MIDDLE CORNELL CREEK FALLS |
|
|
RATING - 24.0
VR - 4 (Med/Sm) HR - 2.0 SR - 16/20 TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack DIFFICULTY - Very Difficult LOCATION - Mt. Baker Highway TYPE - Cascades HEIGHT - 44' WIDTH - 20' GPS - N48 52.536 W121 58.362 ELEVATION - 1857' |
 The waterfalls of Cornell Creek are found on the West Fork of the creek in the middle of a very deep, very steep, and very dangerous to navigate canyon. Cornell Creek Falls drops about 120' in a series of three drops. The creek then makes a 180-degree U-turn around a rocky promentory before cascading over the 44' tall middle falls. The falls begin with a series of small drops totalling 18' in height. The creek then spreads out and plunges over a stunning 26' tall main drop. This is among the prettiest waterfalls in the area thanks in no small part to the lush, greenery surrounding the falls. Unfortunately, on my visit, it was drizzly so my picture has water spots on it. Grrr! Visitors can get a good view of the falls from the top of the ridge. In order to get the view above, you'll need to climb down a nearly vertical cliff face and then scramble along the cliff alongside the cliff. It's not easy. I actually spotted pink ribbons on the opposite side of the creek so I think it's possible to scramble up the left side of the creek from the lower falls. Below the middle falls, the creek exits the main part of the canyon via 15' tall Lower Cornell Creek Falls. |
| DIRECTIONS - Drive
east on the Mt Baker Highway towards the town of Glacier. A couple
miles west of town, turn right onto Cornell Creek Road. Follow the
road to a gated logging road at the east end of Cornell Ck Road (the one
that immediately heads uphill, not the flat one). Park and walk up the
road. In 1.67 miles, the road will encounter the first of several sharp
switchbacks to the road. Plunge into the woods here and begin sidehilling
upstream. You'll encounter a tributary stream, which you'll have to
cross. This can be tricky if you get too low because the stream runs
through a mini-canyon of its own. Once you cross, scramble up to the
top of the ridge and then follow it down. You'll get a view of the
middle falls from above and you can see the main waterfall through the
trees. NEARBY WATERFALLS - Cornell Creek Falls, Lower Cornell Creek Falls |
|
|
ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE) AND VIDEO |
|
HOME WHATCOM COUNTY LINKS BEST IN THE NW WATERFALLS FOR KIDS FLICKR FACEBOOK STORE |
|