Chinook Pass, WA

Union Creek is one of the largest tributaries of the American River, and naturally, one would assume a stream as large as this would have eroded its course evenly. Contrary to this thought, within the last half mile of its length, Union Creek plunges 60 feet over a sheer precipice into a short gorge. Based on some older photographs, it appears that the falls can and do change in appearance due to debris conglomerating at the top of the falls constricting or diverting the creek. At one point several years ago, it appears the majority of the flow of the creek was directed to the far left side of the cliff, making the falls fan out to over twice its current width. Additionally, a large logjam at the bottom of the gorge has been back-filled with gravel, and over the last 20 years or so, created a second tier to the falls, which drops about 20 feet.