Golden Gate Falls

Located in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park. This waterfall can be accessed from either the Paradise Parking area, or the 4th Crossing Trail. From the parking lot at the Paradise Lodge, follow the Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls (1/2 mile), then head left on the Golden Gate trail. You'll see the falls high up on the headwall ahead of you as you climb. The trail reaches a switchback at the bottom of the falls 1.3 miles from the parking lot. Alternatively, you can follow the one-way Paradise Valley Road, which leaves Paradise, and at the bottom of the first hill, and park immediately after crossing the Paradise River. Follow the 4th Crossing Trail, across the street from the parking area, uphill for 1/3 of a mile, to the Skyline Trail. Heading left, follow the Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls, then take the Golden Gate trail to the falls, a total of 1.7 miles from the road. Or, turn right at the end of the 4th Crossing Trail, and hike to the top of Sluiskin Falls, and proceed just under ½ mile beyond, to the upper end of the Golden Gate Trail. Descend down to the first switchback, and the falls, a total of about 1.8 miles from the road.Golden Gate Falls is the uppermost waterfall along Edith Creek in Mount Rainier National Park. Like nearby Sluiskin Falls, Golden Gate Falls plunges down the headwall of Paradise Valley, however in this case, two streams cascade side by side before plunging to talus below, dropping just shy of 120 feet in all. In addition to the two main streams which make up this waterfall, a third stream cascades down talus immediately adjacent to the falls, and another stream drops into the valley a short distance to the west of here. Between the middle of July and the middle of August, wildflowers often line the stream along the falls, which makes for an exceptionally scenic vista. The downfall of this waterfall is the foreshortening which occurs from up close. Because Edith Creek cascades another 150 vertical feet along steep talus below the falls, the falls appear much shorter from up close than they do from some distance away. If you plan on hiking the Skyline - Golden Gate Loop in the Paradise area there is no reason not to stop and admire this scenic waterfall.This waterfall is not known to have any historical name, so I've suggested this name for the nearby trail.