Mackintosh Falls
Snohomish County, Washington
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 266 ft (81.1 m)
- Location
- Snohomish County, Washington
- Access status
- National forest wilderness trail to the base and top of the falls
- The walk
- About 3.8 miles to the base of the falls and 4 1/4 miles to the top, per the Northwest Waterfall Survey
- Ground & access
- Forest trail with small stream crossings, rockier and steeper on the switchbacks below the lake. User paths to viewpoints are rough.
Mackintosh Falls is a large, multi-step falls of about 266 feet on Elliott Creek at the outlet of Goat Lake in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness. From the Goat Lake trailhead, the trail soon splits at a signed junction into the Upper Elliott (old road) and Lower Elliott (creekside) trails, which rejoin about three miles later; the lower trail is shorter. Avoid the Chokwich Creek Trail on the left. After the trails rejoin, the trail gets rockier and switchbacks uphill; WTA says to watch for a large waterfall on the right. The trail approaches the base of the falls at about 3.8 miles and reaches the top at about 4 1/4 miles, just before the lake. Several user paths lead to viewpoints of different parts of the falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Goat Lake Trailhead at the end of FR 4080, Elliott Creek Trail (upper or lower branch) to the base and top of Mackintosh Falls below Goat Lake
The Northwest Waterfall Survey says the trail approaches the base of the falls at about 3.8 miles and reaches the top at 4 1/4 miles. WTA gives 10.4 miles round trip to Goat Lake.
Forest trail with small stream crossings, rockier and steeper on the switchbacks below the lake. User paths to viewpoints are rough.
Where to start
Large lot at the end of FR 4080, signed "Elliot and Goat Lakes," about 3.5 miles past the end of pavement on the Mountain Loop Highway (about 31 miles from Granite Falls). Toilet at the trailhead.
Timing & water
No season limits are stated. Stream crossings on both trail branches are harder early in the season.
Before you go
America the Beautiful Pass or Northwest Forest Pass. WTA says passes can be bought at the Verlot Ranger Station.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Weeping Wall FallsSnohomish County, WA3.2 miSE
- Bald Eagle FallsSnohomish County, WA3.3 miE
- Pride Basin Falls299 ft (91 m) · Snohomish County, WA3.3 miSE
- Pride Glacier Falls407 ft (124 m) · Snohomish County, WA3.3 miSE
- Lower North Fork Falls67 ft (20.4 m) · Snohomish County, WA5.1 miN
- North Fork Sauk FallsSource-reviewed trail and pullout parking58 ft (17.7 m) · Snohomish County, WA5.2 miN
- Buck Creek FallsSnohomish County, WA5.5 miW
- Blanca Lake FallsSnohomish County, WA6.3 miS
- Perry Creek FallsNational forest trail to a view over the top of the falls; forest pass requiredSnohomish County, WA6.4 miNW