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Whirlpool Falls
   Whatcom County, Washington

[ Physical Makeup ]  [ Pictures ]  [ Maps ]  [ Update History ]

This stout waterfall is often misinterpreted as Lower Whatcom Falls event though there are at least two more major waterfalls downstream of this point along Whatcom Creek. Whatcom Creek is forced through a narrows and tumbles about 10 feet into a large pool which doubles as a fantastic swimming hole. The bedrock throughout the gorge in this area is severely contorted and features lots of neat potholes and scoured formations.

HISTORY AND NAMING INFORMATION

  • Whirlpool Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

easy access

To reach this site, drive to Bellingham on I-5 and exit on Lakeway Drive, turning east, and proceed about 2 miles to the signed Whatcom Falls Park. Follow the road to the parking area near the fish hatchery. From Whatcom Falls, walk downstream along either of the two paths (they converge at the falls) for about 1/3 mile, following the signs for the Lower Gorge trail.

Latitude

48.75245 N

Longitude

-122.43348 W

Elevation

224 feet

USGS Quadrangle

Bellingham North 7 1/2"

Online USGS Topographic maps on Terraserver

Aerial Photographs: Terraserver | Flash Earth

Download KML

Open this location in Google Earth

OTHER NEARBY WATERFALLS

Name

Distance

Whatcom Falls

0.326 miles

Upper Whatcom Falls

0.467 miles

Pixie Falls

0.703 miles

Lower Whatcom Falls

3.523 miles

Padden Creek Falls

5.643 miles

Sudden Valley Falls

7.024 miles

 

 

See all waterfalls in Whatcom County

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Magnitude

22.26

IWC

0.92  (Class 1)

RATING

37.72 %

 

Photo of Whirlpool Falls

[ View Pictures ]

 

PHYSICAL MAKEUP

Height

10 feet

Tallest Drop

10 feet

Num. Drops

1

AVG. Width

10 feet

Pitch

90 degrees

Run

5 feet

Primary Form

Plunging Punchbowl

 

Watershed

Puget Sound

Stream

Whatcom Creek

AVG. Volume

100.0 cfs

Source

Lake

Seasonality

Best Flows

Winter - Spring

 
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Search for Whirlpool Falls on Google

Information on this waterfall at the World Waterfall Database

Search for more pictures at:
Flickr | PBase | Webshots | Smugmug

       
 

UPDATE HISTORY

Jul 29, 2011

Added a picture(s) of this waterfall

 
 
 
 
 

 

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