Hidden Falls

mostly dry drops on the shoulder of Cookout Mountain

Weidman Lake is perched high up on the shoulder of Cookout Mountain, a swampy, log-filled marsh of lake. The lake drains down an unnamed outlet through a little valley into a marshy Cascade Creek. Along this outlet there are two small drops, both over blocky granite rocks, that are mostly dry (or Hidden) for most of the year.

Directions

Head north on M-64 from Bergland for 2.8 miles, crossing over Cascade Creek before parking on a small drive on the right side of the road. There should be a sign here marking the start of the trail. Follow the bermed drive for a short distance, less than a quarter of a mile, before passing over a marshy creek. This is the outlet from Weidman Lake. Cross the swamp and follow the outlet upstream all the way to the lake to see both drops.

The North Country Trail crosses the outlet below Hidden Falls on its way up to Cookout Mountain. If you can find the trail this is a great sidetrek with a wide open south-facing bluff.

Photographs

Visits

Seen in April.

April 6, 2009 a bank of snow over the creek; the upper drop mostly dry
There was nothing to see but a bank of snow over the little creek. A few dark rocks poked out, and the sound of rushing water slid out from the breaks, but no waterfall was visible. An upper drop showed up, more rock exposed to show the shape of the falls, though this one appeared to be mostly dry; the creek either snuck around during low flow or just trickled over the pink rock in a thin sheet too small to form whitewater. The lake that feeds it turned out to be a dying swamp, beaver activity near the start of the outflow having raised the surface enough to drown out hundreds of trees.