me. I've named the falls in honor of Trataka Images, Brad's photography business. (The name also has a nice ring to it.) The creek is fairly small and is probably not real impressive during the late summer but it shouldn't run dry. A log has fallen blocking the view of the main drop somewhat and some crazy mountain bikers have nailed some 2x4s to the log to make a very precarious bridge over the falls (use at your own risk).