Fairy Falls (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fairy Falls |
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| Location | Mount Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 46°47′40″N 121°41′58″W / 46.79454°N 121.69949°W |
| Type | Tiered Horsetails |
| Total height | 680 feet (210 m) |
| Number of drops | 6 |
| Total width | 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| Run | 830 feet (250 m) |
| Watercourse | Unnamed; part of Cowlitz River watershed |
Fairy Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Mount Rainier National Park. This amazing park is in Pierce County, Washington. The falls are fed by a small, unnamed stream. This stream is a tributary (a smaller stream that flows into a larger one) of the Cowlitz River.
The waterfall drops about 680 feet (207 meters) into a narrow, wooded canyon. It has a special shape called a "horsetail" form. This means the water stays in contact with the rock as it falls. The falls are about 20 feet (6 meters) wide.
Exploring Fairy Falls
Fairy Falls is a wonderful sight within the famous Mount Rainier National Park. It's a great example of nature's power and beauty. The park is a popular place for visitors to explore.
How Fairy Falls Gets Its Water
For a long time, the Paradise Glacier helped feed Fairy Falls. Melted ice from this glacier flowed into the stream that became the falls. However, the glacier has been shrinking over many years.
Because the glacier got smaller, Fairy Falls no longer gets water from its melt. Now, the waterfall relies completely on annual snowfall. When winter snow melts, it feeds the stream. This keeps the falls flowing.
When to See Fairy Falls
The amount of water in Fairy Falls changes throughout the year. In late summer, the falls can get much smaller. This is because most of the snow has melted away. During very dry periods, called droughts, the falls might even dry out completely. This shows how important snow is for the waterfall.
