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Engle Creek is a small, likely seasonal tributary to the East Fork Miller River which drains from a small basin on Maloney Ridge. The stream produces one of the tallest waterfalls in the Alpine Lakes region where it intersects a significant cliff band and falls a total of 489 feet in two drops; first a free-falling 411 foot plunge, which depending on the strength of the wind can be dashed into a fine mist and redirected to essentially fall sideways, and a second nearly vertical fall of 78 feet which follows immediately after. Below the falls the stream cascades steeply down a narrow, heavily scoured gully and over a smaller sliding third fall of about 30 feet which is disconnected enough from the main fall that it should be considered a separate waterfall in its own right.
The basin which fuels Engle Creek is small enough that the falls will run dry by mid summer, but with an elevation of between 3000 and 5000 feet above sea level, ample snow falls within during the winter and the thick forest allows the snow to melt slowly which ensures a steady runoff during the spring and early summer months. At peak flow the falls can produce such a heavy volume of spray that approaching the base of the falls closely becomes a near impossible task. Peak runoff is generally encountered in late May and early June when temperatures are sustained around 70 degrees or more. By August the falls will be dry in most years.
- Engle Falls is the Unofficial name of this waterfall.
Engle Falls was first properly documented in 2011 by Burlington, WA waterfall hunter Aaron Young, but during our survey of the falls several pieces of flagging tape were seen en route to the creek, as well as a survey marker which couldn’t be more than a couple years old at most, and given its visibility from the road, there is little chance that this is a newly discovered waterfall. There is said to be an old mine, possibly still actively used, in the vicinity of lower Engle Creek but where in relation to the falls is unclear.
Engle Falls is located in the Miller River Valley near the town of Skykomish, south of Highway 2. Turn off Highway 2 onto the Old Cascade Highway at signs pointing to Money Creek Campground, which is just under 3 miles west of Skykomish. After a mile turn right onto the Miller River Road and follow it for 3.75 miles to a clearing (just past the bridge over the West Fork Miller River) where Engle Falls can be seen distantly across and up the valley. Accessing the falls on foot requires a difficult mile-long bushwhack that begins along a decommissioned road which branches left from the main road at the 6-mile mark. The first half mile follows the brushy remnants of the road and then becomes a rather strenuous bushwhack which involves navigating dozens of huge fallen trees. The trek to the base of Engle Falls is difficult and not at all recommended.
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