Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve
Nellie Corser Cascade–Railcar Falls, 3 falls
16.1 mi · ▲ 4,263 ft · 7 hr 30 min
Nellie Corser Cascade–Railcar Falls, 3 falls is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve near Saint Cloud, WA. The route passes Railcar Falls before reaching Nellie Corser Cascade at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 4,263 ft, with sections as steep as 42% grade. It scores 82/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Nellie Corser Cascade–Railcar Falls, 3 falls
16.1 mi · ▲ 4,263 ft · 7 hr 30 min
Elevation 843–2,303 ft
Out & Back · Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve
Trailhead: High valley Trailhead · 45.61320, -122.11739
Weather Sep 4: Heavy drizzle, high 65°F / low 53° · precip 60% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 1.7 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
- 1.6 miBear right onto Cedar Swamp Road, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.6 miPass Railcar Falls.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 1.1 miReach Nellie Corser Cascade, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.7 miBear left, heading W.
- 350 ftBear left, heading W.
- 1.6 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 350 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 1.7 miSharp right, heading N.
- 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 1.2 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 6:18 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:27 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from High valley Trailhead Trailhead
- Archer Mountain–Archer Mountain Viewpoint, 3 summits 3.2 mi · ▲ 1,509 ft
- Archer Mountain Viewpoint–Quiver Point, 4 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,429 ft
- Archer Falls–Archer Mountain Viewpoint, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,822 ft
- Archer Falls–Archer Mountain Viewpoint Loop, 3 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 2,138 ft
- Indian Mary Falls–Archer Mountain Viewpoint, 3 sights 5.7 mi · ▲ 2,111 ft
- Archer Mountain–Archer Mountain Viewpoint Loop, 4 viewpoints 6 mi · ▲ 2,391 ft
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