Sholes Creek Falls

Sholes Creek Falls is sort of the big brother to nearby Wells Creek Falls. Sholes Creek plunges over a two-stepped waterfall in drops of 62 and 103 feet into a very deep amphitheater at the head of a gorge just above its confluence with Bar Creek. Framing either side of Sholes Creek Falls are huge pillars of volcanic rock rising well over 200 feet above the creek at the base of the canyon, one of which effectively blocks views of the upper tier of the falls itself from all locations where views are unobstructed. The waterfall itself is arguably more impressive than Wells Creek Falls is - if only due to its greater height and volume - but it is also considerably more difficult to access, requiring a moderately bushwhack along the canyon rim, then a precipitously steep and dangerous scramble down into the canyon near the falls. Without the aid of a rope the descent into the canyon is not advised. Lastly, we should note that Bob Mooers' book "Waterfall Finders Guide Western Washington Series #1", which calls this waterfall "Adenas Falls" incorrectly suggests that there are actually three drops to the falls - the two described here, and another fall of 60-100 feet further downstream. Do not waste time attempting to find this mythic lower 60-100 foot downstream drop, it does not exist and you will only end up in more precarious situations in steeper, brushier parts of the canyon.It looks as if there are remnants of a trail of some sort climbing up along the rim of the Sholes Creek canyon, which wouldn't surprise us given the extensive history of exploratory mountain climbing on Mount Baker, so it could follow that this waterfall may have, at one point, held a proper name. Bob Mooers's book "Waterfall Finders Guide: Western Washington #1" calls this one Adena's Falls - Bob named it for his wife.