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Deadhorse Creek is a small stream that drains from the southwest side of Paradise Park, flowing just behind the old visitors center and maintenance facilities before dropping over the edge of the Nisqually Valley. The creek contains two substantial waterfalls, but only this one is easily accessed. This waterfall occurs where Deadhorse Creek cascades over the final step in the valley wall, skipping about 80 feet into the bouldery, ever-shifting stream bed of the Nisqually River. It appears that the floods of 2006 may have actually increased the height of the falls a bit by ripping out the land around the base of the cliff. Due to low stream flow, Deadhorse Creek becomes much less impressive later in the year and the falls most likely wouldn't be worth the scramble to see.
- Lower Deadhorse Creek Falls is the name of this waterfall.
Lower Deadhorse Creek Falls occurs a little over 1/3 of a mile upstream from the Nisqually River bridge on Highway 706. The falls can't be seen from the road due to the angle of the flanking cliffs, so scrambling up along the Nisqually River is necessary to see the falls. This isn't terribly difficult for the most part, but two spots will pose danger. First, the 2006 floods scoured away the old roadbed which provided safe access to the river, so now a very steep (almost vertical) cliff of about 30 feet must be surmounted to reach the riverbed itself. The second spot is about halfway to the falls where the river has cut right against the west side of the valley. A sidehill traverse is possible but unstable. Do not attempt to ford the river, it is extremely swift and capable of moving boulders large enough to break your leg.
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