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UPPER SANDY CREEK FALLS
RATING - 54.0

VR - 6.0 (Med)               HR - 6.0                  SR - 18/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Extremely Difficult

LOCATION - Mt. Baker Recreation Area

TYPE - Plunge

HEIGHT - 173'

WIDTH - 15'

ELEVATION - 4440'

GPS - N 48 44.233', W 121 47.685'

Upper Sandy Creek Falls from the side

The Sandy Creek Basin is one of the most desolate, rugged, and most difficult to access locations on all of Mt. Baker.  However, the area is also home to a plethora of waterfalls and some of the most unique and amazing geology on the entire mountain.  Three major streams flow out of the Squak Glacier in the area and each one contains multiple waterfalls along their courses.

Upper Sandy Creek Falls is the best of the large group of waterfalls located at the headwaters of Sandy Creek.  The waterfall was a great surprise to me when I found it.  I knew there was a waterfall of some sort at the location, but I had no idea how tall it was.  I would've been happy with a 50 footer.  In addition, the first view of the waterfall is a bit of a tease.  The upper 50' or so can be seen and then the waterfall drops behind the cliff which hides the full height until you reach the creek level.  The waterfall plunges over one of the best cliffs on the mountain in a 165' tall, 15' wide curtain of water.  Just upstream, the North Fork of Sandy Creek splits in two with the majority of the water dropping over this waterfall.  The rest of the creek branches off and drops over its own waterfall a short distance to the south of this one.  The scene of two waterfalls side-by-side over this amazing cliff is one of the coolest places on Mt. Baker.  While the trip to visit this waterfall is very difficult, it is worth the effort and there are several other nice waterfalls in the immediate area as well.
DIRECTIONS - From the base of Squak Glacier Falls, follow the ridge to the south downstream for about 1/3 of a mile.  The left hand waterfall will come into view first and then eventually you will see the top of Upper Sandy Creek Falls.  Carefully make your way down to the creek and then rockhop upstream as closely as you would like.

NEARBY WATERFALLS - Andesite Falls, Double Falls, Kathryn Falls, Middle Andesite Falls, Middle Sandy Creek Falls, Skaleek Falls, South Squak Glacier Falls, Squak Glacier Falls, Upper Andesite Falls
ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE) AND VIDEO
Upper Sandy Creek Falls from the front     Side view     Both Waterfalls     Upper Sandy Creek Falls at a lower volume    

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