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Snagtooth Falls is perhaps the tallest free-falling waterfall in Washington south of Mount Rainier National Park. Snagtooth Creek drops out of a narrow crack, slams into a protruding rock and sprays 311 feet into a massive sheer-walled amphitheater of 400 foot tall cliffs. It is certainly one of the more impressive waterfalls in the South Cascades but I was actually a little disappointed by it because the creek was a bit smaller than I was expecting. Now that I've built up your excitement I'm gonna bring you down to earth - reaching Snagtooth Falls is a very taxing task. Its among the most difficult bushwhacks I've ever undertaken and when I returned to my car I was about as tired and sore as I've ever been after a hike of similar length. I strongly suggest leaving this one to the professional masochists and enjoying it through the pictures posted here instead.
- Snagtooth Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
- Known Alternate Names: Snagtooth Creek Falls
Snagtooth Falls is absolutely NOT a waterfall for casual hikers to visit. A map and a GPS with good reception in thick forest is practically mandatory to even find the falls, and stamina and good knees are necessary. The falls are accessed by hiking a moderately strenuous 4 miles up the Quartz Creek Trail from FR 90 (see Quartz Creek Falls below for directions to the trailhead), then smashing a mile up the Snagtooth Creek drainage to the falls. There are at times animal paths to follow, but the trek is generally very brushy, involves scrambling up steep slopes and climbing over many fallen trees. Stay on the east side of the creek at all times, do not be tempted to cross (I made that mistake three times and wasted a good 2 hours trying to correct my errors). The total distance to the falls from the trailhead is about 5 miles.
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