Name of Waterfall

Horseshoe Point Falls

Description

From Randle, turn south on SR 131, which is signed for Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Trout Lake, then bear left onto Forest Road 23, following signs pointing to Trout Lake. Continue east on Road 23 for another 11-1/2 miles, then turn left onto Forest Road 22. Continue on Road 22 for 6 miles to the end of the pavement at a junction, then keep straight on Road 22 for another 3.9 miles to where the falls will be visible on the left side of the road.Horseshoe Point Falls is a boisterous roadside waterfall which plunges a nearly sheer 78 feet into a small alcove notched into a cliffband in such a way that the falls very much sneak up on unassuming motorists who pass by. The stream below the falls is fairly broad and even-bottomed, allowing easy access to the pool at the base of the falls, such that one could shower in the falls if so desired. In the spring months the spray from the falls can shoot out as far as the road
The unnamed stream producing this waterfall drains from a basin approximately one-half of a square mile in size, and rising to a maximum elevation of around 5600 feet at the summit of Horseshoe Point. About three-quarters of the basin area occurs at or above an elevation of 4000 feet, which will ensure a healthy winter snow pack which should persist well into the early summer months during most years. When surveyed in early May of 2018 the creek was flowing quite boisterously. Low flows should be anticipated from early July onward, with the streamflow likely being reduced to just a trickle by August and potentially entirely dry by September (especially in drought years).

Other Names

[]

Magnitude

9.74

IWC Rating (International Waterfall Classification)

0

Total Height (ft)

78

Tallest Drop

78

Number of Drops

1

Average Width

10

Average High Volume (Cubic ft per second)

5 cfs (8 months)

Average Low Volume (Cubic ft per second)

1 cfs (4 months)

Pitch

85 degrees

Run (ft)

20

Watershed or Feeder Stream

Columbia River