Waterfall hikes near Seattle are so ubiquitous that if you’re dwelling in Seattle or visiting for some time, you presumably can have a unique hike every single day. And most of them find yourself in a gorgeous waterfall.
For me, waterfalls make it worthwhile sweating up the a thousand feet elevation, mud and being continually soaked to the bone.
And while you are trying to find the waterfall, go searching: you’re passing through some of the most magnificent scenery in the world.
There are trails that pass through old-growth magnificent bushes. Others are surrounded by lush ferns, blooming rhododendrons or spikes of lupine.
Snow-capped peaks of Mount Rainer, the Cascade or the Olympic Mountains are the background to take your breath away. Here are just some waterfall hikes near Seattle you shouldn’t miss.
Best waterfalls near Seattle to visit with kids
Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle – Twin Falls, Snoqualmie Pass
There are some waterfall hikes near Seattle which might be just excellent for youths and Twin Falls is considered one of the best. Kids love crossing a footbridge on the method in which to see the 135-foot-high waterfall and the fairytale historical forests with old timber coated in moss.
The falls are a part of Olallie State Park and are lovely to visit any time of the yr – 60 inches of rain per 12 months in North Bend feed the falls with a continuing supply of water.
The hike is about three miles spherical journey and isn’t very troublesome, with an elevation gain of 500 toes solely. The trail follows the Snoqualmie River on the best way to the falls. It is surrounded by historical moss-covered trees and luxurious blooms in spring.
There are benches along the trail for younger youngsters to take a break. To reach the falls, visitors need to cross a scary-looking footbridge between the two falls, offering a spectacular view.
Recommended Reading
Wallace Falls, North Cascades
About an hour from Seattle is one other waterfall that can be reached by a very exciting hike. It has all of it: big pine trees, some interesting steps, switchbacks, jagged rocks, and three waterfalls plunging 265 feet into an enormous amphitheater.
From there, it tumbles two more instances, creating a dense mist that makes everything glowing. And soaked.
It is a four.5 miles round-trip hike, with about seven hundred feet elevation gain. It has some simple and a few more challenging statement points. The falls are located withinWallace Falls State Park.
This waterfall is amongst the most stunning falls in Washington state, and meaning crowds. If you wish to take pleasure in it in peace and solitude, are available in winter. The falls are magnificent any time of the year.
The trailhead is within the town of Gold Bar. There is a sign for Wallace Falls State Park. If you’re lucky and the climate permits, you will benefit from the view of Baring Mountain and Mount Index.
The trail runs by way of a hemlock forest filled with lush ferns. The portion that leads in course of decrease falls is the tricky one the children love and oldsters do not: it’s mostly switchbacks and steep stairs.
The park has a campground and rentable cabins if you wish to stay overnight.
Recommended Reading
Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle – Bridal Veil Falls
A bit greater than an hour’s drive will take you from Seattle to Bridal Veil Falls, one other extremely popular hikers’ destination, so be prepared to share this magnificence with lots of folks. The falls are part of the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest.
The hike is pretty simple, with the elevation gain of about 850 ft and just a few pretty steep switchbacks and some cedar stairs on the means in which to the bottom of the falls.
The first half of this very lovely hike is along an old logging road by way of a lush forest of conifers, alder and maple. You must cross a couple of small streams by hopping on rock steps.
It takes 4 miles to get to the base of the steep 100-foot almost vertical rock face from which water spills down in a large lacy spray, type of like a bridal veil.
If you don’t thoughts a bit of climbing, take the stairway to the underside of the fall for a really completely different perspective. The mist makes the trail and the steps slippery so keep an eye fixed on the children. Be prepared to get wet!
The falls are beautiful year-round and should you are available spring or summer when it gets most crowded, come early in the morning. You may also get a greater probability to find parking.
Recommended Reading
Myrtle Falls
A hike to Myrtle Falls is an easy one-mile trip with only a 100-foot elevation, but it’s absolutely magnificent and the kids’ delight.
In the heart of the Paradise Area of Mount Rainier Park, the trail runs through meadows coated in wildflowers and whistling marmots, all with a spectacular background view of the mountains and glaciers.
Summer is the most effective time to return to see chubby, playful marmots that make funny whistling sounds, in addition to a rainbow of colours created by blooming wildflowers on the finest way to the charming waterfall.
The fall is picture-perfect, fed by melting snow from Nisqually Glacier. The trail to the falls is the primary section of the famous Skyline Trail. It starts on the Paradise Inn, and from there it’s an easy stroll to the falls.
The trail runs over a footbridge and can take you proper above the misty cascade of Myrtle Falls. The bridge is the best spot to look down on the falls. You can also find a close by trail that will take you down for a unique perspective.
The closer you get to the falls, the extra moist you will get, so it would be good to have a poncho or another cowl.
Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle – Murhut Falls
Located in Olympic National Park, Murhut Falls takes about two and half hours to reach from Seattle, however it is well well value the drive. The trail to this attractive 130-foot tiered fall is a straightforward 1.6-mile round-trip, with only 300 toes elevation gain.
