WILLOW CREEK WEST CASCADES
WILLOW CREEK WEST CASCADES
WATERFALL : WEST WILLOW CREEK FALLS
DROP: SEVERAL FALLS, AND 500’ STEEP CASCADES
WATERFALL TYPE: NEARLY EVERY TYPE
DISTANCE CAR TO FALLS: HEADWALL FALLS .9 MILES. MANY MORE ABOVE & BELOW
MAPS: IPNF, MULLAN TOPO
GPS: 47°26’17” N 115°46’26” W
DROP: SEVERAL FALLS, AND 500’ STEEP CASCADES
WATERFALL TYPE: NEARLY EVERY TYPE
DISTANCE CAR TO FALLS: HEADWALL FALLS .9 MILES. MANY MORE ABOVE & BELOW
MAPS: IPNF, MULLAN TOPO
GPS: 47°26’17” N 115°46’26” W
DESCRIPTION: CAUTION STATEMENT
From Lone Lake to the junction with East Willow Creek, is only about 2 miles. In that distance, the creek falls about 500 feet down the Headwall.
At Lone Lake, there is a nice waterfall opposite from the inlet stream. By walking the right side (west) around the lake, the small falls is just below what I call the Upper Sanctuary.
Along the upper part of Trail #138 as the trail switchbacks out onto a rock rib, there are three cascade drops to cross. Fortunately they are safe to cross. But extra care between the lake and the headwall falls is a must. Rocks are slippery. As the trail switchbacks on an exposed rib, observe the headwall cascades/falls across the valley to the SE.
When you get to the headwall falls, above is the 500 ‘ of cascades.
BE AWARE: ANY OF THE FALLS BELOW THE LAKE ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO ACCESS. USE A LONG TELEPHOTO AND TRIPOD TO CAPTURE THEM.
About .5 miles up Trail #138 is a lot of waterfall noise, but few phot opts, due to brush.
SEE STEVENS LAKES FOR EAST WILLOW CREEK, AND WILLOW CREEK FROM THE JUNCTION TO MULLAN.
At Lone Lake, there is a nice waterfall opposite from the inlet stream. By walking the right side (west) around the lake, the small falls is just below what I call the Upper Sanctuary.
Along the upper part of Trail #138 as the trail switchbacks out onto a rock rib, there are three cascade drops to cross. Fortunately they are safe to cross. But extra care between the lake and the headwall falls is a must. Rocks are slippery. As the trail switchbacks on an exposed rib, observe the headwall cascades/falls across the valley to the SE.
When you get to the headwall falls, above is the 500 ‘ of cascades.
BE AWARE: ANY OF THE FALLS BELOW THE LAKE ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO ACCESS. USE A LONG TELEPHOTO AND TRIPOD TO CAPTURE THEM.
About .5 miles up Trail #138 is a lot of waterfall noise, but few phot opts, due to brush.
SEE STEVENS LAKES FOR EAST WILLOW CREEK, AND WILLOW CREEK FROM THE JUNCTION TO MULLAN.
OPTION #1:
HEADWALL FALLS ON WEST WILLOW CREEK:
About two miles up thru the forest as the canopy opens up, is the headwall falls. As the trail turns SW and skirts the north facing slopes, its a short walk to the falls.
About two miles up thru the forest as the canopy opens up, is the headwall falls. As the trail turns SW and skirts the north facing slopes, its a short walk to the falls.
OPTION #2:
TRAIL #138 FALLS:
At about a mile from the trailhead as you step up from the de-commissioned road, there is an attractive noise to your left. There is no trail, and having been there once, once was enough. However, in the winter the falls are more exposed. They are about .1 of a mile, and 50 vert below the trail , but in the summer.
At about a mile from the trailhead as you step up from the de-commissioned road, there is an attractive noise to your left. There is no trail, and having been there once, once was enough. However, in the winter the falls are more exposed. They are about .1 of a mile, and 50 vert below the trail , but in the summer.
OPTION #3:
There are other cascades on the West Willow Creek, so search and see what you find. Most have no photo ops.
DIRECTIONS:
Drive east on I-90 to Exit #69 East Mullan. Exit and turn left at the stop sign. Crossing over the freeway, turn right (East) past the Lucky Friday mine, to a “Y”, and bear right, eventually crossing back over the freeway. Continue south for about a mile to the joint Stevens Lakes & Lone Lake trailhead, with outhouse.
If you have a high clearance vehicle, you can head west across Willow Creek to a road heading south between the creek and a gigantic Boulder.
It’s about .3 of a mile to the upper parking.
PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THE MAIN ROAD THAT SWITCHBACKS NEAR PARKING AREA.
If you have a high clearance vehicle, you can head west across Willow Creek to a road heading south between the creek and a gigantic Boulder.
It’s about .3 of a mile to the upper parking.
PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THE MAIN ROAD THAT SWITCHBACKS NEAR PARKING AREA.
COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:
Lower & Upper Stevens Lakes, Stevens Peak, the Idaho Centennial Trail, Upper & Lower St. Regis Lakes, the Trail of the CDA’s, the Hiawatha Trail, and Montana
HAZARDS:
ANY TIME YOU GO WATERFALLING, YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELF IN DANGER. DO NOT TAKE DOGS OR CHILDREN ON SERIOUS PHOTO OPS.
PLEASE ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. NO WATERFALL, OR IMAGE IS WORTH YOUR LIFE.
IN DEVELOPED AREAS, MIND THE RULES, OR PAY THE PRICE.
ALL WATERFALLS ARE A HAZARD, DUE TO THEIR SLIPPERY NATURE. ALWAYS BE EXTRA CAREFUL NEAR ANY WATERFALL
PLEASE ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. NO WATERFALL, OR IMAGE IS WORTH YOUR LIFE.
IN DEVELOPED AREAS, MIND THE RULES, OR PAY THE PRICE.
ALL WATERFALLS ARE A HAZARD, DUE TO THEIR SLIPPERY NATURE. ALWAYS BE EXTRA CAREFUL NEAR ANY WATERFALL
R & P:
MUCHACHO’S TACOS, PIZZA FACTORY, IN WALLACE. RADIO BREWERY IN KELLOGG.
Click for Current NOAA Weather Conditions
PHOTO GALLERY
AS YOU BREAK OUT OF THE WOODS, THE LOWER FALLS COMES INTO VIEW
THE ABOVE FALLS IN THE SUMMER
THIS IS THE 500' CASCADING WATERFALL BELOW LONE LAKE.
SMALL INTERMITTENT FALLS HALF WAY UP THE HEADWALL TRAIL.
THE FALLS AT THE BACK OF THE LAKE, ON THE WAY TO THE UPPER SANCTUARY
SPRING TIME AT THE LAKES WATERFALL
THE NEXT THREE IMAGES ARE FROM THE 500' CASCADING WATERFALL.
THE ORIGINAL TRAIL CLIMBED UP NEXT TO THE CASCADES, BUT IT IS WAY TOO STEEP.
I USED TECHNICAL CLIMBING GEAR TO GET THESE IMAGES
THE LAKES FALLS IN THE FALL
