Lower Dewey Creek Falls

Dewey Creek is the first major tributary stream to join with Chinook Creek as it cascades down from Chinook Pass on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park. As Dewey Creek drops to meet Chinook, it features a multitude of small, essentially completely hidden and unknown waterfalls - the largest of which is this fine 42-foot tall plunging waterfall, situated not far from where Highway 123 crosses Dewey Creek. The falls plunge over a slightly undercut cliff of volcanic bedrock, dropping into a small pool lined with several logs and downed trees, and would otherwise be quite scenic if it weren't for all the debris gathered at the base of the falls. Dewey Creek is not fed by any permanent snow or ice, nor any standing bodies of water, so when the winter snow pack has melted off the volume of water present in the stream will drop substantially. Though the creek doesn't appear capable of running completely dry, the amount of water running down the falls in the late summer and autumn months will likely be so little that the effort required to reach the falls would not prove worth the visit, so those who wish to seek this one out should visit in late June or early July.