Deception Creek (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deception Creek |
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Deception Falls on Deception Creek
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Town | Stevens Pass |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Trico Lake West of Stevens Pass 1,855 ft (565 m) 47°43′01″N 121°11′36″W / 47.717054°N 121.1934337°W |
| Length | 9 miles |
Deception Creek is a river located in King County, Washington, in the northwestern part of the state. It begins at Trico Lake on Trico Mountain. The creek then flows north. It eventually joins the Tye River, which is east of Skykomish.
Near where it meets the Tye River, Deception Creek creates a tall cliff. This cliff is home to the beautiful Deception Falls. This waterfall drops an impressive 86 feet!
Journey of Deception Creek
Deception Creek starts its journey in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area. Its source is at the northern edge of Trico Lake. This lake sits on the western side of Trico Mountain.
As the creek flows, other smaller streams join it. Some come from Talus Lake to the east. Others flow in from Marmot Lake and Lake Clarice, located in the western hills. About a mile downstream, these streams add to Deception Creek.
The creek generally flows north-northwest for about 4.5 miles. It passes along the western slopes of Surprise Mountain and Spark Plug Mountain. About halfway along its path, another creek called Fisher Creek joins it. Fisher Creek flows from Fisher Lake.
Further along, Sawyer Creek also adds to Deception Creek. This happens east of Forest Road 6830. Deception Creek continues to flow mostly straight north. It then forms the 86-foot Deception Falls. Less than half a mile later, it flows into the Tye River. This meeting point is just south of the Old Cascade Highway.
Hiking the Deception Creek Trail
The Deception Creek trail is a great way to explore the area. It starts at Deception Falls. The trail follows Deception Creek for about half its length. This is where Fisher Creek joins Deception Creek from Fisher Lake to the west.
At this point, the trail splits. One path, called the Fisher Lake trail, goes west. It connects with spur trail 1059.1. This spur trail leads to the Tonga-Ridge trail 1058, which is south of Mount Sawyer. Fisher Lake is about 2 miles from the Deception Creek trail.
About 2.5 miles further south, the trail reaches spur trail 1059.2. This trail connects to the famous Pacific Crest National Trail 2000. To the east of where Fisher Creek and Deception Creek meet, you'll find Spark Plug Mountain. It stands tall at 6,277 feet. On its eastern slope is Glacier Lake. To the south is Surprise Mountain, which is 6,247 feet high.
