ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Sitemap: June 16, 2002 - Otter Falls/Lipsy Lake Elevation Gain: 650 ft Time (RT): 4 hours Distance (RT): 8.5 miles Difficulty: Easy . The name of the watercourse which the waterfall occurs along. Silver Falls and the rarely visited eastside of Mt Rainier National Park here, https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. Walk on over to the viewpoint, and voila! This is a popular trail at least today/Saturdayparking was packed at 8:45am. These are perfect outings for when youre looking for a big payoff without a long hike. The lush moss and trees really make the long drive so worth it! It is good to combine this trail with Mount Storm King since the trailheads are the same. To get there, take Exit 34 off I-90 in North Bend. There are several creek crossings. I would still recommend gaiters though to keep the snow out of your boots, as the trench gets deeper as you go. Otter Falls has been known by its current name for decades, likely dating back to when the Taylor River Road was first built back in the 1930s. The Pitch figure only takes into account sections of stream which are actively falling. I also love eating at the Salish Lodge & Spa restaurant after experiencing the waterfall. This hike is very family-friendly. Leaving the car behind at the parking area, walk north first through a little maze of concrete barriers, set there to deter cars and trucks from continuing onto the Taylor River Road, which has been reverting back to a trail since it was closed off to logging trucks and other vehicular traffic in the late 1970s. As we descended to the beach we encountered the likely reason they were unhappy. Apparently there was once a plan to extend this road all the way up to Highway 2! Please consider whitelisting this domain in your adblocker to help keep this site running. A: You can book online or by calling us on 0330 024 0522. There are many rocks and they are all so slippery so be careful. Once youve taken in your fill of Otter Falls (it might take awhile! Otter Falls, Sundown. There are a couple of stream crossings as noted above. Pools or stretches of level stream in between two or more successive drops of the falls will not factor in this figure. This trail is estimated to be 15.3 km long. Detailed Info Otter Creek heads in a modest basin along the ridge running between Dog Mountain and Cascade Mountain which divides the Taylor River drainage from that of the Miller River and Lennox Creek. You wouldnt be able to bike the last few hundred yards up to the waterfall, but the rest of the way its definitely possible. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. There are some sections of gravel and some significant potholes along parts of the road, though you can make it in any car if you go slowly and carefully. It drops about 1,600 feet in all, but due to the relatively moderate pitch of the mountainside, only about 1/3 of the total height can be seen from the ground. Follow the road through the beautiful Middle Fork Valley, passing numerous trailheads. Welcome to my space. No additional waterfalls were found within 5 miles. When it comes to family hikes near Seattle, Twin Falls wins almost every time. Hi! It really blew my expectations out of the water. Otter Creek additionally exhibits a phenomena which we like to refer to as "the Yosemite Effect" - essentially the propensity of the drainage to expend its groundwater at a much faster rate due to the significant amount of bedrock and a lack of deep soil covering the majority of the basin. The Run of a waterfall is a measurement representing the total linear distance on the ground between the top and bottom of a waterfall. Ample places to disperse camp along the way make it an option to do a multi day hike with less miles each day. Photo gallery and trail descriptions of hikes across Washington state. Happy trails! Make sure to hike in the Spring, though, as the people we were with mentioned how it barely has water other times of the year. In a little over one linear mile the drainage loses just over 3,600 feet in elevation, with only about 1,600 feet of that accounting for the change between the high point along the ridge and the lower end of the uppermost part of the catchment basin along the ridgeline. Often this number will be approximated because of a lack of approachability to many waterfalls. Stream between two tiers of a waterfall is counted in its overall height regardless of whether or not that section of the stream would be legitimately considered a waterfall on its own right, were it to be isolated. The watershed which a waterfall occurs within, if it is specified, will be based on the ultimate distributary watercourse to the ocean. The upper Wallace Falls viewpoint is ok, so if you dont want to hike all the way up to the upper viewpoint, you dont have to for a great view. Otter Falls is located on the homeland of theSnoqualmie People. Intense storms dropped more than a month's worth of rain in parts of New York's Hudson Valley and in Vermont from late Sunday into Monday, causing historic flooding across the Northeast . Spray Waterfall is a fantastic trail if you want some mountain views thrown into the mix. Seattle, WA 98104. Additional deliniation is then applied depending on characteristics such as the breadth of the falls, whether it splits into two or more channels, whether it falls in multiple successive drops, etc. Falls Creek Falls is my favorite waterfall in Washington! Make sure to wear shoes with good tread for crossing rocks and logs and bring trekking poles as well. Thanks for reading all about the Washington state waterfalls! 