Upper Lava Canyon Falls is a 56-foot waterfall on Muddy River in Skamania County, Washington, in the Cascades region. It lies about 24.8 miles northeast of Amboy and roughly 45.8 miles northeast of Vancouver as the crow flies.
At 56 feet it is on the modest side for Washington, where the typical waterfall with a recorded height stands around 82 feet; it ranks 588th of 941. By form it is a plunge, where the water drops vertically and loses contact with the rock face.
The Cascades are a high volcanic range of snow-capped peaks, deep glacial valleys and dense conifer forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock and true firs, with abundant rain and snow on the western slopes. Basalt cliffs and lava flows give the region one of the highest concentrations of waterfalls in the country. Muddy River carries 8 recorded waterfalls; the biggest of them reaches 132 feet.
Skamania County holds 244 recorded waterfalls, and several are close by. Triple Falls, a 56-foot tiered cascade waterfall, is under a mile away. Twin Falls, a 34-foot tiered plunge waterfall, is under a mile away. Lava Canyon Falls, a 132-foot veiling plunge waterfall, is under a mile away.
Upper Lava Canyon Falls is located at 46.1668° N, 122.0846° W. The listing is based on the World Waterfall Database, one of the sources compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey in its inventory of waterfalls and rapids of the conterminous United States. The creek name is confirmed against the federal Geographic Names Information System. The position was verified on aerial imagery. Details on trails, parking and access have not been documented for this waterfall yet.