Hike-in Required
No
ADA accessible
No
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

After dropping 25 feet, the narrow granite gorge of Eagle Falls on the South Fork of the Skykomish River offers one of Washington state's many scenic riverside oases, and a shady respite on hot summer days. Unfortuantely this area has suffered from abuse and vandalism and has also been the site of multiple deaths and rescues of swimmers due to the freezing cold glacial-fed waters and strong currents formed by the constricted gorge. Given the dangers here visitors should think twice before considering a swim in this river.

Leave No Trace

The Forest Service has considered closing access to this sensitive location due to excessive trampling of plants, large amounts of garbage, cans and glass bottles, and graffiti. Check this video for an example of the significant and totally inappropriate challenges facing Eagle Falls. The Forest Service simply does not have the staff or the funding to attend to these issues. If you want to continue enjoying this area, pack out all garbage, cans and bottles, and dispose of it properly. Using this area responsibly will increase the chance that people can continue to enjoy it in the future.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Beautiful stretch of river easily accessible.

Cons

Many people have died swimming here due to freezing glacial-fed water. Very cold water and always in shade.

Features

Sensitive Habitat

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Comments

BULLSHIT COMMENTS ABOVE! People drown everywhere at all bodies of water... Many humans now and before us have swam here... Like any body of water... you must be a good swimmer and know what your doing. Shame on you for trying to Guilt trip and put fear into people...
03/24/2021
RIP Devin Shelby and everyone else that dies at these glacially fed white water Rapids because of bad information they recieved calling this place a swimming hole. The water is freezing cold and you will find yourself locking up and struggling to swim in the freezing cold skykomish river even if it's a hot July day. Do not swim here unless you are okay with the fact you may die here.
THIS IS NOT A SWIMMING HOLE. Numerous people have DIED at this location this summer. Last week a woman was lifted out of the area paralyzed. This is NOT a swimming hole - it is a dangerous rapids, there is nowhere to park, and cars are going 60 MPH.

DO NOT GO HERE.
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