Upper Denny Creek Cascades

Keekwulee Falls is located just west of Snoqualmie Pass, along the Melakwa Lakes Trail. Depending on which direction you are traveling from, directions to the trailhead will vary. For travelers heading east from North Bend, depart I-90 at Exit 47 (Denny Creek and Asahel Curtis), then turn left from the off-ramp and cross the freeway, and bear right at the T-intersection. Drive just a quarter mile, crossing under I-90, and then turn left onto Denny Creek Road #58 where signs point to Denny Creek and Franklin Falls. After 2.3 miles pass Denny Creek Campground, shortly after turning left onto Road #5830 and following it a quarter mile to its end at the trailhead. To avoid backtracking, westbound travelers can exit at the West Summit (Hyak) exit at Snoqualmie Pass and follow the frontage road towards Alpental, then pick up Road #58 where Alpental Road bears right, and follow it down to the Denny Creek area in another 2-1/2 miles. On foot, follow the Melakwa Lakes Trail, which climbs moderately along its duration, for just over a mile to where the trail crosses Denny Creek. The bottom of the upper set of cascades are found about 300 feet upstream from this point. The best views are had from the west side of the creek, so cross (unless the water is too deep) and then find an informal but well trodden path which follows the creek upstream through the woods until a clear view is achieved.Denny Creek sports a number of waterfalls, some quite a bit more noteworthy and conspicuous than others. Keekwulee Falls is the most significant of the bunch but is not really viewed as a major destination for hikers. The cascades along Denny Creek where the trail makes its crossing however is definitely a location that qualifies. Long referred to as the "sliding rocks", Denny Creek sheets across long exposures of gently sloped granite slabs, forming dozens of small cascades and slides with pools between that are perfect for wading or swimming - especially for kids - when the volume of the creek is manageable. Just upstream from the more placid slides is a pretty legitimate series of falls which drop 41 feet in steps of 11, 18, and 12 feet respectively. The Forest Service had built a nice big bridge across Denny Creek several years ago, which offered a pretty decent (albeit distant) view of the upper cascades. The bridge was quickly wiped out in a subsequent winter storm and hasn't been replaced since. With the lack of a footbridge to cross Denny Creek, the high water periods will impede travel further for those not willing to get wet, and this will restrict views of the falls. Unless the creek is bordering on flood level however, it should be fairly safe to cross, though you should expect to encounter knee to thigh deep water (use poles or a walking stick when crossing too). It may be possible to bushwhack along the creek to a clear view of the falls without crossing the creek, but we haven't yet investigated such an avenue.