Pearl Falls

Mount Rainier National Park , Pierce County, WA , USA

No Known Alternate Names

The falls from Highway 706

Pearl Falls is one of the lesser known waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park. I'd been curious for years, inordinately so. For some inexplicable reason, likely due to the paucity of photos of this waterfall, it captivated me. When I finally made a trip out west, my waterfall accomplice Bryan Swan told me the falls were distantly visible from about 2.5 miles. I have more than enough telephoto to nab a telling, albeit grainy shot of the falls. The columnar formations surrounding the falls are massive, the water shoots out of a narrow slot at the crest and makes an arcing leap of perhaps 400' into a distant amphitheater. The falls aren't unlike Yosemite's Bridalveil Fall. Visitation on foot is likely a difficult, if not risky, proposition. It's a shame that the view is so distant, as this is really a very good waterfall, perhaps on par with nearby Comet Falls.

Unless you are experienced in off trail travel, you'll have to shoot this from the side of Route 706. You'll need a lot of telephoto. Due to the distance of the shot, an overcast day will likely hide the falls. A clear day will suffice provided you shoot early or late in the day. If you shoot in the afternoon on a hot day, you'll see a much better spectacle as the glaciers will give up copious amounts of water. Bear in mind, at a distance of 2.5 miles, an art shot isn't likely, but a faraway shot of a very good waterfall is likely.

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