Foss River Falls facts for kids

Foss River Falls is an amazing waterfall in Washington! It's located in the beautiful Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area in King County. This tall waterfall drops about 650 feet (198 meters). It gets its water from Delta Lake and flows all year long. The waterfall is actually made of two main sections. Each section has many smaller drops, like steps for the water.

Exploring Foss River Falls

Foss River Falls is a fantastic natural wonder. It's a great place to learn about how water shapes our planet. The falls are split into two distinct parts: an upper section and a lower section. Each part offers a unique view of the powerful water.

The Upper Falls

The upper part of Foss River Falls is a series of exciting drops. It starts with a big plunge of about 80 feet (24 meters). After that, the water flows down a 70-foot (21-meter) cascade. Then, it splits and drops another 100 feet (30 meters) in a mix of plunges and horsetail shapes.

The water then gathers again. It plunges over a 30-foot (9-meter) drop. Finally, it cascades another 150 feet (46 meters) down the rocky gorge. In total, the upper falls drop about 450 feet (137 meters). You can find the upper falls at 47°35′50″N 121°18′46″W / 47.59709°N 121.31279°W / 47.59709; -121.31279.

The Lower Falls

The lower section of Foss River Falls begins with some smaller drops. These drops add up to about 50 feet (15 meters). After these smaller steps, the water takes a dramatic 150-foot (46-meter) plunge. It flows down smooth granite steps.

At the very bottom, the water flows into Trout Lake. The amount of water flowing over the falls is quite large. About 600 cubic feet (17 cubic meters) of water flows by every second! The lower falls are located at 47°36′13″N 121°18′48″W / 47.60365°N 121.31327°W / 47.60365; -121.31327.