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While not all of the falls are easily visible, Confusion Falls is likely the most commonly seen of all the waterfalls along Twentytwo Creek. This messy series of waterfalls occurs where Twentytwo Creek drops over three straightforward tiers, totaling 74 feet, then is split by a pile of debris into two channels - one of which will run dry when the stream flow drops in the early summer. One side flumes down a narrow gorge for another 54 feet, the other drops in two or three tiers, and joins the other half in the gorge below. Because of the twisty nature of the gorge the entire waterfall cannot be seen collectively.
- Confusion Falls is the Proposed name of this waterfall.
- Known Alternate Names: Twentytwo Creek Falls
I had previously grouped this waterfall with the four other major waterfalls along the creek, and listed it as "Twentytwo Creek Falls". Upon re-examination of the creek, all five falls are separated by enough distance that they be considered separate waterfalls. I've named this one Confusion Falls due to it's jumbled nature and seemingly erratic behavior.
Starting in the town of Granite Falls, drive east along the Mountain Loop Highway for 13 1/2 miles, or 2 1/2 miles passed the Verlot Ranger Station, to the signed Lake 22 trailhead. Park and start hiking along the trail to Lake 22. The trail climbs easily for 1/2 mile to a bridge spanning Twentytwo Creek, then starts climbing more steeply, passing Humpback and Confusion Falls along the way. Confusion Falls is reached approximately 1 mile from the trailhead. The upper part of the falls are visible from a switchback near the falls, but there are a few branches obstructing totally clear views. Scrambling down about 15 vertical feet towards the creek alleviates this problem. To see the lower part of the falls, it looked to me like the easiest access would be to descend towards the creek about 1/2 way between the bottom of Confusion Falls and the top of Humpback Falls, then rock hopping upstream, and across the stream to where the falls should be visible.
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