Blum Basin Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blum Basin Falls |
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| Location | North Cascades National Park, Whatcom County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 48°44′01″N 121°30′09″W / 48.73368°N 121.50263°W |
| Type | Segmented |
| Elevation | 5,610 feet (1,710 m) |
| Total height | 1,680 feet (510 m) |
| Number of drops | More than 3 |
| Longest drop | 900 feet (270 m) |
| Total width | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Average width | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Watercourse | Blum Creek |
| Average flow rate |
100 cubic feet (2.8 m3) per second |
| World height ranking | 84 |
Blum Basin Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Whatcom County, Washington. You can find it deep inside North Cascades National Park. This amazing waterfall is fed by Blum Creek, which is a small river flowing into the Baker River.
The water for Blum Basin Falls comes from two small glaciers and several snowfields. These are found on the southern side of Mount Blum. The falls are created by the biggest stream of melted ice and snow from these sources.
The water tumbles down a huge glacial cliff, falling about 1,680 feet (510 m). That's like falling from a very tall skyscraper! The falls happen in two main parts. First, the water slides over smooth rocks high up, above where trees can grow. Then, it plunges almost straight down into the forest below. Even though most of the falls can be seen, some parts are hidden by tall pine trees. There isn't a special path or trail that leads directly to the waterfall.
What's in a Name?
The waterfall gets its name from Blum Creek. The creek itself was named after Mount Blum. Mount Blum was named to honor John Blum. He was a pilot for the United States Forest Service. Sadly, he died in a plane crash many years ago in the early 1900s.
Facts and Figures About the Falls
The total height of Blum Basin Falls is about 1,680 feet (510 m). This measurement has never been officially confirmed, but it gives us a good idea of its size. The falls stretch out over a distance of about 1,500 feet (460 m) along Blum Creek. This distance is also an estimate.
During the warmest parts of the year, usually in summer, the ice and snow melt very quickly. This causes a lot of water to flow over the falls. At these times, the creek can carry more than 100 cubic feet (2.8 m3) of water every second! The waterfall is usually about 10 feet (3.0 m) wide.
However, when winter comes and temperatures drop, the ice and snow stop melting. This means much less water flows over the falls. Sometimes, the waterfall might even stop flowing completely during the coldest months.
How People Found It and How to See It
The first time Blum Basin Falls was reported was in 1920. A famous photographer from the Pacific Northwest, Asahel Curtis, saw and photographed the falls. Back then, Mount Blum hadn't been named yet, so the waterfall was also unknown. Even today, it's still not very well-known.
You can get a glimpse of the falls from the Baker River Trail. This trail follows the Baker River upstream for several miles. When the trail crosses Blum Creek, you might be able to see the upper part of the falls.
Another way to see the falls is from the Shuksan Lakes Trail. This trail climbs up Mount Shukhan on the other side of the Baker River valley. From this trail, you can get even better views of Blum Basin Falls.
Even though it's a beautiful waterfall, Blum Basin Falls isn't as famous as some others in the area. For example, Sulphide Creek Falls is much more well-known and is quite close by. Because of this, not many visitors to the park know about Blum Basin Falls.
