Hike Into San Juan Islands Forest Primeval at Cascade Falls on Orcas Island
| Scenery: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| Difficulty: |  (1.5 / 5) |
As if homespun island culture, breaching orca whales, driftwood-studded beaches, and the view from towering Mt. Constitution aren’t enough to occupy your time when visiting Orcas Island in Northwest Washington’s San Juan archipelago, there is always the short hike through forest primeval to Cascade Falls. The 41-foot cataract in Moran State Park drops from a chasm in Cascade Creek and then fans out before finishing in a small gorge criss-crossed by huge fallen big-leaf maple and western red cedar trees. This misty, mossy fairy domain is a great place to visit with kids, who will love climbing around on fallen logs and playing in the spray of the falls.
THE HIKE
From the signed trailhead at the south side of the Cascade Falls parking lot off Mt. Constitution Road in Moran State Park, the well-marked trail to Cascade Falls descends alongside Cascade Creek’s ravine. After about a tenth of a mile, look for a short spur trail to the left (east) leading to an overlook of Rustic Falls, where Cascade Creek runs underneath a huge fallen old-growth western red cedar tree before dropping 8 feet over a wide rock ledge, usually divided up into two segments unless heavy flow makes it into one big cascade.
After taking in the impressive view of the modest waterfall, continue south down the main trail along a rough-hewn timber fence that saves hikers from potentially falling into Cascade Creek’s gorge. After another tenth of a mile, the trail offers views down to the left (east) of the top of Cascade Falls. At the marked junction with an equestrian/hiker trail, stay straight (south) to continue onto the base of Cascade Falls. Take a left (east) at a small wooden footbridge over Cascade Creek and look left (north) to views of the base of Cascade Falls. Walk upstream (north) along the creek to investigate the lush gorge and grotto around the base of Cascade Falls, where dozens of fallen trees have intermingled with abundant native understory plants in a wild and woolly scene.
It’s hard to believe—surrounded by deep, dark, temperate rain forest—that you’re only a third of a mile from a road. After indulging in some spray around the base of the falls and having a little lunch or a snack, retrace your steps back over the wooden footbridge and then north up the trail. When you return to the previous trail junction, you can go left on the equestrian/hiker trail to loop back to the trailhead for some fresh woodland views, or choose the hiker-only trail the way you came to get back—either way is about the same short distance back under the evergreen canopy.
GETTING THERE
From the ferry dock in East Sound on Orcas Island, follow the main road around the island for 14 miles (it becomes Main Street then Crescent Beach Drive then Olga Road along the way) and turn left (east) onto Mt. Constitution Road, which heads uphill into Moran State Park for a quarter mile to the marked Cascade Falls parking lot and trailhead (GPS: N48 38.905’ / W122 49.961′) on the right (south). (See www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries for information on ferry service between Orcas and Anacortes on the mainland.)
From the ferry dock in East Sound on Orcas Island, follow the main road around the island for 14 miles (it becomes Main Street then Crescent Beach Drive then Olga Road along the way) and turn left (east) onto Mt. Constitution Road, which heads uphill into Moran State Park for a quarter mile to the marked Cascade Falls parking lot and trailhead (GPS: N48 38.905’ / W122 49.961′) on the right (south). (See www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries for information on ferry service between Orcas and Anacortes on the mainland.)
For more info, contact: Moran State Park, Orcas Island, WA; (360) 376-2326.