Near Upper Sunbeam Falls is another waterfall, Picture Frame Falls. As I mentioned in that post, these are both waterfalls that are of surprise waterfalls than waterfalls I planned to visit. As you’re driving along one of the main roads in Mount Rainier National Park, Stevens Canyon Road, you can stumble upon Upper Sunbeam Falls.
After looking up some information about this waterfall, I found that it is taller than it appears at about 75′. It’s not difficult to view, but it can be difficult to grasp that there are multiple drops, some of which aren’t as easily seen from the road. Even looking at the photo now, there must be some twists and turns to the overall falls here.
With many of the waterfalls (all?) in Mount Rainier National Park, they are best visited in the summer. There are a few that you might be able to visit in other months, but many of the roads can be closed outside of certain months. Even in July, it wasn’t “warm”, though it was comfortable.
Directions:
- If you are in Paradise, you would turn down Stevens Canyon Road and the falls will be about 2 miles from that turn (the intersection of Paradise Valley Road or Paradise Road). I don’t remember which side of the road the falls or parking were on.
- If you are coming from the east of the park, you will turn WA-123 onto Stevens Canyon Road.
- I would recommend checking the Mount Rainier page to see if you can drive into the park. You may be able to access the falls from WA-123, but access to Paradise is often unavailable until the weather is appropriate.
Accessibility: 10/10 (Easy)
Height: 75′
Length of Hike: roadside
Where in the World is Upper Sunbeam Falls?
Waterfall Record 
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