Pitchfork Falls

Drive east from Granite Falls along the Mountain Loop Highway for about 25 miles to the signed road leading 1.2 miles to the Perry Creek Trailhead. Park at the end of the road and start hiking. After about 1 mile, the right stream of Pitchfork Falls comes into view across the valley, and soon after, the portion where they join can be seen, and after about 1.5 miles you'll have full views of the left segment of the falls. The left segment of the falls can be seen all the way up to Perry Creek Falls as well, but after a certain point, it's too distant to photograph well.For those who want an idea of what waterfalls in Norway might look like, Pitchfork Falls is probably as good an example as any in Washington. The falls occur where a pair of pseudo-seasonal streams stairstep down the side of Stilliguamish Peak and into Perry Creek. The left-hand stream twists down a narrow gully before plunging 300 feet over a sheer wall, with two more steps of about 100 feet each below. The stream on the right first drops over two 100 foot tiers, then veils 200 feet into a narrow alcove in a very eye catching form. Both streams then converge and drop a final 100 feet into Perry Creek. Note that these heights are all very vague and just estimates. The total height of the formation from top to bottom is roughly 800 feet, and because it is so complicated, written description really doesn't do it just - one must see it in person to grasp the complexity. Though the stream technically isn't seasonal, it loses the vast majority of its flow by August and becomes very difficult to see late in the season, so the recommended visitation period is May to July.