Cascade Crest Falls

RATING - 25.2

VR - 1.8 (Sm) HR - 4.0 SR - 18/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Roadside

DIFFICULTY - Very Easy

LOCATION - Ross Lake

TYPE - Tiered

HEIGHT - 56'

WIDTH - 15'

DIRECTIONS - Head east on HWY 20 past Newhalem. Park at the turnout about a quarter mile past the Canyon Creek Trailhead and cross the highway to see the falls.

This pretty little falls runs right next to Highway 20 on its way from Newhalem to Winthrop. The small creek drops a total of 56' in three separate tiers. The first tier is a small, cascading drop. This is followed immediately by a very nice 30' curtain of water, spreading out to around 15' wide at high volume. This is followed almost immediately by another 15' drop. The falls aren't very big, but they are pretty and the area around the falls is buried in emerald moss. Considering how easy they are to get to, this is one that shouldn't be missed if you're heading over the pass.

The creek the falls occur on is unnamed but I've never seen it run completely dry. Late in the summer the volume is reduced to a trickle, but the creek can be quite substantial when the snow is melting.