Upper Copper Falls

Upper Copper Falls is the first of three smaller but still substantial waterfalls found along the outlet stream from Copper, Malachite, and Little Heart Lakes (colloquially referred to as Copper Creek). As the Foss Lakes Trail first approaches the creek one becomes immediately aware of the roar of the stream, but most hikers rarely venture closer. While Middle Copper Falls is hidden just out of view from hikers on the trail as it passes by the creek, Upper Copper Falls can be glimpsed through the trees after the trail makes a long switchback away from the creek and back again, but clear views require scrambling down to the creek. The upper falls crash 46 feet over a roughly fractured chunk of bedrock, splitting into as many as three side-by-side segments when the creek is running higher (and reducing to one segment at lower flows). Immediately below the falls is a scenic clamshell-shaped boulder which the creek sheets over in very scenic fashion during periods of high flow. As previously mentioned Copper Creek drains from three substantial lakes, which help ensure the creek retains a decent volume of water for much of the year. The drainage basin itself isn't terribly large - covering an area of about 2-1/2 square miles - and it features no permanent snow or ice, so once the winter's snow pack melts off for the season, the creek will rely on the slow and steady release of water from the lakes to remain consistent. By September the flow is usually considerably diminished.