northwest geology field trips
- Field trip to the Wells Creek volcanics, North Fork Nooksack River (nwgeology.wordpress.com)
The Wells Creek Volcanic Member of the Nooksack Formation (Tabor and others, 2003; see refs below) is found in the vicinity of Nooksack Falls, east of Glacier, Washington. These Middle Jurassic island arc rocks form steep yellowish cliffs along the Mount Baker Highway (Route 542) just east of the Excelsior Pass trailhead, where they crowd the highway against the deep gorge of the North Fork Nooksack River…
Northwest Waterfall Survey
- Nooksack Falls (waterfallsnorthwest.com)
Nooksack Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the North Cascades, as well as an essential pit stop on the way to Heather Meadows at the end of Highway 542. The falls plunge 88 feet in two segments. There has been some confusion regarding the height of the falls. Most accounts place the height at 170 feet. We have no idea where this figure initially originated, but it seems to have been propagated by Greg Plumb’s “Waterfall Lover’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest”. Signs which have since been erected at the falls clarify the height to be 88 feet, and this measurement has been bore out to be accurate by both our subsequent field surveys and high resolution lidar data.
Washington Trails Association
- Nooksack Falls (wta.org)
This waterfall viewing area is a short drive down a forest road from the Mount Baker Highway. After parking, head down a short trail to a rocky outcropping above the falls. The edge is fenced off, so this is as close as you’ll be able to get. From here take in the view of the falls on the North Fork Nooksack River.
- Nooksack Falls (Wikipedia)
Nooksack Falls is a waterfall along the North Fork of the Nooksack River in Whatcom County, Washington. The water flows through a narrow valley and drops freely 88 feet into a deep rocky river canyon. The falls are viewable from the forested cover near the cliffs edge. The falls are a short 2/3 of a mile drive off the Mount Baker Highway, Washington (State Route 542). The falls were featured in the hunting scene of the movie The Deer Hunter.