Mt. Rainier & Crystal Mountain Lodging

Waterfalls

Exciting, exhilarating and sometimes even inspiring… Viewing a waterfall can be mesmerizing, whether you’re watching a gentle cascade or a thundering plunge. The falls in the Sunrise and Ohanapecosh areas are fairly easy to access; some are easily viewed from a vehicle..

Sights to See

Goat Falls
Height: 10 ft.
Form: plunge
Accessibility: easy hike

This short, family-friendly walk leads past many small waterfalls before reaching your destination at Goat Falls. Tucked away in the shady, lush forest, the creek is surrounded by moss covered rocks and great places to sit awhile and enjoy the sight.

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From Enumclaw, travel 30 miles on Highway 410, turning left a mile past the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park onto FR 7174 (rough road). Travel 0.6 miles and turn right onto Road FR 7176. Travel 0.2 miles and follow a sign to the Tyler-Cherbors Cabin. Park at the marked trailhead at the road's end and follow the trail 0.5 miles to the falls.

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Silver Falls
Height: 95 ft.
Form: tiered plunges
Accessibility: easy hike

Watch as the Ohanapecosh River cascades in a powerful series of plunges before reaching a large blue pool at the base of the falls. This is one of the easiest waterfalls to access at Mt. Rainier and the largest volume waterfall in the Park. Early in the summer as the snow melts, the volume and power of the falls is a spectacular sight.

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Drive to the junction of SR 706 and SR 123 (Cayuse Pass) at the Stevens Canyon entrance to the park. Follow SR 123 south for 1/3 mile to the signed (small metal sign) turnout for the Silver Falls trailhead. Hike to the falls in 1/5 mile. Another option is to walk 1 mile on the easy Silver Falls Trail from the Ohanapecosh Campground.

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Skookum Falls
Height: 250 ft.
Form: tiered horsetail
Accessibility: car or easy hike

It’s quite the site from the roadside of Highway 410, so you don’t even hike to see this one (although there is a nice trail if that’s your preference). These impressive falls are located on the west side of the White River near the Palisades rock formation. For high flows, visit the falls May-June. For a unique site, view the falls during the winter; the frozen ice makes for a stunning display! To access the base of the falls, follow the Skookum Flats trail.

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From Enumclaw, travel on Highway 410 for 25 miles to Forest Service Rd. 73 (Huckleberry Creek Rd.). Turn right onto Forest Service Rd. 73 and stay left. After crossing the bridge, the parking area is on the right with the trailhead on the left side of the road. It is 2.1 mile hike to the falls on a mostly flat trail.

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Snoquera Falls
Height: 400 ft.
Form: tiered plunges
Accessibility: moderate hike

At 400 feet, this is one of the tallest falls on the north side of Mt. Rainier National Park. Located on the east side of the White River canyon, Snoquera Falls can be viewed from the highway for a look at the entire falls or via the Buck Creek or Snoquera Falls Trail, where the excitement happens, at its base. Visit during May-June (and sometimes as early as April) for high flows. After winter melt off, the falls’ flow decreases dramatically in the summer and fall.

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From Enumclaw, travel 27 miles on Highway 410, to the signed Camp Sheppard / Snoquera Falls trailhead. The trail leaves the parking area on the right. Follow the log-lined nature trail back to the amphitheater and before crossing Snoquera Creek, take the center trail at a three way junction, heading across the creek. In 0.2 miles, reach a 4-way junction, stay straight and follow Snoquera Falls Trail # 1167. At 0.75 miles from the parking lot the trail junctions again. Go left, following the signs for Snoquera Falls. Arrive at the base of the falls, 1.5 miles from the parking lot.

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