Jefferson Creek Falls

Take US Highway 101 north from Hoodsport for about 13.75 miles, or south from Brinnon for 11-1/2 miles, to Hamma Hamma Road - also signed for the Hamma Hamma Recreation Area, and National Forest Road 25. Follow Hamma Hamma Road for 6.4 miles to a T-junction shortly after crossing Cabin Creek (the crossing is not signed). Turn left onto NFR-2480 (signed for Jefferson Lake), which crosses the river immediately, and continue for just under 2-1/2 miles to a Y-junction and bear right onto NFR-2441 where signs point to Jefferson Lake and Elk Lake. Continue on Road 2441 for another 3 miles and keep right onto NFR-2041 at another Y-junction, then continue another half-mile to the bridge over Jefferson Creek and park. The falls are located immediately upstream.Jefferson Creek Falls is a small but moderately powerful waterfall found a short distance upstream of Elk Lake in the eastern part of Olympic National Forest. The falls consist of three back-to-back-to-back tiers, dropping 9, 11, and 9 feet respectively in a narrow canyon just upstream from where the stream is crossed by a road. The upper two tiers of the falls are easily visible from a natural overlook just feet off the road, while the third tier is partially visible from the bridge but obstructed from view by a couple of low hanging tree branches. The basin feeding Jefferson Creek upstream of the falls is fairly large - covering an area of about 10 square miles, and extending up to over 6,000 feet in elevation on the slopes of Mount Washington, which retains a moderate amount of winter snow pack into the summer months (but does not have any permanent snow or ice). The size of the basin coupled with the fact that the Olympic Peninsula receives heave rainfall totals will ensure that Jefferson Creek Falls maintains a healthy flow all year long. The gorge at the lower tier of the falls is narrow enough that if the creek swells to high enough volume in the winter months, the falls could be partially submerged by the backed up creek.