Wheeler Falls

RATING - 16.5

VR - 1.8 (Sm) HR - 2.0 SR - 6/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Medium

LOCATION - Boulder River Trail

TYPE - Horsetail

HEIGHT - 45'

WIDTH - 10'

DIRECTIONS - Drive east of Arlington on HWY 530 for 19 miles to French Creek Road. Follow the pothole filled road for about 4 miles to the trailhead. Around 500' before Preshow Falls you may hear another waterfall across the river. There are even two places along the trail where it can be seen through the trees. The hillside is extremely steep through here but there is one ridge that runs down at a shallower pitch. Find this and follow it down to the river just across from the falls. It may be easier to head down to the river at Preshow Falls and then follow the river downstream from there.

Considering Wheeler Falls is located just off an extremely popular trail, I'm surprised there isn't better documentation of this one. The falls can even be seen from the trail in a couple of spots. The falls drop down a horsetail drop of about 35' before dropping over several smaller drops. The view from across the river isn't real good but I don't think it's popular to get a better one. I named the falls after Wheeler Mountain where the creek originates.