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UPPER PINNACLE FALLS

RATING - 20.0

VR - 2 (Small)               HR - 2                  SR - 16/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Medium

LOCATION - Wells Creek Area

TYPE - Curtain

HEIGHT - 33'

WIDTH - 10'

GPS - N48 50' 18.48"   W121 43' 50.07"

ELEVATION - 4460'

Wells Creek is created when four tributary creeks combine just above massive Mazama Falls.  Each of these four creeks contains at least one waterfall.  Upper Pinnacle Falls is a small volume waterfall where a branch of Wells Creek drops 33' to join the main branch of the creek.  The falls occur in a gorgeous meadow near the headwaters of Wells Creek where several small streams cascade down from Ptarmigan Ridge amid a plethora of huckleberry and blueberry plants.  Think of this waterfall as more of an accent to the views of the beautiful meadows than a destination.  On my first two visits into the area I have been hurt by lack of daylight and fog and rain, but I finally got decent, although sunny, weather on my third trip.  The meadows above this waterfall are one of the prettiest places on the entire mountain and if they were located on Mt. Rainier they would probably contain a popular trail and people would rave about their beauty.  Being on Baker means they are rarely visited and remain a secret.
DIRECTIONS - From Artists Point, hike along the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail.  In a mile, take the left fork and follow it for another 3/4 of a mile or so.  Leave the trail and head downhill through the meadows in a roughly northwest direction.  You will have to drop about 600 feet vertically until you get to the falls.

NEARBY WATERFALLS - Alix Falls, Lower Mazama Lake Falls, Lower Noochsakatsu Falls, Mazama Falls, Mazama Lake Falls, Noochsakatsu Falls, Pinnacle Falls, Pyroclast Falls

ADDITIONAL PICTURES (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Upper Pinnacle Falls     Cell phone picture from the base     Upper Pinnacle Falls on a sunny August day

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