LOWER RANKIN FALLS |
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RATING - 30.0
VR - 4 (M/Sm)
HR - 4.0
SR - 14/20 DIFFICULTY - Fairly Difficult LOCATION - Middle Fork Nooksack Road TYPE - Tiered HEIGHT - 65' WIDTH - 15' GPS - N48 44.040 W121 54.486 ELEVATION - 2760' |
 Rankin
Creek is a relatively small creek that begins its life in a pair of tiny
lakes on the southwest side of Mt. Baker and eventually joins the Middle
Fork of the Nooksack. Along the route, it drops over at least 4
waterfalls, the first two occuring at the outlets to these small lakes.
I plan on reaching these two waterfalls next summer. Further
downstream, the creek drops over two small, but pretty waterfalls a short
distance upstream from the Middle Fork Road.Lower Rankin Falls is located a few hundred feet downstream from the Middle Falls, but getting from one to the other is no easy task. The falls consist of two main tiers. The main section is a 40' tall curtain of water, spreading out to 15' wide on its way down. The creek then tumbles through a mess of boulders and wood before sliding down a very pretty 15' tall cascade, bringing the total height to about 65'. On my first trip to the falls, the skies really opened up between my taking pictures of the lower tier and me getting to the upper tier. As a result, my camera got a little wet and I didn't get a good picture of the upper tier. In drier conditions, I suspect that this will be a very photogenic drop. |
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DIRECTIONS - Follow the directions to Middle Rankin Falls. The lower
falls is only a few hundred feet downstream, but you'll have to go out of
your way to get there. Staying away from the creek, climb down the
steep hillside of the canyon from the middle falls for around 800'. In
the process you will get further away from the creek, but the hillside will
become less steep. Once the slope is comfortably shallow, cut back
towards the creek (I followed a small stream down). You will
come out downstream from the falls, so just rockhop up the creek if
you can't see the falls and you should get there. A GPS is a good idea
for this trip. NEARBY WATERFALLS - Middle Rankin Falls |
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ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE) AND
VIDEO
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