Comet Falls, Washington
Total Distance: 3.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1250 feet
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
The Hike: Now Washington has a myriad of majestic waterfalls but this one is a can't miss. Located in the heart of Rainer National Park on the Paradise side this waterfall drops 301 feet in a single plunge. Follow a small creek along the trail and take in the nature and small waterfalls along the trail. At a junction, you can stop and take in the falls from afar or cross the creek and continue the trek.
The Details: Starting at the small parking lot you begin your hike following a smooth trail while crossing a bridge shortly after. The hike follows Van Trump Creek and you’ll have the sound of the roaring creek accompany you. About 1 mile in you come across a series of switchbacks that has you scale a rockface. At about 1.5 miles in you arrive at a crossing where you can see another falls called Bloucher falls. Carefully cross the creek and continue another 200 feet and Comet Falls comes into sight. You can end your hike there or push on another 0.2 miles to get up close and personal with the falls. Just be careful of falling rocks. This is the end of the hike for Comet Falls but you can take the trail to the right which will lead you to Van Trump Park.
Notes: This hike can be very dangerous in the winter as the road to it can become very icy. The best times to visit this trail are July through October and no pets can be on the trail as it is inside a National Park.
Gear: For this hike, we recommend bringing along either the Winter or Summer Day Hike Essentials, depending on the season.
Hike highlight and photos by: Jared Leingang
*The information in this article is for planning purposes only. Actual trail conditions may vary depending on environmental factors. It is always advised to get the latest trail information from a park office or ranger before you begin your hike.