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UPPER FALLS CREEK FALLS
RATING - 56.0

VR - 6.0 (Med)               HR - 7.0                  SR - 14/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Very Difficult

LOCATION - Darrington Area

TYPE - Tiered

HEIGHT - 260'

WIDTH - 20'

GPS - N48 07.001 W121 29.285

ELEVATION - 2380'

There are a total of 5 tiers to this complicated and impressive waterfall.  The lowermost tier is a segmented drop of 46' that is difficult to see without wading into the creek.  The next tier is a total of 56' tall and begins with a shallow slide before dumping into a crack and turning right (below left).  Tier #3 is around 25' tall and also difficult to see.  Above this is the main drop, an 88' tall curtain that drops into a large amphitheater.  Just above this is the final tier that was measured as 66' tall but is most likely a little taller than that.  We weren't able to get a clear view of the upper tier but it might be possible with more climbing.  I'll give that a shot next summer if I return.  Add it all up and you've got over 250' of gorgeous waterfall that is worth the trouble getting to.

This is by far the best waterfall in the Darrington area but suffers from being very difficult to visit.  Most of the trip is spent walking up the old road bed, which gets brushier and brushier as the journey goes on.  The final climb up the side of the North Fork is steep and difficult.  The total trip is around 8 miles round trip and took us 5 hours.  Be forewarned if you chose to go after this one, there's nothing extremely difficult about it, but the overall trip is thoroughly exhausting.
DIRECTIONS - Follow the directions to Falls Creek Falls.  Park there and continue on foot down the old road.  It quickly deteriorates but is easily followed for the most part.  In about 3 miles you will come to a fourth creek crossing (the first three are made on remnants of the old bridges).  We crossed on a log over the creek just upstream.  Once across, continue to follow the road for a few hundred feet and then jump into the woods.  You'll soon see the lowest tier of the falls.  Continue steeply uphill until you find the main drop.

NEARBY WATERFALLS - Falls Creek Falls, Upper Falls Creek Falls
ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE) AND VIDEO
          Lowest tier of Upper Falls Creek Falls    Horizontal view of the main drop 

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