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Teeley Falls had been a bane of our for years. No less than four unsuccessful attempts were made to find and photograph the falls which stream from Granite Lake on the north side of Sawtooth Ridge. In this case, fifth try was the charm. Unfortunately, it was a painful charm - one that you all need not repeat. The initial idea was to follow an abandoned trail leading from Pothole Lake to Teeley Creek. Halfway there, I ran into a particularly abundant patch of Devils Club, and in the midst of blazing a path through, I took several dozen thorns in my knuckles. After reaching Teeley Creek, we noticed the falls lay MUCH closer to an old logging road we'd attempted to reach the falls from years earlier, so the nasty brush-bash isn't necessary for future visitors. Aren't you glad we do all the work? So, in hindsight, Teeley Falls is actually quite easy to view. The falls stream about 125 feet down the headwall below Granite Lake, then cascade another 200 feet down a steep slope covered in loose talus and lots of thorny bushes (which can be completely avoided thanks to some convenient tree cover). The falls can be partially seen from Road 8410, but the whole falls can only be seen from near the base.
- Teeley Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
Whether the Forest Service recognizes this as an official name I don't know. The abandoned trail to Pothole Lake which I took to reach the falls is likely responsible for the falls' minor publicity, but since said trail doesn't appear to have been in use for decades, the falls are relatively unknown. The only publicized mention of the falls I have ever seen is in the Delorme's Washington Atlas and Gazetteer.
Located on the north side of Sawtooth Ridge near the Nisqually Entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. Follow Highway 706 east from Ashford for about 2 ½ miles to FR 52, signed for Big Creek and Packwood. Follow Road 52 for about 4 ¾ miles to FR 84 and turn right. Follow FR 84 for 1 ½ miles to Teeley Creek Road # 8410, and turn right. Proceed along Road 8410 for 3.2 miles to an old logging road on the left, just before crossing Teeley Creek (the stream isn't terribly obvious). Park and walk up the old logging road for about 1/5 of a mile to where you can see Teeley Creek just below and to the right. Drop down to, and cross the creek. You should be able to see the falls up the hill just after crossing the creek. To get closer, stay in the wooded area to the right of the creek, and just scramble up the hillside. If the creek is flowing well, the falls can be seen from across the valley a short distance before reaching the Teeley Creek Trailhead, another ¾ mile up the road from the starting point.
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