Hiking Stafford falls via Deer Creek / Mount Rainier (Deer Creek Falls & Chinook Cascades) 

#waterfallhikes #Staffordfalls #deercreek
#mountrainiernationalpark
We hiked this trail coming from Seattle on Saturday, June 29th. If this is your first time here, the Owyhigh trailhead that you'll be looking for is located between the White River and Stevens Canyon Entrances to Mount Rainier National Park (MRNP) on SR 123. If you’re coming from Highway 410 and you see Stevens Canyon, you've gone too far. Note that there is also an Owyhigh trailhead entrance inside the White River entrance in MRNP.
The parking area on SR 123 can hold approximately 9-10 cars, so arrive early. There is no snow on the road or the trail to Stafford Falls, though there are a few blowdowns that are easy to navigate. The bugs aren’t too bad right now, so you can leave the bug spray at home.
One important note is that there is no signage for Stafford Falls once you're on the Eastside trail. You'll need to use a GPS or refer to my RU-vid video for guidance. Remember, it's under two miles, and you’ll hear the falls in the distance. Look for a small unmarked spur trail where I drew two arrows in the dirt. Once on the spur, it’s about 30-50 feet to the falls.
As I mentioned, I created a RU-vid video with more details, so feel free to check it out. If you wish to continue on the trail, there is another waterfall within two more miles. Happy hiking!