Mowich Glacier Falls

Mowich Glacier Falls is accessed from the end of the Mowich Lake Road in Mount Rainier National Park. From Highway 410 in Buckley, turn towards Wilkeson and Carbonado on Highway 165. About 3 1/2 miles south of Carbonado turn right where the road splits (signs point the way to Mowich Lake). The trailhead is found at the roads end in another 16 miles. Mowich Glacier Falls is seen from the Eagle Cliff viewpoint found 1 1/2 miles from Mowich Lake along the Wonderland Trail.The North Mowich River has its origin in a glacier spilling from over 10,000 feet up on Mount Rainier's west face. In the last 50 years or so, the lower section of the glacier has thinned such that a roughly 400 foot tall cliff band has become exposed about 2/3 of the way down the glacier. As a result, all the melt water from the upper section of the glacier now plunges some 350 feet into the lower section of the glacier over this impressive waterfall. Unfortunately the falls must be viewed from a distance and though a close approach does look humanly possible, its only possible to those with experience in off-trail wilderness travel.