Lower Noochsakatsu Falls

RATING - 30.0

VR - 4.0 (Sm/M) HR - 5.0 SR - 10/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Difficult

LOCATION - Ptarmigan Ridge

TYPE - Cascades

HEIGHT - 88'

WIDTH - 10'

GPS - N48 50.580' W121 43.500'

ELEVATION - 4270'

DIRECTIONS - No directions provided. Dangerous approach.

Wells Creek is created when four tributary creeks combine just above massive Mazama Falls. Each of these four creeks contains at least one waterfall. The creek that contains Noochsakatsu Falls drains the area immediately around and below the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail once it crosses over into the Wells Creek Drainage. By the time the creek reaches the waterfall, its volume is surprisingly large considering the small drainage area.

Lower Noochsakatsu Falls is a series of cascades and slides located just downstream from the main falls on the creek. The canyon has an interesting combination of bare canyon walls on one side and a lot of vegetation and flowers on the other. Noochsakatsu is the Nooksack Indian name for Wells Creek.