Youngs Creek Falls

RATING - 36.0

VR - 6.0 (Med) HR - 4.0 SR - 12/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Trail

DIFFICULTY - Easy

LOCATION - Monroe Area

TYPE - Cascades

HEIGHT - 80'

WIDTH - 5'

DIRECTIONS - Drive South out of Monroe along HWY 203. Just after the bridge over the Skykomish, turn left onto Ben Howard Road. In about 7 miles, turn right onto Cedar Ponds Road. Take the right hand fork after the road turns to gravel. In about 1.5 miles, you'll cross over Youngs Creek on a bridge. The falls are just downstream.

Youngs Creek Falls is a set of small drops that carve a really cool little gorge along the way. The best viewing area is from a piece of plywood nailed between two huge logs that sit over the creek. When it's wet (like it was on our visit), this "viewing platform" is very slippery. Trails lead along both sides of the bridge and eventually end at the bottom of the little gorge with a view upstream at some of the smaller drops downstream. As the creek exits the canyon, there appears to be a swimming hole of sorts. I've never actually seen anyone swimming there, but I have seen a rope and evidence of activity. The area is especially nice in autumn. Be sure to check out the creek upstream from the bridge after the leaves have fallen.