Noochsakatsu Falls

RATING - 32.0


VR - 4.0 (Sm/M) HR - 4.0 SR - 16/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Difficult

LOCATION - Ptarmigan Ridge

TYPE - Segmented

HEIGHT - 72'

WIDTH - 150'

GPS - N48 50.570' W121 43.440'

ELEVATION - 4345'

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.

Noochsakatsu Falls is really two side-by-side waterfalls. The left segment is the larger volume of the two and drops a total of 72', beginning with some sliding cascades and ending with a nearly vertical 45' curtain finale. The right segment is a gorgeous 50' tall fan-shaped waterfall, followed by a 20' tall lower tier. Noochsakatsu is the Nooksack Indian name for Wells Creek.