Keekwulee Falls
The hike out to Keekwulee Falls is about 3.4 miles round-trip. For this trail, you will park in the same parking lot that accesses Franklin Falls Trail. I have a separate post about Franklin Falls here. To get to Keekwulee Falls, you will hike up Denny Creek Trail. This trail passes through the old-growth forest full of coniferous trees, skunk cabbage, ferns, and wildflowers. On your way to Keekwulee Falls, you will cross Denny Creek a couple of times and see other waterfalls along the trail.
After about a mile into the trail, you will reach a crossing of Denny Creek that doesn’t have a bridge. To get to Keekwulee Falls, you have to cross the creek and the trail will continue near a wooden sign that is nailed to a tree. This is a popular spot for people to stop and slide down the natural waterslide rocks. If you go in the spring, you may not be able to cross here because the water level will be too high from snowmelt. Be sure to assess the current conditions you are faced with before deciding whether or not to cross. I did this trail in July, so the water levels were low enough for me to cross without having to worry about getting swept away. Once you cross this section of the creek, Keekwulee Falls is only 0.7 miles further up the trail. You will climb up the hill and be able to see Keekwulee Falls over the shrubbery.
The thing that I loved most about Keekwulee Falls is the fact that you can climb on top of it. I’ve never been to a waterfall that you can climb on top of and see all of its tiers up close. To get to the top of the falls, you have to continue on the trail until you are right above Keekwulee. There will be a path to your right in the bushes leading downhill to the falls. I arrived here just as a large group was leaving, so I had Keekwulee Falls to myself for about 30 minutes. The falls has a few drops, totaling 125 feet. The largest of the drops is 90 feet, so make sure you don’t get too close to the edge.
Note for the reader: I share these locations so that others can see beautiful places and enjoy nature as much as I do. Please be respectful of the outdoors and what condition it is in when you visit. Don’t go off trail, leave no trace, and pack out what you came in with.
