Middle Hemlock Falls

Middle Hemlock Falls is the first waterfall encountered along the Hemlock Creek Trail as one ascends from Lake in the Woods towards Hemlock Lake. It has the distinction of being both the best of the series of waterfalls along Hemlock Creek as well as being the most difficult to see, let alone get close to. As the trail nears Hemlock Creek for the first time, falling water can be heard, and a portion of one of the tiers of the falls can be seen. The uppermost tier finally comes into view shortly before a series of switchbacks, but the sliding 15 foot fall is the least impressive of the series. Below the 15 footer, the creek spreads out and drops about 25 feet over a wide block. As I scrambled down the steep slope to investigate this tier, I noticed a much more substantial ledge just downstream. As I approached the edge, a massive 80 foot (maybe more) plunging waterfall was revealed. Since the trail does not approach near the bottom of the largest tier, I could not get a photo of the fall, but it appears to be situated no more than a quarter mile from a road downstream, so access isn't out of the question.