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Beaver Falls Karst Trailhead Site Trailhead
This 1.5 mile (round trip) trail provides access to everyone who wants an opportunity to see the karst world up close without entering a cave. At the trailhead you will find a gravel parking area, vault toilet, and garbage cans. Special Features: Beaver Falls is one of the Island's many recreational gems. Surrounded by ancient muskegs and cathedral forests, the falls are relatively small but spectacular to see. Water cascades some 40 feet down to disappear into an adjacent cave. The cave itself is inaccessible and prone to sudden flooding. Before reaching the falls, you walk through muskegs that have taken thousands of years to develop to their present state. Decaying plants build a layer of peat that holds water like a giant sponge and gradually break down the surface of the karst to form caves. Visitors can pause at several points on the tour to see unique plant species including bog laurel, Labrador tea, and diminutive, ultra slow-growing shore pines that might be less than two feet high, yet 150 or more years old. You can also see features such as sinkholes, deep vertical pits, disappearing streams, and collapsed channels from the trail.
At a Glance
| Open Season: | May |
|---|---|
| Usage: | Light |
| Closest Towns: | Naukati |
| Water: | No |
| Restroom: | Vault Toilet (1) |
| Operated By: | Forest Service |
General Information
Directions: The trailhead is located at milepost 100.5 on Forest Road 2000. Take State Highway 929 to State Highway 925 (Control Lake Junction) turn left or Northbound. Stay on State Highway 925 for approximately 15 miles where it turns into Forest Road 2000. Continue Northbound on Forest Road 2000 and watch for signs to the trailhead.Activities
Day Hiking
DeleteViewing Plants
Hike this 1.4 mile accessible loop trail through muskeg and old growth forest to see the karst world up close without entering a cave. Explore muskegs that have taken thousands of years to develop to their present state. Decaying plants build a layer of peat that holds water like a giant sponge and gradually break down the surface of the karst to form caves. Visitors can pause at several points on the tour to see unique plant species including bog laurel, Labrador tea, carnivorous sun dews, and diminutive, ultra slow-growing shore pines that might be less than two feet high, yet 150 or more years old.| Species | Muskeg plants including bog laurel, Labrador tea, sundew, and shore pine. Large Sitka spruce, hemlock, and cedar trees. |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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Interpretive Areas
The Accessible 1-mile boardwalk at Beaver Falls provides interpretation of the karst environment, providing information on the processes that form this porous landscape with its sinkholes and systems of caves.| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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