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Upper Stevens Creek Falls

Upper Stevens Creek Falls, seen from above at true elevation

Upper Stevens Creek Falls is a waterfall in Washington, at a modelled elevation of 1,796 m. Mount Rainier stands 4,392 m to the north-northwest, 4.5 miles off. The nearest named place is Fairy Falls, a waterfall 0.4 miles away. JCT SR 12 OHANAPECOSH JCT VIC WHITE PASS TO JCT SR 410 VIC CHINOOK PASS passes 7.2 miles off.

The story

Upper Stevens Creek Falls is a waterfall in the Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County, Washington. Although virtually ignored, it is said to be one of the greatest waterfalls in the state. The falls are fed by Stevens Creek, which is a tributary of the Cowlitz River. The falls drop about 375 feet (114 m) into a narrow, barren canyon in a horsetail form about 60 feet (18 m) wide. Significant off-trail travel, which is prohibited, is required to view this waterfall properly.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q37829, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

What the record says

Height
114.3 m

How to reach it

Coordinates46.79756, -121.70761

Named places within 25 miles

Waterfalls
Peaks
Cliffs: 24
Picnic sites: 13
  • Paradise Picnic Area: 1.9 mi
  • Sunrise Picnic Area: 8.7 mi
  • White Pass Day Use: 18.6 mi
  • Corral Pass Picnic Area: 18.8 mi
  • Valley View Day Use Area: 19.9 mi
Springs: 7
Museums: 5
Parks: 5
  • Packwood Cowlitz River Public Access Point: 12.9 mi
  • Jack Morris Park: 22.7 mi
  • Mineral Lake Access Area: 23.1 mi
  • Rocky Point Beach: 24.3 mi
  • Pyramid Creek SnoPark: 24.8 mi
Historic sites: 4
Attractions: 4
  • The Trident: 7.3 mi
  • Big Cedar: 7.7 mi
  • Coffee Cup: 8.0 mi
  • Mount Rainier Railroad: 23.1 mi
Rest areas: 2
Artworks: 2
Ghost towns: 2
Hot springs: 1
  • Ohanapecosh Hot Springs: 8.0 mi
Gardens: 1
  • Jean Caithness Greenlees Grove: 24.6 mi

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 7.5 miles of Upper Stevens Creek Falls. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Mount RainierNNW 328°4,392 m4.5 mi
Columbia CrestNNW 327°4,392 m4.6 mi
Point SuccessNW 320°4,302 m4.4 mi
Liberty CapNW 325°4,297 m5.5 mi
Gibraltar RockNNW 332°3,863 m3.8 mi
Tahoma CleaverNW 311°3,533 m4.8 mi
Saint Andrews RockNW 315°3,520 m5.5 mi
Little TahomaN 357°3,395 m3.6 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:1118:4019:20
June solstice05:1320:1821:05
September equinox06:5418:2619:06
December solstice07:5015:3016:22

Local time (America/Los_Angeles).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Jul–Aug.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F292830334145535449403227
Precip in17.212.913.28.35.13.81.41.64.411.318.218.9

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Rainier Paradise RS, 2 mi away.

Inside the official boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Feb and Dec; busiest: Jul.

NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikidata

OpenStreetMap element node/1912370813

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