Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve
Archer Mountain–Nellie Corser Cascade, 6 falls
14.7 mi · ▲ 3,220 ft · 6 hr 31 min
Archer Mountain–Nellie Corser Cascade, 6 falls is a 14.7-mile out-and-back in Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve near Saint Cloud, WA. The route passes Duncan Creek Falls, Nellie Corser Cascade, Railcar Falls and Archer Mountain before reaching Arrow Point at the turnaround, 7.4 miles in. It climbs 3,220 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Archer Mountain–Nellie Corser Cascade, 6 falls
14.7 mi · ▲ 3,220 ft · 6 hr 31 min
Elevation 970–2,303 ft
Out & Back · Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve
Trailhead: Duncan Creek Road · 45.63634, -122.08584
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 200 ftPass Duncan Creek Falls.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Nellie Corser Cascade.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Cedar Swamp Road, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Railcar Falls.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading W.
- 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 1.6 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miPass Archer Mountain.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Archer Mountain Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftPass Arrow Point.
- 150 ftReach Archer Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 1 miBear right, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
- 1.6 miBear right onto Cedar Swamp Road, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.3 mi in (~121 min). Leave by 5:22 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Duncan Creek Road Trailhead
- Mars Landing Road via Cedar Swamp Road 3.9 mi · ▲ 588 ft
- Nellie Corser Cascade–Railcar Falls, 4 falls 4.1 mi · ▲ 1,324 ft
- Indian Mary Falls–Nellie Corser Cascade, 5 falls 11.9 mi · ▲ 2,481 ft
- Archer Falls–Nellie Corser Cascade, 5 falls 12.3 mi · ▲ 2,604 ft
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