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SKALEEK FALLS
RATING - 16.0

VR - 2 (Small)              HR - 4                 SR - 8/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Extremely Difficult

LOCATION - Mt. Baker Recreation Area

TYPE - Horsetail

HEIGHT - 79'

WIDTH - 10'

ELEVATION - 5114'

GPS - N 48 44.253', W 121 48.180'

Skaleek FallsThe 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.

Skaleek Falls is the uppermost waterfall on the middle of the three streams.  The waterfall drops 79' over a double-stepped waterfall.  The creek flows out of the glacier and begins its decent right next to the amazing rock formation I call the Wall of Jericho.  "Skaleek" is my Americanized version of a Salish word that means "high on the mountain".  This waterfall, at nearly a mile above sea level, is certainly high on the mountain so I thought the name was fitting.

 
DIRECTIONS - Follow the directions to Kathryn Falls.  Follow the trail east for a couple hundred feet and then head uphill and to the east.  After climbing up to the top of the ridge you should see the Squak Glacier and Sandy Creek Valley before you.  You can make your way closer to the falls by staying up high (around 5000' elevation) and then dropping down the rocks when you get closer.

NEARBY WATERFALLS - Andesite Falls, Double Falls, Kathryn Falls, Middle Andesite Falls, Middle Sandy Creek Falls, South Squak Glacier Falls, Squak Glacier Falls, Upper Andesite Falls, Upper Sandy Creek Falls
ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE) AND VIDEO
Skaleek Falls from downstream    

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