Reviewed another trip report for Skookum Flats, but that one started from north of the falls, while this report approaches the falls from the south (Buck Creek).
The trailhead parking lot at Buck Creek is covered in frozen snow but is blocked with a pile of snow that was plowed from the road. One car was parked at the entrance, while I parked down the road just a bit. The road does have some ice, but not too bad for driving or walking. There is an outhouse at the campground just another quarter mile down the forest road. It even had TP.
A small climb (maybe 10 feet) down a frozen snow field is required to get on the actual trail. There is frozen snow/ice along the trail for the first half mile. I did not use micro-spikes and really did not need them. Once past the frozen snow section, the trail only had a few short sections with snow. Most of the trail was clear and soft (not rocky like many trails in the Cascades).
There were a few downed trees along the route, but none of them were too hard to get around, over, or under. At about 2 miles into the hike there is a big water puddle covering the trail (see picture). I chose to route around the pond, following a route several other hikers have done before me.
When arriving at the "Falls" sign, my Gaia app showed 3.5 miles. it was about another 1/4 mile to the second, smaller falls. Yes, there actually are 2 falls. The first is the bigger with more water. The second may drop just as far but has less water.
At the Falls sign, I hiked up the steep hill to get to the base of the main falls. I stopped short because the mist was pretty strong, wet and cold. The trail was wet and a little slippery, requiring extra care on my part when coming back down.
My total hike was 8 miles with less than 1000 feet of elevation gain.
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