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Nellie Falls is the major waterfall of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River. Located near the Dutch Miller Gap trailhead, the falls occur where the river drops over a headwall in the valley, and thunders down a series of steep cascades. Even when the river is at it's lowest volume late in the summer, these falls are still very impressive. During the peak of spring melt, however, this waterfall becomes a massive sheet of violent whitewater, sending spray high into the air. Its too bad this one isn't more accessible as its one of the best in the Snoqualmie River basin.
- Nellie Falls is the Historical name of this waterfall.
For the longest time, I had assumed that none of the waterfalls on the river in this area were named, however, I was recently told that this waterfall was at one time known as Nellie Falls. There is a mine claim in the Hardscrabble Creek drainage called the Nellie claim, so obviously, the name held some significance to the person who staked that claim.
The falls are located in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie drainage, near Goldmyer Hot Springs. From North Bend, follow Interstate 90 east to Exit 34 (Edgewick Road), and turn left. Proceed for about 1/4 mile to Middle Fork Road and turn right. Proceed just over 12 miles to the Taylor River bridge. Shortly after, the Middle Fork road proper makes a hard right, while the main road goes on straight. Take this right, and proceed another 5 3/4 miles to the end of the road at the Dingford Creek Trailhead. From there its a walk of about 7 1/2 miles to the top of the falls at the upper Middle Fork Trailhead via the old road or a hike of 8 1/2 miles via the Middle Fork Trail to the top of the falls. No more than 1/10 of a mile from the uppermost Middle Fork trailhead you'll be able to see the brink of the falls. After locating the falls, continue downhill for another 100 to 200 feet or so, and start bushwhacking down the bank next to the falls. It's not a terribly hard bushwhack, but it is moderately steep and there are a lot of huckleberry bushes to put up with. You'll have to descent about 200 feet to the river below the falls, where the falls are plainly visible.
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