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 So the trick is to wait until there is a snowstorm, where even the town of North Bend is covered in snow (this town is covered in snow only a few times a year). March 16, 2023 at 6:00 am By Christina Hickman Special to The Seattle Times North Bend's Mailbox Peak is one of the most popular hikes in Washington. We parked at the Garfield Ledges Trailhead but others parked at the end of the closed road just before the bridge over Taylor River. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Road Conditions: Parked at the trailhead, plenty of space when I arrived at around 7:30 am and still space when I returned https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2023-05-28.0523853846, https://www.wta.org/site_images/trip-reports/2023/tripreport-image-2023-05-28-0525188337/@@download/image/lake.jpg. WTA mileage seems to be a bit off, I tracked about 10 miles round trip. Roughly eight feet deep, this swimming hole like many, is located in the Catskill Mountains. This is only needed in the busy season, which is June 15 through September 15. Waterfalls with a longer Run will usually either be less steep, often cascading type waterfalls, or will feature multiple steps separated by shorter stretches of a more gradual gradient streambed. Social profiles Wikipedia Frequently asked questions Q: How do I book? I also love that this is a moderate hike. Go slow toosheesh. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. In another quarter mile or so the trail starts gaining a little elevation to get your heart pounding and soon curves slightly inland and uphill from the river. In low snow years, Otter Falls has been known to dry out entirely by the end of May when it usually is flowing at its peak. Crystal Falls (Northeast Washington) Crystal Falls is right below Highway 20. . This is a very popular area for hiking, running, and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Otter Falls WashingtonUpdated: 2020-05-03Distance: 8.8 mi. Read More: 100+ Wonderful Places to Visit in Western North Carolina Gradual inclines all the way. Thanks for the support of Western Washington Honda Dealers and our other corporate sponsors. Most waterfalls in Washington are accessible all year. This trail is on another level! Therefore . However, this waterfall is very underrated and one of the best Olympic Peninsulas best-kept secrets. Streams which empty directly into the ocean, or into a minor basin which then empties to the ocean will often have this field left blank. There were a few campers along the riverbank as we progressed. As an example, a waterfall which features two truly free-falling leaps separated by several dozen yards of flat stream will have a Pitch of 90 degrees. Otter Creek is a tributary of the Taylor River that flows about 1 mile (1.6km) off Mount Anderson, 1/2 of which is spent tumbling off these falls. Stretches of interstitial stream in between two or more distinct drops of a single waterfall are NOT considered to be distinct drops of the waterfall unless the section of stream in question would otherwise qualify as a waterfall were it to be isolated. You have to time it right! If you are looking for a relaxing but long trail into the woods, Otter Falls is a great trail. I've included a picture of this area to help and there are also a few small cairns to guide the way. If you want to make your trip a little more worthwhile, do the easy 1.5-mile hike. Im a fourth generation Seattleite who lived in Alaska for 7 years and I still spend lots of time there every year. They crammed 4 tents mere feet from the shore and their equipment sprawled the entire length of the shoreline. Taylor River - Otter Falls Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area 47.5609, -121.5323 Map & Directions Length 11.0 miles, roundtrip Elevation Gain 650 feet Highest Point 1,750 feet Calculated Difficulty Moderate Otter Falls is a delicate slippery slide down to Lipsy Lake. If you hike during the summer, the mileage is only around 2 miles, which is great to do with the kids. Some waterfalls are viewable a very short walk from parking, others are longer or more strenuous hikes. This area