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Cascade Falls
   San Juan County, Washington

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

At about 40 feet tall, Cascade Falls is the largest waterfall in the San Juan Islands. Cascade Creek squiggles down a flume, dropping through a jumble of logs and branches before it veils out over a broad bulbous face into a small grotto lined with several old growth cedar trees. While I certainly don't think the waterfalls of Orcas Island are worth seeing alone (especially considering the cost of the ferry), should one find themselves on the island, the quick walk through the park is worth undertaking.

HISTORY AND NAMING INFORMATION

  • Cascade Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.

Moran State Park was established in 1921 and named for Robert Moran, the original owner of the land, whose former residence is now the Rosario Resort and Spa. Cascade Falls was presumably named for Cascade Creek, but it is not known when the name was adopted.

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

easy access

Cascade Falls are found in Moran State Park on Orcas Island. From the Ferry dock at East Sound, follow the main road around the Island for 14 miles to the Mount Constitution Road, turning left. Park at the marked trailhead about 1/4 mile further. Cascade Falls are found by hiking down to Cascade Creek, first arriving at Rustic Falls, then heading right (downstream) for another 1/4 mile where the trail winds down to the base of the falls.

Latitude

48.64623 N

Longitude

-122.83232 W

Elevation

513 feet

USGS Quadrangle

Mount Constitution 7 1/2"

Online USGS Topographic maps on Terraserver

Aerial Photographs: Terraserver | Flash Earth

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Open this location in Google Earth

OTHER NEARBY WATERFALLS

Name

Distance

Rustic Falls

0.107 miles

Cavern Falls

0.336 miles

Paul Falls

0.648 miles

Hidden Falls

0.742 miles

Rosario Falls

2.513 miles

Judd Bay Falls

7.817 miles

 

 

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Magnitude

21.23

IWC

Unrated

RATING

35.54 %

 

Photo of Cascade Falls

[ View Pictures ]

 

PHYSICAL MAKEUP

Height

40 feet

Tallest Drop

40 feet

Num. Drops

1

AVG. Width

15 feet

Pitch

81 degrees

Run

15 feet

Primary Form

Veiling Horsetail

 

Watershed

Puget Sound

Stream

Cascade Creek

AVG. Volume

15.0 cfs

Source

Lake

Seasonality

Best Flows

Winter - Spring

 
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Search for Cascade Falls on Google

Information on this waterfall at the World Waterfall Database

Search for more pictures at:
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UPDATE HISTORY

Jul 12, 2011

Added a picture(s) of this waterfall

 
 
 
 
 

 

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