This hike is not well known so you could have a reasonably good likelihood of enjoying it in solitude. The trail, an old transformed and well-maintained logging road, is easy and beautiful, running via the magnificent forest and surrounded by lush ferns.
The best time to go is in the spring when pink Pacific rhododendrons are in full bloom and producing fairly a present. They are so stunning that your hike would possibly take longer than you planned when you are taking hundreds of pictures.
There is half of the trail, simply earlier than you reach the autumn, that is pretty steep and slender and it has a drop-off on one facet, so make certain the kids are underneath control.
Recommended Reading
Marymere Falls, Olympic Peninsula
Marymere Falls are magnificent cascading falls within the Olympic National Park near Lake Crescent. It drops 90 toes from a niche in a sheer, virtually vertical cliff.
The Marymere Falls Nature Trail is about two miles lengthy spherical trip, with solely 400 feet elevation gain. It is simple and popular with families. The kids love all those steps and rough bridges made from old worn logs.
The trailhead is at the Storm King Ranger Station parking lot. The first portion is paved and it passes beneath U.S. one hundred and one earlier than it branches off along a small stream surrounded by historical mossy big timber. The final a part of the trail is a 200-foot climb to the fern-filled narrow ravine.
From there you can see Falls Creek spilling of the cliff right into a deep pool simply off the trail. The stairs on the best facet of the falls will take you to the upper part of the autumn for a spectacular view.
Waterfall hikes near Seattle to take pleasure in any time of the year
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is probably one of the best-known waterfalls within the state due to the tv present Twin Peaks. But even before the show, hikers enjoyed the spectacular 270-foot waterfall that is actually easy to reach by a short half-hour drive from Seattle.
The waterfall, situated in the North Bend area, is beautiful in any season, however to have any likelihood of a bit of solitude, come in winter. Peace, quiet and delicate mist give the falls a fairytale ambiance.
There is multiple way to reach this spectacular waterfall. Some trails are seriously difficult whereas others are well-managed and have informative viewpoints alongside the road.
The most popular hike is 2.3 kilometers at all times busy round-trip trail used for hiking from May to October but may be loved on skis when it gets covered in snow. Dogs are allowed on leash.
If you want to spend a weekend, try theSalish Lodge. It offers an excellent view of the falls but also good food and luxury lodging.
Recommended Reading
Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle – Whatcom Falls
If you drive from Seattle for about an hour and a half in the path of the Canadian border, you’ll come to the charming town of Bellingham recognized for its school and an understated however nonetheless beautiful Whatcom Falls.
Whatcom Falls is a half of the 241-acre Whatcom Park in Bellingham. The falls are shaped by Whatcom Creek, which creates 4 sets of not very dramatic but picturesque waterfalls.
There are about three miles of well-managed walking trails on either side of the falls, surrounded by old mossy forest and a lush meadow at one level. There are even a few old stone bridges.
Spend some time exploring Bellingham. It’s a port from which ferries journey to Alaska. If you look east of the city, you will note Mount Baker, a massive snow-capped extinct volcano.
Comet Falls
About two and half hour drive from Seattle, in the Longmire/Paradise area of Mount Rainier Park, is considered one of the greatest waterfall hikes near Seattle – Comet Falls Trail.
This difficult three.8 miles roundtrip hike will take you to Comet Falls. The Comet Falls is how everyone imagines Washington State waterfalls – dramatic and awe-inspiring. But you must work for it.
The trail follows a churning, tumbling whitewater creek as it roars by way of a glacier-carved gorge earlier than it drops 300 toes in one single dramatic plunge.
In the next two miles, you will see many small and two bigger falls as you go upstream. The elevation acquire is 1250 ft. taking you to the best level of 4875 ft.
You can attain the trailhead from the parking lot at Mount Rainier Park’s west entrance. The trail starts broad and clean, at the elevation of 3650 feet, surrounded by some ancient and some much youthful timber.
As you attain a bridge over Van Trump Creek, you’ll be able to see Christine Falls downstream and whitewater roaring by way of a rocky riverbed downstream.
Most of the trail runs along Van Trump Creek. Even if you do not see it, you can definitely hear it.
Be ready to scale some rock faces. This isn’t a hike for the weekend worriers. But what enjoyable for experienced hikers on the lookout for some adrenaline rush!
Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle – Christine Falls
Christine Falls is somewhat gem you presumably can easily access from the street to the Paradise Area of the Mount Rainier Park. But first, you have to drive two and half hours from Seattle.
Christine Falls is shaped by Van Trump Creek because it plunges sixty nine feet to the pool below. The greatest view is from the Christine Falls Bridge, a beautiful stone bridge that spans the lower drop.
The higher 32 feet drop is harder to see, to the frustration of photographers who are trying to catch each drops in one picture. The trail to the upper trail is tough and harmful in winter.
You can attain the trailhead from the Nisqually entrance of Mt. Rainier Park. Drive about ten miles past the Comet Falls trailhead till you attain a small parking area. There is a set of stairs that results in the bridge overlooking the falls.
Recommended Reading
Victor Falls
If you don’t feel for hiking however want to go to one of many waterfalls near Seattle, go see Victor Falls. A quick 45-minute drive will take you to the small town of Bonney Lake. The waterfall is a few minute walk from the parking lot.
