North Fork Sauk Falls - Cascade Mountain Loop Highway

The Mountain Loop Highway takes me 16 miles south of Darrington where I come to a fork in the road. As Yogi Berra supposedly advised: If you come to a fork in the road - take it. And that I did. Veering left, I followed the sign pointing toward North Fork Sauk.

After 1.1 miles, rounding a bend in the dirt/mud road, I came to a non-descript wide spot with a post and a place where a sign was once attached, painted in US Forest Service brown. Navigating by instinct, I believed that this was the place where I had intended to be. Backing into the assumed parking place, I hopped out from behind the wheel, listened to the violent roar of water somewhere downhill, grabbed my rucksack and found a small trail into the brush. Obviously, a little-known, out-of-the-way kind of site that appeals to me.

A few steps into the misty, dripping woods, I could see signs of an established trail. I was confident I had found the last point of interest for my day's exploration. North Fork Sauk Falls must be down the trail from here.

The trail's descent was rather steep. The path was overgrown, yet easy to follow. The descent to the falls was maybe only a third of a mile, but I had to watch my footing on rotted wooden steps that were slickened by the ever-wet forest slime.

Emerald pool at the base of North Fork Sauk Falls

 

The violent, continuous roar of the falls was deafening. A dense cloud of mist rose thick from the base of the falls, wafting into my nostrils and covering all the ferns and foliage surrounding my viewing platform carved from the cliffside. I was most impressed by the multi-sensory experience of this location's sound and fury and feel of the cold spray of dews and damps embracing my flesh.

The bedrock outcrops across from the falls were worn smooth, rounded and sensual, while rocks next to the torrent were angular. An interesting juxtaposition of textures than caught my entranced eye as I again marveled at the fierce nature of this powerful spectacle.

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I could go no further on the Mountain Loop Highway at this time of the season. I headed back to Darrington and linked back to State Highway 530 that would return me to Arlington, and then to my home gate.