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ANDESITE FALLS
RATING - 44.0

VR - 4 (Med/Sm)               HR - 7                  SR - 16/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Extremely Difficult

LOCATION - Mt. Baker Recreation Area

TYPE - Tiered

HEIGHT - 256'

WIDTH - 10'

ELEVATION - 4088'

GPS - N 48.7339919, W 121.795201

Aaron at the base of Andesite Falls

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.

Andesite Falls is an amazing waterfall that occurs on the same stream as South Squak Glacier Falls (although the creek has picked up more water at this point).  The waterfall drops over an absolutely amazing rock formation.  The entire waterfall stands 256' tall, but only the bottom tier can be seen clearly without putting your life at risk.  The falls begin with a plunging drop that stands 66' in height.  The creek then makes a horseshoe turn in the middle of the formation over what looks to be two or three tiers.  The creek then exits the mini-canyon via the 70' tall bottom tier.  Were the entire waterfall visible from one location, this would be one of the better waterfalls on Baker.  However, there doesn't seem to be anyway to see the majority of the falls.  The bottom tier alone makes this a very worthy location though.  The journey is extremely difficult, but when you add in several other great waterfalls in the area, it's worth the effort.  I've named the waterfall for the Andesite rock that the cliff is made out of.
DIRECTIONS - Follow the directions to Middle Andesite Falls.  This one is literally right downstream, but you have to do some work to get from one to the other safely.  Climb back uphill to the north until you reach the top of the ride on the opposite side of a tributary stream and follow that downhill to the base.  You'll get a decent view of the upper tier on the way down.

NEARBY WATERFALLS - Double Falls, Kathryn Falls, Middle Andesite Falls, Middle Sandy Creek Falls, Skaleek Falls, South Squak Glacier Falls, Squak Glacier Falls, Upper Andesite Falls, Upper Sandy Creek Falls
ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE) AND VIDEO
Bottom tier of Andesite Falls and the canyon above     View from partway into the canyon     Lower tier and the surrounding cliff     Upper tier from partway into the canyon     66' tall upper tier from a very precarious viewing platform     Upper tier    

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