| Mazama Falls | |
| Location: | Whatcom County, Washington, United States |
| Coords: | 48.85°N -121.7414°W |
| Elevation: | 3875feet |
| Type: | Tiered |
| Height: | 490feet |
| Width: | 20feet |
| Height Longest: | 400feet |
| Number Drops: | 7 |
| Average Flow: | 250cuft/s |
| Watercourse: | Wells Creek |
Mazama Falls, also referred to more simply as Wells Creek Falls (though this is incorrect, as there is a Wells Creek Falls downstream), is a waterfall on Wells Creek in the U.S. state of Washington. At nearly 500feet high, it is said to be the largest waterfall in the Wells Creek watershed.
The falls drops 500feet in three main tiers. The uppermost tier is formed as Wells Creek squeezes between a "pinched" cliff and falls over 200feet in a horsetail form, reminiscent of Nevada Falls in Yosemite National Park. Directly after this drop is a 100feet plunge, which falls into a water-sculpted bowl. The third tier is a short distance downstream, plunging about 150feet in a segmented form.[1] The waterfall is also said to have four more smaller tiers, the largest of which is 50feet.[2]
The waterfall is easily seen from Wells Creek Road #33 in the Mount Baker Wilderness Area, approximately 7.5miles from Washington State Route 542. About 0.75miles below Mazama Falls is the 40feet rapids called Lower Mazama Falls.[3] About 1.5miles downstream of Mazama Falls is Wells Creek Falls, a 90feet plunge.