PINNACLE FALLS |
|
|
RATING - 42.0
VR - 6.0 (Med) HR - 6.0 SR - 6/20 TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack DIFFICULTY - Fairly Difficult LOCATION - Wells Creek Area TYPE - Tiered HEIGHT - 180' WIDTH - 15' GPS - N48 50' 23.61" W121 43' 52.85" ELEVATION - 4280' |
 Wells Creek is created when four tributary creeks combine just above massive Mazama Falls. Each of these four creeks contains at least one waterfall. Pinnacle Falls occurs where one of the four major branches of Wells Creek drops a total of about 180' in a series of drops. The falls begin with a 25' tall horsetail which is followed immediately by a pretty 30' tall curtain of water. From there, the creek drops over another drop before turning 90 degrees to the left and plunging 42' into a narrow alcove in the cliff. This bottom section can be seen by following the creek upstream to the base. Due to the way the canyon is shaped, it is impossible to see the entire falls from any one spot. Were it possible to view the entire falls clearly, the rating would go up a bit. The waterfall reminds me a lot of giant Mazama Falls located downstream. It's much smaller and the creek is much lower volume at this point, but the way it twists and turns on its way down the cliff is quite similar. On my first trip to the falls, a solitary mountain goat was munching on the sparse plant life along the cliff walls (see additional pictures below). |
| DIRECTIONS -
Follow the directions to Upper Pinnacle
Falls. Continue to climb downhill through the meadows, following
the main creek. Pinnacle
Falls is located a few hundred feet downstream. It's tough to see
much. NEARBY WATERFALLS - Alix Falls, Lower Mazama Lake Falls, Lower Noochsakatsu Falls, Mazama Falls, Mazama Lake Falls, Noochsakatsu Falls, Pyroclast Falls, Upper Pinnacle Falls |
|
|
ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
 |
|
HOME WHATCOM COUNTY LINKS BEST IN THE NW WATERFALLS FOR KIDS FLICKR FACEBOOK STORE |
|
