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Williwakas Falls is a backcountry cataract within Mount Rainier National Park which, at one time at least, received much more attention than it currently does (which is practically nonexistent). Fed by the tiny fragmented remnants of the Stevens Glacier (technically not a glacier any longer), two branches of Williwakas Creek plunge into a canyon in side-by-side formation. The left and more voluminous segment falls a sheer 141 feet, while the right segment, a broader veiling fall, drops 169 feet. Late in the summer the diminished flow of the right segment will reduce the attractiveness of the falls, possibly even drying out entirely in drought years.
- Williwakas Falls is the Historical name of this waterfall.
Williwakas Falls was at one point commonly seen on a trail that used to lead to nearby Fan Lake. The name applied to the creek and glacier comes from "Williwilliwakus", the indian name for the Paradise Glacier (or a part of it which contributed to Williwakas Creek). The falls were then named after the creek. It isn't known when the name came into common use as the falls were not marked by name on any of the early park maps, but the Fan Lake trail has neither been marked on maps, so it is likely the falls were named before the establishment of the park.
Williwakas Falls is not accessible by any trail. The shortest approach to the falls requires a roughly 3.5-mile hike, which includes fording both Stevens and Williwakas Creek (the former of which can be very dangerous at high water), descending steep avalanche gullys, and over 2 miles of travel cross-country. Because of the dangerous obstacles that must be circumvented to visit this waterfall, we will not be providing specific directions. Further, off-trail travel in the meadows of the Paradise area is prohibited. Any attempts to visit this waterfall should involve travel across the bare rock terrain above the Stevens-Van Trump memorial and the Ice Caves trail.
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