Sulphide Creek Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sulphide Creek Falls |
|
|---|---|
 Location in Washington (state)
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | North Cascades National Park, Whatcom County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°47′47″N 121°34′32″W / 48.79647°N 121.57563°W |
| Type | Tiered |
| Total height | 2,182 feet (665 m) |
| Average width | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Watercourse | Sulphide Creek |
| Average flow rate |
500 cubic feet per second (14 m3/s) |
Sulphide Creek Falls is a very tall and powerful waterfall found inside North Cascades National Park in Washington state. This amazing waterfall gets its water from Sulphide Lake, which is about 3,800 feet (1,158 meters) high. The water then rushes down a narrow, twisting canyon.
Because the canyon is so twisty, it's really hard to see the waterfall clearly from the ground. The total height of Sulphide Creek Falls is between 2,100 and 2,200 feet (640 to 671 meters). Getting to the bottom of the falls is a big adventure. It means hiking about 2.5 miles (4 km) off any marked trails. This area has very thick bushes and some tricky stream crossings.
Contents
Other Waterfalls Nearby
It's easy to get Sulphide Creek Falls mixed up with other waterfalls in the area.
Sulphide Valley Falls
On the other side of the valley, there's another waterfall that meets Sulphide Creek Falls at its base. This one is easier to see but only about half as tall. People sometimes call it Sulphide Valley Falls.
Sulphide Basin Falls
Even higher up, above Sulphide Lake, are more cascades that drop about 1,000 feet (305 meters). These are informally called Sulphide Basin Falls. They flow from the Sulphide and Crystal Glaciers. These glaciers provide most of the water for Sulphide Creek Falls. Even though they are close, Sulphide Basin Falls is a separate drop and should not be confused with Sulphide Creek Falls.
How to Reach the Falls
There is no official hiking trail that leads directly to Sulphide Creek Falls.
Closest Trail Access
The closest trail is the Baker River Trail. This trail runs alongside the Baker River, which is where Sulphide Creek eventually flows. The Baker River Trail crosses Sulphide Creek where the two waterways meet.
Reaching the Base
From the trail crossing, you can try to walk upstream along the wide, rocky streambed. This path goes for about 1 mile (1.6 km) towards the base of the falls. However, very thick bushes, often caused by avalanches, block the way and make it impossible to go further.
