Upper Cascade Creek Falls

RATING - 40.0

Cascade Creek drains a decent sized area on the northern slopes of Mt. Baker. About a mile upstream from Deadhorse Creek Road, the creek runs through a deep, narrow canyon, dropping over what is essentially one long series of waterfalls totalling over 600' in height. Many of the drops along the way are almost impossible to see because of the narrow, twisted canyon. I have elected to single out three specific drops as individual waterfalls along the way because they are taller and more promenant than the rest of the small drops. Keep in mind that viewing any of these waterfalls is an extremely difficult and highly dangerous task, so I will not be posting specific directions. You have been warned.

Upper Cascade Creek Falls is the best drop on the creek and one of the prettiest waterfalls I've ever seen. The waterfall veils out over a moss-covered cliff, dropping 51' in an absolutely perfect fan-shape. Facing the waterfall is a large mossy promontory that provides a perfect (although fairly wet) viewing platform for the waterfall. Below the fan the creek drops down a narrow, log-choked crevice in a 34' tall lower tier. While difficult to get to, this waterfall is a photographer's dream. Against my better judgement, I've included directions to this waterfall, knowing that I will get a lot of e-mails about it otherwise. The other falls on the creek are not horribly far downstream but it gets really dangerous down there so my recommendation is to come see this one and then climb back up the way you came to the road, skipping the rest of the creek.

ADDITIONAL PICTURES

VR - 4.0 (Med/Sm)

HR - 5.0

SR - 20/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Extremely Difficult

LOCATION - Deadhorse Road

TYPE - Fan

HEIGHT - 85' *

WIDTH - 15'

DIRECTIONS - Follow the directions to Deadhorse Falls. Continue driving along the road past Deadhorse Creek for several more miles until the road crosses Cascade Creek. The waterfall drops about 400' vertically downhill in the 1/3 of a mile to the falls. Stay on the west side.