Mazama Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mazama Falls |
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| Location | Whatcom County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°51′00″N 121°44′29″W / 48.85000°N 121.74139°W |
| Type | Tiered |
| Elevation | 3,875 feet (1,181 m) |
| Total height | 490 feet (150 m) |
| Number of drops | 7 |
| Longest drop | 400 feet (120 m) |
| Total width | 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| Watercourse | Wells Creek |
| Average flow rate |
250 cubic feet per second (7.1 m3/s) |
Mazama Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Whatcom County, Washington, in the U.S.. It is sometimes called Wells Creek Falls, but that name actually belongs to a different waterfall further downstream. Mazama Falls is nearly 500 feet (150 m) tall. This makes it the biggest waterfall in the area where Wells Creek flows.
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Discover Mazama Falls: A Giant Waterfall
Mazama Falls is a very tall waterfall. It drops about 500 feet (150 m) in total. The waterfall is made up of three main sections, or "tiers," where the water falls. There are also four smaller drops.
The Main Sections of Mazama Falls
The waterfall has three main parts that are easy to see:
- First Drop: The very top part of Mazama Falls is amazing. Wells Creek gets squeezed between tall cliffs. The water then rushes down over 200 feet (61 m). It looks like a "horsetail" because the water spreads out as it falls. This part reminds some people of Nevada Falls in Yosemite National Park.
- Second Drop: Right after the first drop, the water falls another 100 feet (30 m). It lands in a natural bowl that the water has carved out over time.
- Third Drop: A little further downstream, the water plunges about 150 feet (46 m). This part is "segmented," meaning the water might split into a few different streams as it falls.
Smaller Drops and Nearby Waterfalls
Besides the three main tiers, Mazama Falls also has four more smaller drops. The largest of these smaller drops is about 50 feet (15 m) tall.
There are other waterfalls and rapids nearby on Wells Creek:
- Lower Mazama Falls: About 0.75 miles (1.21 km) below Mazama Falls, you'll find rapids called Lower Mazama Falls. These rapids are about 40 feet (12 m) long.
- Wells Creek Falls: About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downstream from Mazama Falls is the actual Wells Creek Falls. This waterfall is a 90 feet (27 m) plunge.
How to See Mazama Falls
You can easily see Mazama Falls from Wells Creek Road #33. This road is located in the Mount Baker Wilderness Area. The waterfall is about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) from Washington State Route 542.
