Heads up, there is work being done on the dam, so the road across is closed 8 AM-3PM with intermittant openings. Today openings were 10-1030, 1245-115,2-230. The trip report is for Sourdough Creek. This is a nice walk in the woods, 3.5 miles with 500' elevation gain. The path is wide and smooth, easy on the feet and gentle on the knees. Only the last little bit involves a bit of hiking on a few rock stairs to get to the waterfall viewing spot. Right now there is not much to see as the snow is pretty much melted. The trail has a little loop in the middle, I took the right hand path up thru the woods and came down on the path along the creek. The loop starts/ends at the shelter called Sourdough Creek shelter. Access the trail from the Environmental Learning Center. Follow the path leading to the office, then take the walkway between the office and classrooms. Cross the road and there will be a large shelter there (Lily). Take the path past it, follow the trail straight, past the Deer Creek trail bridge. Keep going and you intercept the Diablo Lake trail, go left. All intersections are well signed. After the rainstorm, this forest was just wonderfull, glistening salal and ferns, dripping moss, a few mushrooms popping up and vine maple understory everywhere. In a few weeks when the maple starts to turn, this walk should be a blaze of color! 

Beautiful scenery. Nice short hike for those of any age. Would definitely do it again.

The guide needs an important correction. "Once you’ve reached the top, make sure you look up and to your right (not left) to see the Falls". And note the falls are not on the main creek but come in from an unnamed tributary. When you see the big rock, you are there. No need to continue further. Another suggestion is to start from the far end of the Learning Center, not the Diablo Lake trail, taking advantage of the very nice restrooms in the Dining Hall if it is open (and leaving a donation in the box). GPS says that trailhead is N48 43.102 W121 06.988. Nice hike with lots of shade for a hot July day.

Absolutely delightful. What a wonderful wander. Trail is difficult to find in places.The trail passes around a lodge-type place on the lake, and the multitude of trails there make it confusing occasionally. Honestly I'm not sure if I stayed on the correct trail, but I ended up in a good place: delight. 

Fun 1 1/2 hour adventure.

The disappointment is that there really is no view of any waterfall.  If there was at one time, the trees completely obliterate it now and as a result, there is evidence that people are trying to scramble up the creek to find an elusive viewpoint - a very dangerous situation this time of year with warnings being given throughout the state to avoid fast-running streams. 

Since this trail was constructed as part of the mitigation for a significant relicensing of the dams, it would be great if North Cascades National Park would maintain the precious few short trails that exist for families in the park.