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Otter and Big Creek Falls - Taylor River

Sep 10, 2011

by Mark — last modified Sep 15, 2011 12:51 AM
Type of Outing
Day hike
Read More in our Hiking Guide
Hike: Otter and Big Creek Falls - Taylor River
Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Agency: Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District
Trails: Taylor River (#1002)
Avg Rating: 4.06
Why You Should Go Now
Ripe berries
Be Aware Of
Blowdowns
Overgrown
Bugs
I read several printed guide reports about this hike. The directions to the trail were fairly vague. When we arrived at the trailhead there were signs posted to Quartz Creek(left) and Snoqualmie Lake (right). There was no signage for Otter and Big Creek Falls. The directions from the guide book I used said follow the road to the left. After hiking up the road for a mile or more, the road ended and we started following an old creek bed/ overgrown road. We encountered several other hikers at this point that were trying to hike Otter/ Big Creek Falls as well.
After hiking up this trail for several miles we figured out that we were not on the correct trail. I am still not sure whether we were on Rooster Mountain trail or Quartz Creek.
After descending and returning to our starting point, I noticed that someone had faintly carved "Otter Falls" onto the signage for Snoqualmie Lake. I will return at a later date to hike the correct trail, but be aware that in neither guide book I read was it mentioned to take the Snoqualmie Lake trail to access Otter/ Big Creek Falls.
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Otter and Big Creek Falls - Taylor River

Posted by asmohr at Sep 11, 2011 10:42 PM
To get to Otter and Big Creek Falls, you go on the Taylor River (Snoqualmie Lake) Trail and follow it for 3 miles. Don't take any of the road spurs to the left, just follow the river. At 3 miles you hit Marten Creek and its lower falls when you cross a nice wooden bridge. At 4 miles you will see a huge culvert and hear rushing water to your left (there may also be a cairn or a new sign). Just walk into the woods for about 150' and voila there is 1600' tall Otter Falls (you can only see the lower 600'. Go back on the trail and at 5 miles and you hit a massive concrete bridge with Big Creek Falls right next to it. Go past the bridge and you are 3.5 miles from Snoqualmie Lake.