The falls are shaped by Fennel Creek plunging over an escarpment, dropping sixty eight feet in a wide curtain of water. Before and after the falls the creek flows placidly by way of a lush valley coated in low bushes and small trees.
It is not widespread to search out waterfalls at such low elevation and fairly flat floor, so take pleasure in it, it is quite fairly.
Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle – Granite Falls
Granite Falls is the one major waterfall on the South Fork Stillaguamish River because it runs by way of a narrow gorge. There is a bridge across the river that offers a incredible view of the gorge simply above the falls.
The falls are cascading about forty vertical ft in 300 feet of run, mostly in a 25-foot churn at the prime. But, when the water is high, things change dramatically and the falls become a roaring pressure of nature.
There is a 540-foot lengthy fish ladder alongside the falls that parallels the river. The ladder is the primary viewing platform for the autumn.
The falls are situated lower than forty five minutes from Seattle and about one mile from the city of Granite Falls.
To discover the trailhead, drive the Mountain Loop Highway out of city till you see an indication on your left saying “Granite Falls Fishway”. From there, there’s a path down to the falls.
Teneriffe Falls
For slightly longer waterfall hike near Seattle, take a 45-minute drive to the North Bend Area and see wonderful Teneriffe Falls.
The hike named the Mount Teneriffe trail is 5.four miles there and again. Its length discourages too many visitors and makes this hike a more secluded expertise. You could have the trail surrounded by lush secondary forests often to your self.
If you go in June, brilliant pink spikes of blooming lupine will greet you on either side of the trail. And on the end, the Teneriffe Falls will take your breath away.
Since the elevation acquire is 1,585 ft, this is thought-about a moderately troublesome hike. Add to that the 22 switchbacks you will have to take care of to achieve the lookout to see the higher and decrease falls.
Wear good boots, there are lots of unfastened rocks and as soon as the ground is frozen in winter and spring, it additionally will get slippery. You will rapidly perceive why was Teneriffe Falls known as Kamikaze Falls earlier than. Dogs are allowed on leash.
Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle – Coal Creek Falls
Of all the waterfall hikes near Seattle, Coal Creek Falls is probably the closest. Only a brief 16 miles drive will take you near Bellevue to the multi-tiered Coal Creek Falls as they cascade down the Cougar Mountain.
The trail is just five miles there and again and with an elevation of solely four hundred feet, it is considered easy. It could be very beautiful. You shall be hiking by way of a lush forest of alder, fir, and cottonwoods. In spring, wildflowers create a riot of colors.
The trail begins inside the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park. It ends on the 28-foot waterfall that is most dramatic on the finish of winter when the snowmelt and rain run down the mountain.
Recommended Reading
Cherry Creek Falls
One of the waterfall hikes near Seattle, Cherry Creek Falls may be very well-liked, especially in summer season. About 30 miles from town, near Duvall in Central Cascades at Stevens Pass, this straightforward five-mile hike has an elevation acquire of only 450 feet.
The trail follows Cherry Creek almost all the way to the waterfall. Take a photograph of the old bridge over the creek you’ll cross on the best way.
The 25-foot falls drop over a rocky, wide ledge into a big, deep pool. You can take a dip in the water below the autumn in the summertime, however don’t get too near the waterfall. This can also be a pleasant spot to have a lunch or snack while enjoying the view.
The first part of the trail runs via a personal property. Keep the canine on the leash, do not litter and keep the noise down so that the hikers don’t lose the privilege of using this trail.
Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle – Little Mashel Falls
The Little Mashel Waterfalls is made up of three waterfalls created by the Little Mashel River as it runs through a narrow gorge within the Pack Forest, not far above the confluence with the Mashel River (the massive one). It is situated near Eatonville, about an hour and a half drive from Seattle.
The tallest of the three falls drops more than ninety feet in a really dramatic style. Other falls, while smaller, aren’t small by any account, especially after heavy rains.
The two main trails are Pack Forest and Bud Blancher (which is extra popular.) Regardless of the trail you choose, it is four.5 miles round journey with an elevation of about 500 ft. The two trails meet at the junction between the Lower and Middle Falls.
Both trails are largely manufactured from crushed rock. The Pack Forest trail isn’t easy to remain on route, requires extra care and has no amenities. But, it provides views of Mount Rainier that are not obtainable when you take the Bud Blancher trail.
You may also have the flexibility to see the beautiful cascade as it drops from the highest of attractive Tom Tom Falls. You pay for it by having a bit extra elevation acquire and quite a bit more mud.
Both trailheads are accessible year-round.
Conclusion
If you haven’t any other reason to visit Seattle, waterfall hikes near Seattle are good enough purpose by themselves. That much magnificence packed in one space is really breathtaking.
There are many waterfalls near Seattle and almost all are accessible year-round. Many require a simple hike you are capable of do with the youngsters. Most are very popular. Seattle folks love their spectacular outside. If you want some solitude, go early or go within the winter.
If you might have another journeys you are planning or even want to know whats round close by for a short getaway be certain to check out our website TravelCroc.com.