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Cathedral Falls is a lofty plunging waterfall on a tributary of Goat Creek in an isolated corner of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The falls launch 248 feet over a massive overhang then veils across a strange cone-shaped bedrock protrusion that appears to have been formed by mineral accumulation from the falling water. The alcove behind the falls is actually so tall and deep that there are full sized Western Red Cedar trees growing underneath it. The drainage area feeding the falls is rather small and the falls lose much of their power by July (earlier in low snow years), but at high water its quite impressive.
- Cathedral Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
- Known Alternate Names: Leona Falls
Cathedral Falls gets its name from the massive overhang the falls plunge from. The Goat Creek trail traverses behind the falls via the undercut, which has a massive church cathedral ceiling. The falls have also been known as Leona Falls, thought to have been named for a Ranger in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This name never took hold and was only used in one book before the Forest Service established the present name as the bottom line.
Cathedral Falls is accessed from the Goat Creek Trail south of Riffe Lake. Drive east from Morton along Highway 12 to Kosmos Road, signed for Riffe Lake, turning left again almost immediately then proceed 4 1/4 miles across the bridge over Riffe Lake. Turn right on the other side and follow the gravel logging road for 3/4 mile, then left again onto FR 2750 (which isn't signed). Road 2750 is very narrow and climbs up the side of the Goat Creek Valley to the trailhead in 3 3/4 miles. Don't take trailers or RVs up this road and low clearance cars are discouraged. The falls are found an easy 1/2 mile down the trail.
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