Boulder Lake Falls

RATING - 24.0

VR - 2.0 (Sm) HR - 2.0 SR - 20/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Trail

DIFFICULTY - Medium

LOCATION - Suiattle River Road

TYPE - Cascades

HEIGHT - 40'

WIDTH - 5'

GPS - 48.329237, -121.338696

ELEVATION - 4467'

DIRECTIONS - Drive about 6 miles along Suiattle River Road to Tenas Creek Road (first road after Big Creek). Follow the road to its end where the Boulder Lake Trail begins. Boulder Lake Falls is encountered about two miles along the route, just after crossing the first boulder field. It's pretty tough to miss.

Boulder Lake is a gorgeous lake located north of the Suiattle River in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. As Tenas Creek exits the lake, it flows down a bouldery cascade, hides itself underneath the boulders, and then re-emerges in a small pool. The creek exits that pool and about 1/4 of a mile downstream, drops over this perfect example of a sub-alpine waterfall.

The falls cascade 40' down a flower-lined cliff and into the most beautiful plunge pool that I have ever seen. The water is a perfect shade of blue, unbelievably clear, and just deep enough for a very cold swim for the brave. The trail passes right above the falls, but it's worth the extra 5 minutes on your hike to work your way down to the pool.