Thin streams of water flowing down the rocks

Leatherby Falls

curiously pitted wall with a waterfall flowing down its face

Leatherby Falls is a rather interesting drop far up in the highlands near Mount Arvon. The waterfall is a two-tiered drop over a sharp rise of basalt surrounded by cedars. The lower half is a blocky set of cascades that forces the river to the side before it tumbles down over the small chunks. The upper half, though, is an entirely different setup. Water pours down a few worn cuts over a deeply pitted wall, fanning over the smooth portions and catching on the curious pits.

Directions

Turn down Black Creek Road from Skanee Road for about 5 miles to Leatherby Road, which is the first dirt road past Erick’s Falls. Turn right on Leatherby, a narrow and windy two track, for about 2.7 miles, trying to stick to the main road. A few forks and plenty of tracks lead away from the main road - try to bear right at the forks and don’t take any sharp turns. At 2.7 miles follow the main road will curve sharply to the right, heading down the now-tall riverbank, for .5 miles to a small parking area.

A small network of paths leads down and around Leatherby Falls at the end of the dirt road, which gets very rutted and nasty beyond the parking area. Upper Leatherby Falls is a short walk upstream beyond here.

Photographs

Visits

Seen in April, June and August.

June 13, 2009
Cory seemed especially interested in this drop, with the weird pits in the face and the deep channels carved in. The pits almost form a small climbing wall. We skipped the tempting wall between pools of water and headed upstream.
April 15, 2009 running full
Leatherby Falls was running full this morning under the pines and cedars with low banks of snow sitting on either side. I wanted to head upstream first and search for an upper drop; if there was an upper falls, than I knew this drop was 'the' Leatherby Falls.
August 10, 2008
A network of footpaths and four-wheeler tracks branched out and led down the riverbank, passing camping spots and huge trees, before ending at the river. The main drop was a bit upstream, a sharp wall of pitted rock, but the lower blocky drops lay right before us. It was fun to play around for awhile here, walking across the river's rocks and climbing up to the upper drop.