Jackpot Falls

Jackpot Falls is a fairly significant two-stepped waterfall found on the north side of the North Fork Cispus River valley, shrouded by thick forest and not frequently seen by passers by. Topographic data indicates the falls to consist of two tiers which drop about 80 feet each, separated by a run of about 75 linear feet. On the initial survey of the site, the lower tier was measured to drop 87 feet, though because the steep slope below the falls induces significant foreshortening, it appears to be not much more than half that height when viewed from the base. The upper tier of the falls is not visible from the base at all, and we were not able to confirm its size. The drainage basin of Jackpot Creek is quite small, covering an area of about one-half of a square mile. Tiny Jackpot Lake sits on the ridge at the top of the basin, but it's unclear whether it actually sources the creek - topographic maps suggest it to have no outlet, though it may drain underground. The drainage basin rises to an elevation of around 4600 feet, so a moderate amount of winter snow pack can be expected higher up the mountain, and a stronger flow should be present in the stream for a longer period of the spring and early summer months as a result. Expect to see the volume of the stream shrivel to just a trickle by August, if not mid July, and potentially dry out entirely by September.