Pitchfork Falls

Pitchfork Falls is a waterfall with a reputation that doesn't quite live up to reality. The falls are found along the unnamed outlet stream of Goat Lake, about 6 miles north of the town of Skagway on the opposite side of the valley from the Klondike Highway. Many references cite the falls as dropping nearly 2,100 feet in all as the stream cascades down the mountainside, placing it among several World's Tallest lists in frequent circulation in the past. In truth it is difficult to know for sure whether the whole drop between the outlet of Goat Lake and the base of the falls just below a railroad bridge should actually be considered one waterfall. The primary reason this waterfall has achieved such noteworthy status is largely the reported height of the falls, and the height of the falls comes mainly from the fact that the stream is regulated in a hydroelectric facility to provide power to the town of Skagway. The penstocks which run down to the valley floor likely have a total head of 2,093 feet, which is the figure commonly associated with the falls. This figure is most likely not accurate since the falls terminate above the floor of the valley and may not begin immediately below the intake for the pipes either, so best case scenario the falls may be more like 1,900 feet tall. Additionally, due to the diversion the falls rarely appear as powerful as they once were, and though they are easily seen from the Klondike Highway, the visual impact is hardly among the best in the world despite the great height.