Cushman Falls

Located along Lake Cushman, near the southeast corner of Olympic National Park. Exit Highway 101 in Hoodsport, taking Highway 119 west towards Lake Cushman and Staircase. Follow Highway 119 until it ends where the road turns to gravel (and becomes designated FS 24). Cushman Falls can be seen next to the road 2 miles further down the road.Cushman Falls is a puzzling little waterfall that can be summed up with one word: worthless. An unnamed stream skips and plunges about 35 feet down a narrow crevice in a cliff, almost spraying onto the road before cascading into Lake Cushman. It has the potential to be moderately scenic, but the immediate surroundings are quite unattractive. Further, shrubs and trees seem to have grown over the falls pretty harshly in the last 5 to 10 years, blocking most of the falls (especially when the bushes are in leaf). Lastly, the stream this waterfall is located along is small. Small enough that I suspect it may dry out in the late summer if it isn't spring fed. Then again, the falls have been known by no less than two different names, so it has to be significant enough to warrant some kind of attention. Pretty borderline in my opinion. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to visit this waterfall unless your destination happens to be the Staircase area of Olympic National Park.The falls were named for A. G. Cushman, who purchased the property and built a home near the falls in 1890. There is no relation between A. G. Cushman, and Orrington Cushman, after which Lake Cushman was named. The falls have also been known as Captain Tom Falls, for Thomas Hatrue, the first settler of this area of Mason County.