Myrtle Falls might be one of my favorite waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park. I randomly choose a waterfall to post, and the name didn’t trigger anything right away. But when I saw the falls, I was instantly transported back to this location. I can imagine myself walking across the bridge above the falls and continuing for a short ways on a trail that still had snow left in July!
The other waterfalls in Mount Rainier Park are stunning also, especially Christine Falls and Narada Falls. There’s something about Myrtle Falls, though, this is just breathtaking. The view of the falls itself might not be considered amazing. There are pine trees blocking the bottom portion of the falls. It’s the fact that Mount Rainier is rising in the picture that makes Myrtle Falls amazing to me.
While the mountain is still a few thousand feet higher than the elevation of Myrtle Falls, you can get the sense of where Myrtle Falls comes from. The glaciers on Mount Rainier aren’t really that far away and all the ice above continues its journey as water flowing over a raging falls. My eyes are drawn to the powerful mountain above and a product of its existence below. There’s something poetic about that.
Directions:
- We entered the park on WA-706 heading east (at the Nisqually Entrance).
- Inside the park, WA-706 continues along as Paradise Valley Rd E. This road leads you along to Paradise and the Henry M Jackson Visitor Center. You may have to veer left at some point since in Paradise, the road is unidirectional.
- At the Visitors Center or Paradise Inn, follow the Skyline Trail to view Myrtle Falls.
Accessibility: 8/10 (easy/moderate)
Height: 72′
Length of Hike: 1 mile round-trip
Where in the World is Myrtle Falls?
Waterfall Record 
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