Echo Chamber Falls

Echo Chamber Falls is the second-to-last of four waterfalls we surveyed along the outlet stream of Crater Lake high in the Tolt River drainage, just over the height-of-land divide from the headwaters of Money Creek. The falls consist of three distinct steps which drop a total of 63 feet. The upper and middle fall drop 17 and 14 feet in back-to-back horsetail style falls, the upper sliding down over a broader stretch, and the middle constricting into a narrower portion of the gorge. At the top of the third tier, the gorge narrows to literally no more than 18 inches in width, and the creek drops 32 feet into an exceptionally narrow portion of the canyon in the final tier of the falls. The gorge is so narrow and undercut that there is no way to see the falls at all from above, and only precarious views peering over the edge of the cliff offer glimpses of small portions of the drop. The booming echo of the falls is unmistakable however, as it rattles off the surrounding cliffs. The stream draining from Crater Lake could probably technically be considered the headwaters of the Tolt River itself, however this designation is note indicated as such on topographic maps of the area. Another branch of the headwaters of the Tolt drains from the small basin immediately west of Lake Elizabeth, and is crossed en route to Crater Lake, but the Crater Lake outlet is considerably larger in volume. Crater Lake, it's outlet stream, and all the waterfalls along it are situated within the Tolt River watershed, which is part of the water supply for the city of Seattle. There has long been a fisherman's trail to Crater Lake, and there are no signs indicating that access to the area is restricted. However given that public access is heavily restricted around the Tolt Reservoir further downstream, visitors to this area should be on their best behavior, and ensure to leave no trace - camping is likely not advisable either. Should signs appear indicating that public access is not allowed, do not proceed.The narrow chasm at the base of the falls which produces the booming echo of the lower tier is by far the most unique characteristic of this waterfall, and it was only natural to choose a name that reflected this feature.