Starting Point: Guide Marker 32
Distances: 3 miles round trip
Topography: Descent of 700 feet
Time: 2½ hours
Features: Waterfalls, cascades, forest, flowers
[Illustration: Trail map]
About half a mile down, the trail splits. It is recommended that the
left trail be followed downhill, where it rejoins the other section. The
right fork follows the cascades, and is much easier to climb on the
return trip. The trail goes down through pine and fir forests, and over
a meadow where flowers bloom all summer. Here one can find the leopard
lily, grass-of-parnassus, and many others. Watch for glacial polishing
on the rocks along the way.
Morning is the best time to photograph the falls, as later in the day
(after 2:00 p.m.) they are in shadow. The height of the falls is about
30 feet.
Follow the beautiful cascades (left) on the return trip. Watch for
mountainash, as this is one of the few places one can see this small,
shrublike tree that produces clumps of brilliant red berries in late
August and September.
Below the falls the trail continues downhill to Drakesbad, another 2.5
miles.