Upper Falls
Washington • 35 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainNo public access
Upper Falls isn't open to the public. There's no public trail or parking, so please don't trespass or park at neighboring properties. See public waterfalls nearby.
Upper Falls is on posted private property along Big Sheep Creek and is not open to the public. Do not visit without the landowner's explicit permission.
Photo Credits (5)
About Upper Falls
Height: 35 feet
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Upper Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
The falls are on private land with no public access, so no public dog rule applies.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Upper Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
The creek runs through a small, steep-walled gorge with cliffs above the falls and old mining structures nearby.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Columbia River, 8.3 miles away, not on Upper Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
65,800 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 88 years of record
98.51 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge COLUMBIA RIVER AT INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY (13 km away).
Today
Barely Flowing
65800 cfs
4/10Tomorrow
Barely Flowing
67552 cfs
4/10Fri
Low
72851 cfs
4/10Sat
Low
73914 cfs
4/10Sun
Low
73696 cfs
4/10Mon
Low
74132 cfs
4/10Tue
Low
73805 cfs
4/10Best window: Today — barely flowing flow, areas of fog (trip score 4/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early May to early August, peaking in June.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Northport hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Upper Falls Frozen?
Updated about 8 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately big river, rarely freezes solid
Upper Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 47°F to 42°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 66800 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Washington.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
1-meter lidar measures about 199 feet of descent through Upper Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. That is more than the listed 35 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 1,616 feet above sea level.
Most of the action is upstream: the ground drops about 160 feet in the 500 feet above the pin and flattens beneath the falls. Facing southeast, the falls catch soft morning light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 1,616 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 199 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Southeast
- Catches soft morning light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southeast).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Elevation
1,660 feet above sea level
Coordinates
48.954756° N, -117.798950° W
Where to Stay
The Josie Hotel, Autograph Collection
Sparkling NEW Rossland Midtown Studio Apartment
The Flying Steamshovel Inn
SureStay Hotel by Best Western Rossland Red Mountain
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Nearby Campground
North Gorge Campground
14.9 miles away · 11 sites
Overview North Gorge is a small, but popular, campground at the northeast edge of the park. A few sites are large enough for an RV, but most are built for tent camping. The campground is set in a grove of pines on the edge of the lake. A boat launch and dock are on the north or right side of the main loop. In the summer, North Gorge is busy on the weekends. Recreation The small boat launch provides access to the lake. Boating, fishing, swimming and water skiing are activities that can easily take
Book on Recreation.govAdditional Information
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