Rickey Rapids Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Rickey Rapids is a waterfall in Stevens County, Washington, about 6.1 miles southwest of Kettle Falls. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Stevens County, WA

Nearest town

Kettle Falls (6.1 mi)

Coordinates

48.54351, -118.14277

USGS topo

Bangs Mountain quad

Getting there

Rickey Rapids sits about 6.1 miles southwest of Kettle Falls in Stevens County. Navigate to the coordinates 48.54351, -118.14277, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Rickey Rapids listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Washington's falls are split among national parks, national forests and state lands. State parks and Department of Natural Resources lands generally require a Discover Pass, while many national forest trailheads require a Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass, and the national parks charge entrance fees. Popular trailheads along I-90 and US 2 fill early on weekends, and Snoqualmie Falls draws crowds year-round. Hazards vary by region: in the Cascades and Olympics, cold, swift glacial and snowmelt rivers, moss-slick logs and rocks, and winter avalanche paths; at Palouse Falls, unfenced basalt cliffs where people have fallen to their deaths. Wildfire smoke and closures can affect eastern Cascade trails in late summer.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Rickey Rapids based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Washington. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 48.54351, -118.14277 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

West of the Cascades, rain sustains falls for much of the year, but the most powerful flows come with spring snowmelt from about April through June and again with autumn and winter rains. Higher falls such as those around Paradise on Mount Rainier are often snowbound until early summer, so July and August are the main season there. In eastern Washington, Palouse Falls and Spokane Falls peak with spring runoff, usually from March to May, and both drop considerably by late summer. Winter brings heavy rain at low elevations and deep snow in the mountains, closing some park roads and making approaches like the Franklin Falls trail prone to avalanches. Summer weekends bring the heaviest crowds.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

History of the area

According to the U.S. Geological Survey's naming record: Name changed from Grand Rapids to Rickey Rapids in 1821.

Older maps and records also list it as Grand Rapids.

Rickey Rapids was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on March 1, 1993, and it appears on the USGS Bangs Mountain 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Rickey Creek (stream, 0.4 mi), Rickey Canyon (valley, 0.4 mi), Cougar Canyon (valley, 1.2 mi), and Roper Creek (stream, 1.3 mi).

Columbia Plateau and Northeast Washington. Eastern Washington's falls are shaped by basalt and by the Ice Age floods that swept across the region. Palouse Falls, described as dropping 200 feet into a winding canyon, is the centerpiece of a state park in Franklin County and is one of the most dramatic sights in the interior Northwest. In Spokane, Spokane Falls roars through the city center beside Riverfront Park, especially during spring runoff. Lincoln County's Hawk Creek Falls lies near Lake Roosevelt, and Stevens, Pend Oreille and Ferry counties hold falls on forested rivers near Kettle Falls and the Canadian border. Grant County's coulees preserve dry falls left by the floods.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Rickey Rapids about 6.1 miles southwest of Kettle Falls is a documented waterfall in the federal gazetteer. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Rickey Rapids listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.