Milt Creek Falls

Milt Creek Falls is perhaps one of the most significant waterfalls on the west slopes of the North Cascades. Based on one-meter resolution lidar data, the falls drop a total of approximately 800 feet in roughly 6 distinct steps over a linear run of about 1,800, with the final three drops making up the vast majority of the falls height. Based on the lidar data, the most distinct tiers fall about 25, 20, 30, 200, 240, and 215 feet respectively. The two final drops could potentially be argued are one congruent fall, however there is a small shelf about halfway down where the stream does pool very briefly, so delineating two tiers at that break is equally valid. The remaining 70 feet of height is made up in smaller cascades, mostly between the three smaller upper tiers, and about 25 feet worth of cascades between the fourth and fifth drops.
There is no developed access anywhere remotely close to Milt Creek Falls, however the long abandoned South Cascade River Trail passes by on the opposite side of the valley. Portions of falls are apparently partially visible from the old trail, or from the riverbed near the trail, however obtaining clear views of the falls requires fording the South Cascade River, and potentially difficult bushwhacking to scale up the side of the falls. There are no viable vistas which offer a view of the entire series of falls from one perspective.
Milt Creek is not a particularly large stream, draining from a basin approximately 3.2 square miles in size. However as it is situated well into the heart of the North Cascades, and the elevation of the drainage varies from about 3200 feet up to over 6500 feet above sea level, the creek will be fed by ample heavy snowfall during the winter months which will persist well into the summer. Additionally, as there are a half-dozen small glacial remnants adorning the northeast face of the unnamed peak at the head of the basin, there will be a guaranteed modest flow in the stream throughout even the driest months of the summer.