Lower Sunbeam Falls

Lower Sunbeam Falls is the final waterfall found along Sunbeam Creek as it descends into Stevens Canyon in Mount Rainier National Park. The falls occur as the creek emerges from a narrow ravine which cuts partially through the Andesite formation which lines the south side of Stevens Canyon, but is left hanging above the floor of the valley and instead veils 122 feet over Andesite cliffs which feature some moderately good examples of columnar jointing. The falls veil outward beginning just below the top of the falls, stretching from perhaps 5 feet in width at its brink to potentially over 50 feet wide by the time it reaches the bottom of the canyon. During periods of lower flow the water splits into two channels rather than veiling out in one broad fan shape. Lower Sunbeam Falls occurs due west of Stevens Creek Falls and the two waterfalls can be seen in tandem from some locations along the floor of the canyon (though either or both waterfalls are partially obscured in some way at any location where this is possible). Sunbeam Creek drains from a small basin on the north side of the Tatoosh Range, as well as Louise Lake. The drainage upstream of the falls covers approximately 1.3 square miles in area, but aside from the tiny remnant of the Tatoosh Glacier on Pinnacle Peak features no permanent snow or ice. The heavy winter snow pack which the area receives will ensure Sunbeam Creek flows strong until roughly late July, but once the snow has melted for the season the volume of the stream will drop consistently to just a fraction of its early summer peak flow by September. Louise Lake does however seem to ensure that at least a modest volume of water is released throughout the entire season and the falls should not be reduced to an inconsequential trickle of water as a result.