Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve
Nellie Corser Cascade–Railcar Falls, 4 falls
14.3 mi · ▲ 2,920 ft · 6 hr 14 min
Nellie Corser Cascade–Railcar Falls, 4 falls is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve near Saint Cloud, WA. The route passes Nellie Corser Cascade and Railcar Falls before reaching Scott Point at the turnaround, 7.1 miles in. It climbs 2,920 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade. It scores 85/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Nellie Corser Cascade–Railcar Falls, 4 falls
14.3 mi · ▲ 2,920 ft · 6 hr 14 min
Elevation 1,056–2,303 ft
Out & Back · Columbia Falls Natural Area Preserve
Trailhead: 45.63782, -122.08271
Weather Sep 4: Heavy drizzle, high 64°F / low 52° · precip 61% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 0.2 miPass 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 SE.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Archer Mountain Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Scott Point.
- 150 ftReach Nellie Corser Cascade, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 1.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.8 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
- 1.6 miBear right onto Cedar Swamp Road, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 1.3 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 (~118 min). Leave by 5:24 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 this trailhead
- Nellie Corser Cascade & Railcar Falls Loop via Cedar Swamp Road 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,185 ft
- Indian Mary Falls–Nellie Corser Cascade, 5 falls 11.9 mi · ▲ 2,481 ft
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