Cascade Falls
San Juan County, Washington
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- San Juan County, Washington
- Access status
- Short signed state park trail; Discover Pass required
- The walk
- WTA says this approach is about half a mile out and back
- Ground & access
- Short forest trail with roots and needles, then steps down to the lower viewpoint. Fencing near the falls; stay off the unofficial side paths, which have warning signs.
Cascade Falls is a 40-foot falls on Cascade Creek in Moran State Park on Orcas Island, the tallest waterfall in the San Juan Islands. From the small trailhead lot on Mount Constitution Road, take the hiker-only trail to the left (the right-hand trail is for bicycles). After 0.1 mile a sign shows Rustic Falls straight ahead, Cascade Falls to the right, and Cavern and Hidden Falls to the left. Go right and follow Cascade Creek to the top of the falls, then descend beside them to an upper viewpoint and a lower viewpoint. The lower viewpoint trail crosses the creek on a bridge; a trip report counts about 63 steps down and back up. Return the same way. Longer approaches start from the Cascade Lake day-use area.
Plan your visit
Cascade Falls trailhead parking on Mount Constitution Road in Moran State Park, down the hiker-only trail to the signed junction, then right along Cascade Creek to the falls viewpoints
WTA says starting from the parking lot off Mount Constitution Road is the shortest approach, about half a mile out and back. The signed junction is 0.1 mile from the trailhead. WTA also lists a 3.0-mile round trip from the Cascade Lake day-use area.
Short forest trail with roots and needles, then steps down to the lower viewpoint. Fencing near the falls; stay off the unofficial side paths, which have warning signs.
Where to start
Small Cascade Falls trailhead lot on the right side of Mount Constitution Road, a short way up from Olga Road; room for about 6 to 7 cars and no toilet. Larger parking at the Cascade Lake day-use area.
Timing & water
Park hours are 6:30 a.m. to dusk in summer and 8 a.m. to dusk in winter.
Before you go
A Discover Pass is required to park: $10 for one day or $45 for a year. Passes are sold at the park information center near the entrance.
Visitor informationVisit sources
- Washington Trails Association: Moran State Park, Cascade Falls
- Washington Trails Association: Moran State Park, Cascade Falls
- Washington Trails Association: Moran State Park, Cascade Falls
- WTA trip report: Moran State Park, Cascade Falls
- WTA trip report: Moran State Park, Cascade Falls
- Northwest Waterfall Survey: Cascade Falls
- Washington State Parks: Moran State Park
- Washington State Parks: Moran State Park
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Rustic FallsShort state park trail; the falls are visible from the trailSan Juan County, WA0.1 miNE
- Cavern FallsPartial guide: signed state park trail junction; the last section to this falls is not describedSan Juan County, WA0.2 miNE
- Hidden FallsPartial guide: signed state park trail junction; the last section to this falls is not describedSan Juan County, WA0.5 miE
- Chuckanut FallsGuide: short forest hike to a fenced viewpointWhatcom County, WA17 miE
- Whirlpool FallsLocation corrected; route and parking documentedWhatcom County, WA20 miE
- Silver Creek Falls128 ft (39 m) · Whatcom County, WA21 miE
Anderson Falls167 ft (51 m) · Whatcom County, WA27 miNE- Hard Scrabble Falls280 ft (85.3 m) · Whatcom County, WA29 miE
- Gilligan Cree Falls4 ft (1.3 m) · Skagit County, WA35 miE