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This small & secluded, but pretty waterfall could be considered a Shangri-La of waterfalls, most likely having been seen by only a handful of people, if that even. Guardian Falls marks the beginning of Rachor Creek's steep canyon descent down the Moon Wall, towards the North Fork Snoqualmie River. I was able to discover this small falls during an attempt to reach Rachor Falls, a trek I highly discourage from Guardian Falls. Below here, the creek cannot be followed at the stream's level due to several small waterfalls, and then around 1400', the vertical drop of 200' Rachor Falls would be encountered (which is best reached from below). This waterfall lies on property which formerly belonged to Weyerhaeuser, where a permit was required. Current public access is not known. Worst case scenario, you'll have to ride a bike in from Spur Gate 10.
- Guardian Falls is the Proposed name of this waterfall.
Though I doubt I'm the first one to have seen this waterfall, I might be the first to have document it. I've named the falls such because they more or less Guard the entrance to the canyon of Rachor Creek as it begins it's descent down into the valley.
Again, before considering attempting to find this waterfall, I strongly caution that this is a very difficult trek, one of the most difficult I've done to date. From North Bend, drive north along North Fork County Road (Ballarat Ave.) for about 3.9 miles to a fork, take the left uphill fork (the right is marked Ernie's Grove). At 7.8 miles from North Bend, reach Spur Gate 10. Check in with the Weyerhaeuser people at the gate (you'll need a permit if you want to drive past here, biking or walking doesn't require one), and turn right and drive 1.4 miles to a four way intersection, just over a bridge across the North Fork. Take the far right road and proceed another 2.8 miles, climbing steeply after 1.2 miles, and passing Luna Falls at 1.7 miles and SMC Falls at 1.9 miles. Park at a large turnout at the top of the climb known as the Rachor Vista (if you pass a concrete box with a candy cane shaped pipe behind it, you've gone too far). There is a slide chute that drops straight down to the falls, which may or may not be visible from here (it was foggy when I visited it). DO NOT try to go down the slide. Instead, walk up the road for about 100 feet, and start down the very steep slopes within the shelter of the trees. You'll reach Rachor Creek after descending about 250 vertical feet. Once you reach the creek, bushwhack downstream to where a small creek springs out of the ground and drops into Rachor Creek. Carefully cross this (there is very very thick brush here), and reach the slide seen from the road, where you can get down below and in front of the falls for a good view. This route is very slow going, and yet again, I do not recommend trying this. It took me about an hour to go about 1/10 of a mile to the falls.
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