Lower Lila Falls

Rachel Lake is the largest water body on the fantastic alpine environs of Rampart Ridge to the east of Snoqualmie Pass. The lake itself is a fairly popular dayhiking destination, even though the trail isn't quite up to the standards of many other hikes in the Interstate 90 corridor. What most don't realize about the Rachel Lake Trail is there are at least a half-dozen major waterfalls which can be found along the headwall below Rachel Lake as the various forks of Box Canyon Creek cascade down into the valley from the ridgeline. Though nowhere near as visible or impressive as the trailside cataract along the outlet stream flowing from Lila Lake, this waterfall is more than significant enough to take note of when hiking along the Rachel Lake Trail - the issue is simply locating it. Because there is an ever present din of cascading water along the Rachel Lake Trail, and even though a small part of this waterfall can be see through the trees from the trail, without knowing exactly where this waterfall is located one would easily just breeze by. If you know where to look, a short easy bushwhack from the trail will reveal a pretty 68-foot tall waterfall which begins by plunging over a cliff, then slams onto a protruding ledge which causes the water to jet outward with such force that it actually hits a low-hanging branch of a nearby tree. Just downstream there appears to be another small fall, but achieving a clear view looked considerably more difficult (and not likely worth the effort). The outlet stream from Lila Lake is highly dependent on snow melt and precipitation in order to retain a strong flow. After the snow pack has melted for the season, the volume of water present in the creek is reduced considerably, but the stream does not run dry. The basin feeding this stream is actually considerably larger than the Rachel Lake outlet, and the falls will run stronger for a longer period, but it will be reduced greatly by the autumn months.