Church Meadows Falls

RATING - 22.0

VR - 3.6 (Med) HR - 5.0 SR - 4/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Trail

DIFFICULTY - Medium

LOCATION - Mt. Baker Highway

TYPE - Tiered

HEIGHT - 85'

WIDTH - 20'

GPS - N48 52.911 W121 39.950

ELEVATION - 2517'

DIRECTIONS - Drive east on the Mt. Baker Highway. In about 40 miles, turn left onto East Church Mountain Road and follow it to its end at the Church Mountain Trailhead. Hike the very steep trail for a little over 3 miles to the meadow. Follow the main stream in the meadows down to where it falls off the edge of the world. You can get a really sketchy look at the top part of the falls from a promontory just east of the creek.

Deerhorn Creek begins in the meadows below Church Mountain and immediately upon exiting the meadows begins what is essentially a long, multi-tiered waterfall all the way to the Nooksack. What I am calling Church Mountain Falls is the 120' waterfall right at the outlet. Unfortunately, it can barely be seen from near the meadows and that view is from atop a large cliff. The waterfall can be seen in its entirety from Deadhorse Creek Road across the valley (left). It can also be seen from a couple places along the trail through the trees. Add in the fact that the stream is also very seasonal and you end up fairly disappointed. Were it possible to get to the base, this would be a great looking waterfall. As is, it's a bit of a let down.