Wheeler Creek Cascades

There are many waterfalls on Wheeler Creek below Horseshoe Lake in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area. 

I separate them and describe them as three waterfalls:

 

Wheeler Creek Cascades ...is the upper portion 400’ high – shown on this page

 

Wheeler Creek Falls ...is the middle portion 100’ high

and

Wheeler Creek Lower Cascades ...is the lower portion 250’ high

 

These are all wonderful waterfalls and each section of falls here are quite worthy of their own special recognition.

 

Wheeler Creek Cascades are 400’ high.  These photos below show it from top to bottom... it starts gradually...

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Upper Horseshoe Cr Fall top lo         

 

next is a “twin” tier… side-by-side… and July 4th… of 2009 an average snowfall year… snow 10 feet thick covers the falls.

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Upper Horseshoe Cr Fall 20'tier lo

 

soon the tiers get higher and steeper… while still flowing thru the same solid bedrock layer.

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Upper Horseshoe Cr Fall 2-20'tiers lo

 

higher and steeper… this tier is a waterfall about 40 feet high.

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Upper Horseshoe Creek Falls tier40' lo

Wheeler Creek Upper Falls

 

this section falls almost 100 feet…

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Upper Horseshoe Cr Fall 60'section lo

 

so is this one…

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Upper Horseshoe Cr Fall 80'section lo

 

nuthernbouta 100’

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Upper Horseshoe Cr Fall 70'section lo

 

the final 30’ is some-what less steep

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Upper Horseshoe Cr Fall bottom lo

 

beta facts:

name- Wheeler Creek Cascade

height- 400’ high multi-tiered cascade-waterfall

elevation- 11,700’

GPS coordinates- ±36°33.943’N 105°24.168’W

flow- always strong

season- July to Oct…  the early bird will fight snow drifts but will see the best water-show 

accommodations- Wheeler Peak Wilderness

ownership- Carson National Forest

access- 4½ miles on trail #56 to Wheeler Creek, then upstream several hundred yards more

nearest town- Red River is about 10 miles North of here

fun fact- those who never leave the trail, never see these falls

 

essay bro

This is a very high and beautiful waterfall.

How high… is hard to say.

It drops 400’ of elevation all in one single mass of bedrock... But because it is not sheer I call it a cascade.

 

Make yourself a copy of my map.  Wheeler Creek Falls and Wheeler Creek Lower Cascades are listed on a separate page of their own.  Please enjoy all of the many waterfalls of the upper Red River.  It’s some of New Mexico’s best…!!!

 

Right-click-save-as to make yourself a copy of our map below

 

To see a larger, updated and more detailed map of this entire Wheeler Peak Area, click here: http://www.dougscottart.com/hobbies/waterfalls/TaosMtnsSEquad.htm

and here: http://www.dougscottart.com/hobbies/waterfalls/TaosMtnsMap.htm

 

 

Enhanced USGS 7.5’ topo map

_______________ONE-MILE______________

 

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Send questions and comments to dscott@TheMarbleSculptor.com