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The small drainage of Skookum Creek limits the impressiveness of the falls, but if you are on your way to Mt. Rainier National Park, there's no reason not to stop. This picture was taken with a telephoto lens from across the road. Best views, however, are from the base of the falls, the trail to which is excellent for mountain biking. The falls usually flow all year, but with greatly reduced flow in the summer (and in dry years will dry out completely). On the complete inverse, I visited the falls during a record setting heat wave in May 2008 and I witnessed the falls gushing like a river had been diverted over the cliff. It was absolutely unrecognizable from what it typically looks like and conditions probably won't repeat similarly for decades.
- Skookum Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
Skookum is a Chinook Jargon word meaning "Evil Spirit".
Drive south of Greenwater along Highway 410 for 9.5 miles to the signed viewpoint, where you can see the falls on the far side of the river from the newly renovated Mather Memorial Parkway. The falls can also be reached on foot by driving about 1.7 miles further down the road, just past Camp Sheppard and finding the trailhead on the right side of the road. The trail proceeds to cross the White River and then splits. Turn right and follow the trail downstream for about 2 miles to the falls.
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