gives off some Iceland vibes, that is for sure. Similarly, a waterfall with two drops separated by a pool, one with a true free-falling drop, and one with a Horsetail type fall will average the two, so while the Plunging drop has a Pitch of 90 degrees, if the Horsetail drop has a Pitch of 45 degrees, the total Pitch will be roughly 67 degrees. There is something epic about walking up to this one-of-a-kind waterfall. Listen to the audio pronunciation of Otterbein University on pronouncekiwi Grab my free hiking checklist and never forget anything at home! It only took around 1.5 miles to get to the waterfall. This is a fantastic place to go in the winter months when there is nothing but rain. Myrtle Falls is probably the most photographed waterfall on this list. What to wear for a hike in the Pacific Northwest, what to bring on a hike in the Pacific Northwest, https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. It could be argued that this takes place around the 3,600 foot mark where the creek begins to slide down the solid bedrock, but since travel into the upper basin appears exceedingly difficult due to thick brush, it may be quite hard to verify whether this is the case or not. Because there is a light show! 2. The hike to Otter Falls is a 13.2 km heavily trafficked out-and-back trail in Mount-Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest that is rated as moderate. The trail is rocky in most places and there is minimal elevation gain along the way. Contact Us. It is located inside Wallace Falls State Park. Narada Falls is a quick pitstop when you are headed to the popular Paradise area in Mount Rainier National Park. I am so happy you are here! What I also like about this trail is that it features other waterfalls and a stunning flowing river. 47.58N . It drops about 1,600 feet (490 m) in all, but due to the relatively moderate pitch of the mountainside, only about 1/3 of the total height can be . 34 reviews Location Cleanliness Service Value Otter Falls Resort is located in the beautiful Whiteshell Provincial Park! The waterfall on the left does tend to dry out in the fall, so I would avoid it during this time. This is often the most difficult figure to pin down because accurately measuring streamflow is not a simple process. Its also important to check the road conditions as the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road is subject to frequent flooding and washouts during the winter. When you see it in person, it looks immense. You do have to cross a river to get a good view of the waterfall so bring trekking poles and waterproof hiking shoes. Its a long 10 mile hike to get there on a wide and mostly flat trail (700 feet of elevation gain) through a beautiful forest along a rushing river. You will witness a frozen waterfall if you go at the right time. Required fields are marked *. Otter Falls - Hiking Waterfalls Washington Central Cascades Otter Falls Tweet Pin it Otter Falls and Lipsy Lake, Taylor River Road, Mt. Located in the community of Seven Devils, find a paved parking area at the trailhead . We had so much fun experiencing this trail, especially with our friends that were out of town. Take a moment to evaluate the best option for crossing! It gains about 700 feet of elevation over 5 miles so other than a couple of places (including the very steep couple hundred yards at the end to the waterfall) you dont notice the climbing. This place is accessible all day long. Just drive on the shoulder sides so only one side of your car goes into the pothole :-) or weave all over the road for the minimal "dip". Some of these are fairly flat, others involve more climbing. While plumb uses eight distnct forms, we wanted further granularity and opted to break down the hierarchy twofold: first based on the overall pitch of the waterfall, and then based on what shape the fall takes as it makes its descent. There is a lot of water on sections of the trail, although no snow until you're basically at the lake. Sol Duc Falls is located in Olympic National Park, and it is one of the best easy waterfall trails on this list! Elevation: 2930 feet Restrooms: There are pit toilets at the nearby Garfield Ledges trailhead. Snoqualmie Lake, Taylor River - Otter Falls. During the winter, the cairn can be covered in snow, so instead, look for pink ribbon tied to tree branches and follow those up the hill. These Washington waterfalls require more effort to get to, ranging from mellow to quite hard and long! I https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2021-12-21-5335358543, https://www.wta.org/site_images/trip-reports/2021/tripreport-image-2021-12-21-5336046115/@@download/image/20211221_122653-01.jpeg, Trail snow-covered at times - gear and expertise recommended. The waterfall is located right next to the parking lot, so you dont need to hike too far to see it. But I luckily had some microspikes on me and went on my way. After a