Needle Creek Falls

Needle Creek Falls is a tall but low volume waterfall that pours off the southeastern end of the Cowlitz Chimneys in the upper Kotsuck Creek drainage in Mount Rainier National Park. The falls have a total drop of approximately 750 feet in at least six distinct steps, with the tallest individual drop falling about 350 feet on its own. The falls can be distantly seen from a few select locations along Highway 123 in the vicinity of the Seymour Peak Tunnel - almost 3-1/2 miles away - but one must know where to look and have favorable lighting conditions. The stream which produces this waterfall drains from a basin of approximately 0.16 square miles in area, the entirety of which occurs above the 5700 foot elevation level. Because of the high elevation, the basin receives a heavy winter snow pack, but due to its small area and exposed nature, the snow melts off quickly and the stream flow is reduced to just a trickle by the end of July in most years, and may very likely be entirely dry by September.This waterfall doesn't occur along Needle Creek itself, but rather a seasonal tributary. The name was unofficially adopted by Greg Plumb in the appendix of the third edition of his Waterfall Lover's Guide books and has been unofficially adopted in most situations since, even though there are at least two waterfalls along Needle Creek nearby (and in turn the name of this waterfall may very likely be changed at a later date).