CHS 1 Hike - Little Mashel Falls

Field trip: Conditioning Hiking Series

CHS 1 Hike - Little Mashel Falls

Hike to three spectacular waterfalls along the Little Mashel River in the Nisqually Watershed! CHS 1 hike led at a pace of 1.5-2.0 mph.

  • Easy
  • Easy
  • Mileage: 5.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 500 ft
  • Pace: 1.5-2.0 mph

We will meet at 8:00 AM at the south end of the South Renton Park & Ride lot (S Grady Way and Shattuck Ave S).  We will then proceed in individual cars south on WA-Hwy 167, Hwy 512 and Hwy 161 to the Bud Blanchard trailhead (a Google map link is here). For everyone's safety, carpooling is limited to household members.  Estimated drive time from P&R to trailhead is 70 minutes.

Download or print a trail map from the Pack Forest website  here.

We'll start our hike at the Bud Blanchard (BB) trailhead, just south of  Eatonville, and follow the  BB trail S to SW until reaching the junction with the Little Mashel trail. As we make our way south, we'll reach three different viewpoints of the falls along the Little Mashel River taking time for photo ops.  This trail is in the Pack Forest, which is also the Center of Sustainable Forestry for the University of Washington.

All participants must have with them at all times, hand sanitizer and a face covering (bandana, neck gaiter, mask) which can cover mouth and nose when we pass close to others.  Be prepared to step off the trail or turn outwards when passing other hikers and to maintain social distancing. 

Route/Place

Little Mashel Falls


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Ten Essential Systems

  1. Navigation (map & compass)
  2. Sun protection (sunglasses & sunscreen)
  3. Insulation (extra clothing)
  4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
  5. First-aid supplies
  6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candle)
  7. Repair kit and tools
  8. Nutrition (extra food)
  9. Hydration (extra water)
  10. Emergency shelter (tent/plastic tube tent/garbage bag)
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