Lower Rankin Falls

RATING - 34.0

VR - 4.0 (Sm/M) HR - 5.0 SR - 14/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Difficult

LOCATION - Middle Fork Nooksack

TYPE - Tiered

HEIGHT - 96'

WIDTH - 15'

DIRECTIONS - No directions provided. Dangerous access.

Rankin Creek is a relatively small creek that begins its life in a pair of tiny lakes on the southwest side of Mt. Baker and eventually joins the Middle Fork of the Nooksack. Along the route, it drops over at least 4 waterfalls, the first two occurring at the outlets to these small lakes. Further downstream, the creek drops over two small, but pretty waterfalls a short distance upstream from the Middle Fork Road.

Lower Rankin Falls is located a few hundred feet downstream from the Middle Falls, but getting from one to the other is no easy task. The falls consist of two main tiers. The main section is a 45' tall curtain of water, spreading out to 15' wide on its way down. The creek then tumbles through a mess of boulders and wood before sliding down a very pretty 21' tall cascade, bringing the total height to just under 100'.