Mount Shuksan Waterfalls Explained

There are four prominent waterfalls in the basin of a short tributary of Sulphide Creek, on the southeast flank of 9,127-foot (2,781m) Mount Shuksan in North Cascades National Park, Washington. Seahpo Peak Falls and Cloudcap Falls, the taller two of the three, are located on separate streams that converge and plunge over Rockflow Canyon Falls. The unnamed outlet stream from these waterfalls flows into Sulphide Creek, which flows into the Baker River. Another waterfall is Jagged Ridge Falls, on a tributary of the unnamed stream.

Seahpo Peak Falls

Seahpo Peak Falls
Location:North Cascades National Park, Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Type:Tiered
Height:2200feet
Width:5feet
Height Longest:500feet
Average Flow:35cuft/s
Watercourse:Unnamed
World Rank:36

Seahpo Peak Falls, at 48.8136°N -121.5506°W, is an intermittent waterfall on an unnamed glacial stream coming off Seahpo Peak. The largest (but not tallest) of the waterfalls on Mount Shuksan, it stands about 2,200 feet (670m) high and has 6 distinct tiers, the largest of which drops about 500 sheer feet (152m) .[1]

It is located near the five waterfalls of Sulphide Basin.[2]

Its name stems from a Chinook Jargon word meaning "cap".

Cloudcap Falls

Cloudcap Falls
Location:North Cascades National Park, Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Type:Cascade
Height:2400feet
Width:5feet
Average Flow:30cuft/s
Watercourse:Unnamed
World Rank:22

Cloudcap Falls, at 48.8144°N -121.5631°W, is a cascade that drops about 2,400 feet (731m) and runs 5000 feet (1524m) off Jagged Ridge near Mount Shuksan. Although it is slightly taller than Seahpo Peak Falls, it is more seasonal and has a smaller volume, and is essentially a long cascade that does not have any prominent vertical drops.[3]

Rockflow Canyon Falls

Rockflow Canyon Falls
Location:North Cascades National Park, Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Type:Segmented Horsetail
Height:200feet
Width:10feet
Average Flow:100cuft/s
Watercourse:Unnamed

Rockflow Canyon Falls, at 48.8028°N -121.5539°W, is a 200-foot (60m) horsetail located where the water from Seahpo Peak Falls and Cloudcap Falls converges. It is the final waterfall on the drainage before it empties into the Baker River. In some months it is seen in tandem with a seasonal waterfall of similar height.[4]

Jagged Ridge Falls

48.8033°N -121.565°W

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northwest Waterfall Survey.
  2. Web site: Waterfall Lovers Guide to the Pacific Northwest: The Computer Companion.
  3. Web site: Northwest Waterfall Survey.
  4. Web site: Northwest Waterfall Survey.