The river flows over an old dam, an artifact of an old millpond, before narrowing and plunging about 25 feet over a cliff into a pool below.
Little Mashel Falls occurs where the river slides down roughly 125 feet (38 m) into a congregation of boulders.
In spring when the river is high, the falls are thunderous and generate a lot of spray.
[2] Lower Little Mashel Falls, at 46°51′00″N 122°16′24″W / 46.85000°N 122.27333°W / 46.85000; -122.27333, is the final waterfall within the gorge along the Little Mashel River, splitting into 3 segments and winding 40 feet over a cliff into a murky pool, presumably colored that way by tannic acid.
Caution should be used when using the trail to the falls’ base since it is overgrown, steep, and muddy.