Newhalem Creek Falls

Newhalem is a moderate to large volume stream which flows north into the Skagit River just outside the town of Newhalem in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Approximately a mile above its mouth, the creek sluices between several large boulders then slides and veils down a 167 foot tall roaring cascade. Viewed from above it looks much more vertical than it really is, and from below it becomes foreshortened due to its run and pitch. Because of the nature of the cliff face, when the creek is running high, the falls spread out into a Fan shaped waterfall. The falls are also incorporated into a small hydroelectric generating facility, with a portion of the creek diverted near the top of the falls, which results in a much narrower and less impressively shaped waterfall late in the season. Though this is easily one of the best waterfalls in the Ross Lake area, and despite being partially visible from the road, this is a very dangerous waterfall to visit. The views from the road are strictly the through-the-tree variety. Clear views are obtainable only by climbing to the edge of the precarious canyon and finding a window through the thick forest or by scrambling down a very crumbly slide area to the bottom of the falls. Consider yourselves warned.