Deer Falls

RATING - 52.0

VR - 10.0 (Huge) HR - 5.0 SR - 12/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Medium

LOCATION - North Fork Skykomish

TYPE - Plunge

HEIGHT - 90'

WIDTH - 30'

DIRECTIONS - Turn off Highway 2 just east of the town of Skykomish onto Beckler River Road (FR 65). Follow the road over Jacks Pass and down the other side. When you reach the junction with FR 63, turn right, staying on 65. Follow this for about 3 miles to a vaguely drivable road on the right. Park and follow this road a few hundred feet to the river. Jump into the woods to the left and head upstream. You should find an old boot path which will lead down to the river and a view up the canyon from atop some rocks.

Despite the lame name, Deer Falls is a good one. The North Fork of the Skykomish hurtles itself about 90' into a gorgeous, deep, steeply walled canyon, sending a mountain of spray flying into the air in the process. The view I found looking up the canyon is a really cool one, but not necessarily a good one. The best view would be from the opposite side of the river if you could get there. This would involve fording the river, which would have been suicide on my visit, and then bushwhacking upstream through a boulder field to a scary view from atop the canyon. I tried to get closer by climbing along the edge of the canyon but the falls drop at a weird angle so I couldn't get a good view from closer. This looks like it's the best view but like I said it's a cool view anyway.