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Clear Lake Falls occurs where the North Fork Tieton River flows out of Clear Lake and rumbles down a pair of long sliding cascades, 16 and 35 feet tall respectively. Though the falls aren't terribly impressive, they are worth seeing when the river is running above average levels. On my most recent visit to the falls I saw (for the first time) the actual Clear Lake Dam, which stands about as high as the falls do on a more heavily incised channel. I'm now almost positive that this waterfall isn't entirely natural - either the channel where the falls occur were to be used as the spillway (which only half makes sense because the falls always flow) or the dam was put in place to allow better fish passage around a more vertical waterfall which formerly existed in the now dammed channel of the river. Whatever the reason, at least in creating the falls the structure of the bedrock wasn't altered beyond the installation of the fish ladders so the falls do look totally natural.
- Clear Lake Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
Located near Clear Lake, east of White Pass. Drive east from White Pass, along Highway 12, to Tieton Road # 12. Follow Tieton Road for 4/10 of a mile, and turn left onto Clear Lake Road # 740. Proceed just under a mile, staying straight at the first major junction, to the bridge spanning the falls. Don't be discouraged by signs announcing the presence of the campground (the best views of the falls are from the campsites on the far side of the second bridge spanning the dammed channel of the river).
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