HAPPY CREEK FALLS |
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RATING - 26.0
VR - 4 (M/Sm) HR - 3.0 SR - 14/20 TYPE OF APPROACH - Trail DIFFICULTY - Medium LOCATION - Ross Lake Area TYPE - Cascades HEIGHT - 50' WIDTH - 10' GPS - N48 43.308 W121 02.507 ELEVATION - 2840' |
Happy Creek contains at least three major waterfalls along its course. This is the lowest rated of the three, but is still in a pretty area. This waterfall occurs along the upper reaches of Happy Creek where the creek cascades about 50' over a bedrock cliff surrounded by large trees. During the wet season, a small tributary stream drops over its own cascading waterfall a few hundred feet to the right. In addition, one can find pieces of old mining equipment around the falls. This all adds up to make it worth the short trek to the falls. The trail begins by paralleling Highway 20 for the first 1/2 mile or so before it begins to climb up Ruby Mountain to the falls. Thus far, I have only visited the waterfall with snow on the ground, but I suspect that this area would be highly photogenic during the spring. If you're in the area and have an hour to kill, feel free to make the relatively short hike into this cool area, but don't expect an amazing waterfall when you get there. |
| DIRECTIONS - Drive
east on Highway 20 past Newhalem until you get to the Ross Dam Trailhead.
Continue along the road for another 1/2 mile to the Happy Creek Interpretive
Trail. Park here and walk along the loop to the left. In a few
hundred feet, take the trail to the left and follow it for 1.2 miles to the
falls. NEARBY WATERFALLS - Cedar Hollow Falls, Strandberg Falls |
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ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE) AND
VIDEO
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