couple of miles theres a fork in the road, keep to the left. I love how it has two different layers, and I like that I can take my dog. Where is the best place to hike near Otter Falls? Ive listed them roughly in the order of difficulty (combination of length, climbing and trail conditions). However, it is such a shame that it is farther away from Seattle when compared to the other waterfalls. Just past the bridge stay straight where a sign points to the Snoqualmie Lake Trail and go another half-mile to the end of the road at the trailhead. Disclosure:This post contains affiliate links. We often utilize Google Earth to measure the width (where imagery is of sufficient quality and resolution to allow it. Thanks for the support of Western Washington Honda Dealers and our other corporate sponsors. There are many wide potholes on the vehicle road when it crosses the Taylor river, but I had no trouble in my old Corolla. Number of drops. Otter Falls (also Otter Slide, Otter Slide Falls or Otter Creek Falls) is a waterfall in King County, Washington; on the southern wall of Mount Anderson. Beginning at about the 3,600 foot mark, the creek has formed a constant waterslide which sheets down the narrow, solid bedrock gully carved into the mountainside, and then at about the 2,900 foot level it breaks out into a huge, broad channel of solid granite where the water begins sheeting out in wide, pulsating flows. Continuing on, youll encounter the most challenging stream crossing shortly before reaching the spur trail to Otter Falls. Little Mashel Falls is a fantastic spot to visit during the Fall. The drainage of Otter Creek, which feeds the falls, is fairly small, and consists mostly of granite which does not retain water. Do not let the mileage of this trail trick you. Read About these trails in our Hiking Guide Taylor River - Otter Falls; Only saw one other group on trail today, a very quiet hike. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. After seeing the waterfall make sure you keep on hiking because the views of Mount Rainier at the end of this trail are breathtaking. Related: Best Olympic National Park Waterfalls, Best Mt Rainier National Park Waterfalls, Best Waterfall hikes near Seattle. The waterfall is best in the Spring as that is when the waterfall looks more wonderful. City waterfalls like Spokane Falls are also worth a visit. Plan your trip with hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. This King County, Washington state location article is a stub. Start at the Snoqualmie Lake Trailhead kiosk at gate across Taylor River Road Trailhead kiosk. The biggest consideration with this trail is that to get to Otter Falls its a long hike. This trail is steep! When we did the Grove of the Patriarchs, it was extremely crowded, so we walked over to Comet Falls, and there was no one there. First off. [1], .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}473515N 1212802W / 47.58750N 121.46722W / 47.58750; -121.46722. Road and parking lot was snowy starting just past Mailbox. Pretty much perfect. Jul 28, 2019 08:22 PM, Washington Trails Association Directions to Take Out Location: From the town of Greig at the intersection of Blue Street (Main Street name changes to Blue Street) and Greig Road drive southeast on Greig Road for about .5 miles. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Tricky section going up to Snoqualmie Lake: On the left photo, your need to follow the arrow up the stream of water, continuing on the right photo until you see some cairns indicating the trail. The Total Height listed for the waterfall represents the difference in elevation from the top of the uppermost drop, to the bottom of the lowermost drop of the waterfall, including all stretches of interstitial stream in between. Make sure to check out some of my other Pacific Northwest Posts: Ready to start hiking? In fact, we were one of the few people without kids. Frequently asked trail questions about Otter Falls, According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike near Otter Falls is, According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail near Otter Falls is, Otter and Big Creek Falls Via Taylor River Trail. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Hike the former logging road turned trail, crossing Marten Creek at the 2.7 mile mark on a footbridge, then Anderson Creek at 3.2 miles where a ford is necessary (water may be shin deep in the spring if rock-hopping isn't possible), and finally Otter Creek at the four mile mark, also via an unbridged crossing where getting your feet wet might be necessary. Just 400 feet further on, keep your eyes peeled for an unmarked junction with another side trail this one to Otter Falls and Lipsy Lake forking off left and uphill. For example, Washington's Palouse Falls occurs along the Palouse River - which is a tributary to the Snake River, which is itself a tributary to the Columbia River, which ultimately enters the Pacific Ocean, so Palouse Falls would then fall within the Columbia River watershed. