Which is Your Favorite Waterfall?
Moving water is mesmerizing. When tumbling water takes the shape of an elegant waterfall, it can draw us to it like a magnet. The best waterfalls all have this magnetic quality. The most popular of these waterfalls also have the feature of being relatively accessible. When confronted with the Best of the Northwest internet list of the top 100 waterfalls in Washington, I admittedly had not heard of most of them, let alone visited them. Their stated quality of height, volume, or clarity is moot if I can’t reasonably get to them and enjoy their spray and experience their thunder. Viewing photographs or even film will not get me involved with a waterfall. I need to stand in its presence and take in its beauty and power little by little, perhaps even getting wet in the process.
Waterfalls need not be large to be a top quality viewing delight. Occasionally their surroundings influence my rating system. During a recent driving vacation to see the fall color change in New England, we parked our van to begin a short hike along New Hampshire’s Pemigewasset River (Indian for fast flowing). Fall colors were everywhere including some freshly fallen leaves driven by the cascading current. When we came to a sharp bend in the river the day all came together. A small falls erupted through large boulders stirring bright leaves into a whirlpool finale before it continued on rumbling and tumbling through a series of lesser falls for its encore. The yellows reds chartreuse and greens of the surrounding forest highlighted by streams of bright sunlight gave us the sensation of being the center of a large kaleidoscope and defied us to try and preserve the moment. While others near us tried to capture the setting on film; we just reveled in the sound and color of the falls while trying to absorb our moment at the falls into memory.
To visit our favorite waterfall, we are required to travel over 2,000 miles. Our favorite is Niagara Falls. Linda and I have visited it now several times. We have experienced the falls in a variety of ways. We have walked underneath, taken Maid of the Mist under the falls to soak in spray and hear its roar. Recently we visited the American side of the falls to walk wooden stair catwalks with the spray drenching us and torrents of water at our feet as we stood on hurricane catwalk. It is a waterfall that begs you to learn its history and tries to blow you away with its shear force and power. Raincoats and sandals are provided on close encounter tours. A visit to the falls offers traditional tourist trappings on the Canadian side, which is dramatic contrast to the sedate walk and park setting on the American side. Sedate only applies however until you get close enough to touch and feel the thunder and spray of the falls. Niagara is magnificent and one of a kind.
Washington has many accessible, attractive waterfalls. Snoqualmie Falls is normally the first to occur to western Washington natives asked to name a favorite waterfall. Slightly north and west of North Bend, it is easily to reach, offers great parking plus a nearby gift shop and motel. Oregon’s Multnomah Falls is similarly impressive plus it too does not require much hiking. Multnomah at 652 feet is the fourth tallest in the United States. Each attracts thousands of visitors each year and sends them home with a smile. Lesser known but still very attractive are Rainbow Falls at the north end of Lake Chelan, Wallace Falls north of Sultan, or Palouse Falls south of Moses Lake. Once you are in their area, they are all easy hikes.
If you are still looking for your favorite waterfall, try reading through capsule descriptions on the internet after requesting Washington waterfalls and pick one that has ambience and accessibility to match your planned outing. A good falls should require a full day to admire, and therefore its visit should be accompanied with a picnic lunch. Once you have visited a few, let me know which one you have selected as your favorite waterfalls. I am looking for an excuse for another picnic.
