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Victor Falls is a rarity. Fennel Creek, fed mostly by swamps filled with rainwater and lowland lakes, drains off of the plateau between the White and Puyallup River valleys at the edge of the Puget Sound basin. The falls' brink has an elevation of roughly 370 feet above sea level and considering the elevation change involved, a waterfall of this size is very rare to find in the Puget Sound basin. The falls are further unique because they descend over sedimentary rock layers created by the Osceola and Electron Mudflows, which originated from Mt. Rainier several thousand years ago. Look closely at the cliffs around the falls and you will see Conglomerates and poorly sorted Sandstones make up most of the walls of the canyon. The falls occur below Rhodes Lake Rd, and though the brink of the falls is visible from the road, the falls are rather discrete. There are several paths on the right side of the creek that lead to vistas over the top of the falls and of the falls from the side. It is possible to scramble down to the base of the falls with aid of a steep root ladder, but I do not recommend it to anyone who has the slightest hesitations (clear views can be had from above, so don't sweat too much). Lastly, on my last visit to Victor Falls, my car was broken into and my backpack and a lens was stolen while I was photographing the falls for no more than 20 minutes. The parking area is extremely accessible to shady passers by (I noticed plenty of broken glass in the area), so remember to leave NOTHING of value in your car to tempt thieves.
- Victor Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
- Known Alternate Names: Fennel Creek Falls
The falls were named after Victor Johns, whose father visited the northwest and named the falls for his son, who died at a young age, prior to moving to the Sumner area.
This waterfall is located in close proximity to major metropolitan areas, so you shouldn't have too much trouble locating this fall. Start out in Sumner, at the intersection of Highways 167 and 410. Follow Hwy 410 east for a mile to it's intersection with Hwy 162 and turn south. Drive about 3.75 miles to the stoplight at 128th St E and turn left (east). Follow 128th across the Puyallup River, where the road becomes McCutcheon Rd E. Drive (north) along this road for about 1.4 miles to Rhodes Lake Rd. E (the intersection is a strange cut-off style fork). Turn right (east) onto Rhodes Lake Rd and follow for about 1.5 miles to the creek crossing above the falls. Park near a chain fence and a brick building on the far side of the creek. Walk back across the creek and find the trails leading down to the falls' brink and downstream to views. The root ladder is pretty obvious if you know what to look for.
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