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 The Trail: Yah about 80% of the trail to Otter and Big fall is rocky for sure where you could twist your ankle if not paying attentionthe remainder is relatively smooth. Otter Falls Trails were debuted in summer of 2015 with an observation deck built in 2017, which offers wonderful views of Otter Falls. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hiking Waterfalls Washington: A Guide to the States Best Waterfall Hikes, Roddy Scheer is a journalist and photographer focusing on outdoors, travel and the environment. The stunning fall colors surrounding these waterfalls are majestic. So most families attempt that hike instead. It is gorgeous and a bit of a tough trek towards the end. For more information on our waterfall form classifications, see the Help page. You dont need to do the Snoqualmie Falls hike to see this majestic place. You do not need to hike the whole trail to see each waterfall as there is a parking lot at each waterfall, and you can see what I mean by checking out this map. The falls is only a couple hundred yards from the trail. Continue walking on this old logging road for about 0.2 mile and pass a choice river-front campsite on your left. It's a long and mostly flat walk through the forest to get . Palouse Falls is one of the best eastern Washington waterfalls. I'm Jennie. The surrounding dry dessert views look glorious with the waterfall. It was good exercise, and not the end of the world to add a few more miles. This is a great family hike, and it is the start of one of the most popular backpacking trails in the Olympic National Park: The High Divide. This figure is not often easy to establish with a high degree of precision and as such will often be estimated. State and national parks in Washington are home to some of the best waterfalls in the state. 1600 feet. It is also one of those waterfalls not many people have heard of. And they are in all the pictures of the falls we took (see photo). Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. We were so lucky to experience this! It is marked with several cairns as well as a hand written sign on a cedar plank. We found a rock at the edge of the small shoreline they did not occupy and had a snack. Stay straight on the main trail/road and continue on another 0.2 miles to the official marked trailhead for Snoqualmie Lake Trail (which will take you to Otter Falls) where there is a small kiosk with an overview map of the trails in the region and a metal gate (with a big Road Closed For Vehicles Beyond This Point sign on it) blocking cars from accessing the trail. To get to Otter Falls follow the road and it eventually becomes the trail. ), get ready to head back down the hill to the main trail and return to your car the way you came. A: Read more See all 13 questions Data from: BusinessWebsite Nearby Attractions Restaurants Gas Stations Amusement Places The park is located right in the middle of Bellingham. Silver Falls is a very underrated hike in Mount Rainier National Park. However, Mount Storm King is rated as difficult due to its steepness. Especially in the Winter. Construction of the current trail was made possible by 50/50 donations from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and local donors. A Angeline Falls B Big Heart Falls D Deception Falls F Fantastic Falls Foss River Falls Franklin Falls K Kanim Falls M Miller River Waterfalls Monkey Cage Falls O Otter Falls (Washington) S Shoestring Falls Snoqualmie Falls W Waterfalls of the West Fork Foss River Valley Weeks Falls The circa 2,900 foot level is the most visually apparent high point of the falls since this is where many of the streams which come together out of the vegetated basin and into the granite channel, so this is the point we have opted to consider the top of the falls until more detailed surveying can confirm whether it should or should not be moved further upstream. It is an easy stop located near Port Angeles, and the trail is technically just a viewpoint of the waterfall. In spring the falls, like all in Washington, will be extra spectacular, though the stream crossings may be more challenging. Learn how your comment data is processed. This is a great spot for a little forest meditation or a snack break. The falls are located upstream and downstream from the bridge. Otter Falls is one of the most beautiful and unique waterfalls Ive ever seen and one of the best hikes near North Bend. 2022 thewanderingqueen The Wandering Queen is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The falls are often referred to as Otter Slide Falls because it isn't viewed as a true waterfall by some people, rather a long waterslide of sorts (and this isn't necessarily an untrue sentiment).
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