Nisqually Valley Falls

Located in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park. This waterfall can be easily seen from a viewpoint the Paradise Road, one mile uphill from where Highway 706 turns east, and crosses the Paradise River, and 4/10 of a mile west of the turnoff for the Picnic Area. There are closer views of the falls available by hiking the short Nisqually Vista Trail, and the longer, but still easy Moraine Trail, both originating from behind the Paradise Visitor Center, and parts of the Skyline Trail, between the parking lots and Pebble Creek. Intrepid explorers can obtain closer views of the falls by hiking up the Nisqually River, then climbing up the Moraine to the falls. Because this may involve fording streams and ascending very steep, unstable terrain, I do not recommend this be attempted.This rather un-notable waterfall descends from a basin to the northwest of the Nisqually Glacier's northern moraine. Thought the falls have a modest drainage area, and may in fact be partially fed by the Wilson Glacier, because there is no easy way to closely approach the falls, it is usually overlooked by the majority of visitors. The falls drop approximately 300 feet in two tiers, about 120 and 180 feet, respectively. The most interesting thing about this waterfall, however, is that the stream appears to lose the majority of its volume after it descends over the first tier. There is a visually noticeable lack in volume as the stream drops towards the bottom of the falls, and then below the falls, the full volume of the stream resumes. This is particularly baffling, because the Mount Rainier region is not known for Karst Topography of any sort. I eventually hope to inspect the falls up close, to further investigate this oddity. A more recent visit revealed the presence of at least two small waterfalls upstream from this location as well. A closer inspection will take place eventually.