Washington Trails Association nine favorite hikes for cascading waterfalls
In Washington’s deep and gloomy woods (and also in its arid, rolling hills), you’ll find an abundance of falling water, from subtle cascading streams to thundering falls that shake the stones to their foundations. In fact, our mountains - the Cascades - are named for the multitudes of falling waters you’ll find here.
One of the joys of waterfall viewing in the Northwest is that you’ll always find at least one flowing any time of year. Some are perennial, falling year-round. Others are seasonal. Some stream from glaciers heating in the summer sun, some are fed by winter rains, and others course from melting snow packs in spring. Many can be reached by car, but the most rewarding are those requiring a hike—either a short wander through the woods, or a grueling multi-day backpacking pilgrimage. Click here for descriptions of our nine favorite waterfall hikes.
Boulder River
9 miles RT, Elevation gain: 600 feet
Hikeable most of the year
Green Trails 77 Oso, 109 Granite Falls
This lovely trail into the Boulder River Wilderness is a great hike for kids, and has several notable waterfalls to offer. Most prominent is Feature Show Falls, a wedding-cake of a falls across the river from the trail. It’s at its peak flow in winter and spring.
Foss Lakes
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
8 miles RT, Elev. gain: 2,300 feet
Hikeable July-Oct.
Green Trails 175 Skykomish,
176 Stevens Pass
This trail abounds with lacy tributary falls and a string of high lakes in this classic Alpine Lakes landscape. The capping attraction is Malachite Falls, 600-foot magnitude 74 falls at the outlet of Copper Lake.
Lava Canyon
Mount St. Helens
3.5 miles RT, Elevation gain: 1,100 feet
Hikeable late June-Sept.
Green Trails 364 Mount St. Helens
A geological wonder of a trail, with bizarre lava formations, deep gorges, an adventurous trail bridge and 7 waterfalls of varied height and magnitude.
Lewis River Trail
Gifford PinchotNational Forest
Mileage varies, total one way trip: 18.5 miles, Elevation gain: 900 feet
Hikeable March-Nov.
If you can arrange to have a car at both the Lewis River and Quartz Creek trailheads, you’ll be treated to rolling, 18.5-mile trek past some of the state’s loveliest waterfalls, including Curly Creek, the Lower, Middle and Upper Falls of the Lewis River, and plenty of other unnamed falls along the way. Or pick and chose your favorite stretches to day hike, as there are numerous trailheads along the Lewis River. Be sure to also take the 1.5-mile jaunt to 130-foot Big Creek Falls
Skyline Loop
Mount Rainier National Park
5.5 miles RT, Elev. gain: 1,700 feet
Hikeable late July-October
Green Trails 365 Lone Butte
The popular Skyline Loop above Paradise is usually noted for its wildflower displays, but there are some fine waterfalls to be seen here, including the small, but beautifully braided Myrtle Falls and 300-foot Sluiskin Falls.
Spray Park
Mount Rainier National Park
6 miles RT, Elevation gain: 2,200 feet
Hikeable mid-July-Oct.
If you want to see hundreds of fantastic waterfalls, hike the entire 95-mile loop around Mount Rainier. For those with less time or stamina, hike this popular route though meadows and subalpine forest to the base of Spray Falls, an elegant 350-foot fan-shaped falls.
Taylor River
Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
10 miles RT, Elev. gain: 500 feet
Hikeable April-Oct.
Green Trails 174 Mount Si, 175 Skykomish
On this road-to-trail you’ll find access to three unique waterfalls: Marten Creek, Otter Falls, and Big Creek Falls. The highlight is Otter Falls, a 600-foot slide of creek descending a huge granite slab into Lipsy Lake. A cairn at 4.5 miles marks a short spur trail to the lake and falls.
Van Trump Park
Mount Rainier National Park
6 miles RT, Elev. gain: 2,200 feet
Hikeable mid July-October
Green Trails 269 Mount Rainier West
The obvious highlight of this summer hike in Mount Rainier National Park is 320-foot Comet Falls. But as you ascend to Van Trump Park, you’ll see dozens of other falls, including many crashing directly from the Kautz and Van Trump Glaciers.
Wallace Falls
5.5 miles RT, Elevation gain: 1,200 feet
Hikeable most of the year
Green Trails 142 Index
This great foothills hike is fantastic for families—although it does gain 1,200 feet, so prepare the kids for some exercise. The three-tiered falls is one of the state’s premier lowland falls (ranking with Snoqualmie and Palouse Falls) and is accessible most of the year. Middle Falls is the most scenic.
For the extended version of this article, which appears in the April 2006 issue of Washington Trails magazine, please visit the Washington Trails Association website.
