Mazama Lake Falls

RATING - 18.0

VR - 2.0 (Sm) HR - 5.0 SR - 8/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Trail + Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Medium

LOCATION - Ptarmigan Ridge

TYPE - Horsetail

HEIGHT - 85'

WIDTH - 15'

GPS - N48 50.869' W121 43.324'

ELEVATION - 4736'

DIRECTIONS - From Artists Point at the end of the Mt. Baker Highway, begin hiking along the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail. In about a mile, take the right fork to Chain Lakes and follow them for about a mile to Mazama Lake. The waterfall is right at the outlet, but you'll have to bushwhack through some berry bushes to get a view. It's nothing too difficult, but be careful around the edge of the canyon.

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 drains Mazama and Iceberg Lakes drops over a small, but pretty waterfall at the outlet of Mazama Lake. The falls begins with a small series of cascades before spreading out and veiling down a very pretty 44' horsetail. The waterfall drops over an interesting cliff of petrified ash that is commonly seen in this area of Mt. Baker. While not a spectacular waterfall, this one is easy enough to view if you're in the area.

This creek later drops over a lower falls. It eventually combines with the main branch of Wells Creek just above Mazama Falls.