Switchback Cascades

Take Interstate 90 to the Lake Kachess / Stampede Pass exit, about 10 1/2 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass or 8 1/2 miles west of Easton, and turn north toward Lake Kachess. After 5 1/4 miles the pavement ends and the road makes a sharp bend to the left (Kachess Campground is to the right) and becomes FSR-4930. Follow the often rough (potholes and washboard) gravel road uphill for about one-third of a mile, then bear right at the fork and continue to the Rachel Lake Trailhead about four miles from the end of the pavement. Set out on the Rachel Lake Trail, which begins by climbing moderately and then levels off to a gradual pace. At the 2 3/4 mile mark the trail crosses an unnamed branch of Box Canyon Creek without a bridge, which may be as much as knee deep if there are no logs. The trail becomes considerably steeper at this point, climbing past several waterfalls (see the links below). At about 2.75 miles, very shortly after crossing the major tributary below Alta Basin Falls, the bottom of the falls will come into view. Watch for an unmarked path which branches off to the left and leads to views of the cascades, while the main trail climbs up along side it and provides several up-close but more restricted views along the next several switchbacks.Rachel Lake is the largest water body on the fantastic alpine environs of Rampart Ridge to the east of Snoqualmie Pass. The lake itself is a fairly popular dayhiking destination, even though the trail isn't quite up to the standards of many other hikes in the Interstate 90 corridor. What most don't realize about the Rachel Lake Trail is there are at least a half-dozen major waterfalls which can be found along the headwall below Rachel Lake as the various forks of Box Canyon Creek cascade down into the valley from the ridgeline.
Switchback Cascades is the first and only waterfall the trail passes along the main stem of Box Canyon Creek as it climbs the headwall of the valley to Rachel Lake. Immediately above the top of the falls the two streams which originate in Rachel and Lila Lakes respectively can be seen converging, and almost immediately the collective water is tossed down a steep slope in a very scenic cascading waterfall with a total drop of 118 feet. The base of the falls essentially marks the base of the valley's headwall and the stream immediately becomes much more placid. On the inverse, as hikers approach the cascades from down the valley, the falls can be seen as an indicator that the trail is about to get considerably steeper and more difficult.
The streams which flow out of Rachel and Lila Lakes are highly dependent on snow melt and precipitation in order to retain a strong flow. However, when these two stream converge (also collecting water from a third tributary further south) and form the Box Canyon Creek proper, the flow is considerably greater and more consistent. However, after the snow pack has melted for the season Box Canyon Creek does see its volume reduced considerably, but the stream does not run dry.Because this waterfall marks the beginning of the steeper, switchbacking nature of the Rachel Lake Trail, we thought it only fitting to name it after the zig-zagging properties of the route. The reason we chose to dub the falls as "Cascades" instead of "Falls" should be obvious for those who have visited.