Middle Beaverdale Falls
RATING - 38.0
VR - 6.0 (Med) HR - 4.0 SR - 14/20
TYPE OF APPROACH - Road Walk
DIFFICULTY - Medium
LOCATION - North Fork Snoqualmie
TYPE - Cascades
HEIGHT - 56'
WIDTH - 60'
DIRECTIONS - Illinois Creek is located well up the North Fork Valley. From Wagner Falls, continue driving along the North Fork Road for another 8 miles or so, crossing Sunday and Lennox Creeks along the way. Just after Lennox Creek, turn right onto NF-5731 which almost immediately becomes un-drivable. Park and walk up the road for just over a mile to its end. Middle Beaverdale Falls can be seen and heard from here. Scrambled over the slick rocks to a good view.
Illinois Creek drains a small basin on the southern side of the North Fork Snoqualmie Valley. As the creek drops from the basin to the North Fork, it drops over three impressive waterfalls in a short distance. These three waterfalls have been named after the old Beaverdale Mine which is located above the basin. The easiest of the three waterfalls to view is Middle Beaverdale Falls, which occurs right at the end of the old road used to access the area. Illinois Creek sheets out and cascades down a wide granite wall for about 45', spreading out to 60' wide in the process. The waterfall is more powerful than beautiful, but it's an impressive sight when the snow is melting. Located just to the right of the main falls is a smaller volume segment that is really pretty, but probably only has water when the creek is at peak flow.