Snakeberry Falls

Snakeberry Falls is accessed from the Goat Creek Trail south of Riffe Lake. Drive east from Morton along Highway 12 and turn right onto Kosmos Road, signed for Riffe Lake and Taidnapam Park. Turn left very shortly, still following signs for Riffe Lake and then proceed another 4 1/4 miles across the bridge over Riffe Lake. Turn right immediately on the other side of the bridge, follow the gravel logging road for 3/4 mile, and then bear left again onto FR 2750 (which isn't signed). Shortly after turning onto Road 2750 is a sign pointing the way to the Goat Creek Trail, which is reached in another 3 3/4 miles of narrow and winding, but generally good condition road. The trail is unsigned but is obvious where it follows the old roadbed. Snakeberry Falls is encountered 2.1 miles along the trail, about 5 minutes beyond the fork where the Tumwater Mountain trail splits off to the left.Snakeberry Falls is the first significant waterfall which the Goat Creek Trail passes after it branches off from the main stem of Goat Creek and begins to follow the West Fork. The falls drop 34 feet, first cascading down a narrow chute and then spreading out and veiling over a rounded ledge with a large log lying against the face of the falls causing the water to split into two channels. Even with the logs lying in the falls, and the partially obscured trailside views available, this is one of the most scenic waterfalls along the Goat Creek Trail. While we searched for a safe route down to the base of the falls to no avail, if a route can be found to provide a view from below, this may prove to be the most photogenic of the multitude of waterfalls along the trail.This waterfall has no official or colloquially recognized name, so we've opted to name it for the profuse amount of False Lily of the Valley, also known as Snakeberry, which grows along the trail in the immediate vicinity of the falls.