Chinook Cascades

Chinook Cascades are located along Chinook Creek approximately a mile downstream of the triple confluence of Kotsuck, Chinook and Deer Creeks. It can be accessed by following the Owyhigh Lakes Trail from Highway 123 for 1/4 of a mile, then turning left on the East Side Trail and hiking another mile to the bridge. The base of the cascades are accessed by crossing the bridge and walking down the woods a short distance downstream.While this isn't a major waterfall by any means, this pretty series of cascades along Chinook Creek is the largest of several smaller drops between the triple confluence and Stafford Falls. The creek bends around a small rock outcrop, then cascades down a small gorge, squeezing tighter and tighter as it funnels into its final pool below the bridge along the East Side trail. Incidentally, during the floods of 2006, the creek washed this bridge out - a testament to the volume of water coming off the mountain during the floods since the bridge is perched a good 20 vertical feet above the water.