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Were this scenic waterfall not documented in a few sporadic places, this would be a virtual unknown. Though fed by a pair of modest springs, Hopkins Creek has a pretty small drainage basin, so the majority of the volume of the creek comes from rainfall and snowmelt. Because of this, this pretty 60-foot waterfall is usually pretty lackluster in the late summer. Come the spring rains and winter melt, however, the creek stretches across the whole washboard-textured cliff, creating a gorgeous stair step pattern along the sloping rock face. The falls may or may not be located on private property. If it is on private land, thus far the owner has graciously declined to post it, and I thank him or her for that. An adjacent homeowner has, however, rigged a water catchment system at the bottom of the falls, so if you visit, please be courteous and leave the system alone. Vandalism to private property like this is often what gets waterfalls such as these posted.
- Hopkins Creek Falls is the Adopted name of this waterfall.
This area is both dark and brightly lit. The upper face of the falls is often bathed in much more light than the bottom, so contrast problems can arise here. Deciduous trees surround the falls, so there is a great possibility of fantastic fall color studies here.
Located between Randle and Packwood, just off of Highway 12. Find Silverbrook Road, 5 ½ miles east of Randle, or 11 ½ miles west of Packwood and turn north. About 200 feet up the road, as it veers to the left, a driveway shoots off to the right. Park at the beginning of this driveway (being sure not to block any direction), and find the obvious path heading into the woods. The falls are reached in about 200 yards.
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