10 Stunning Waterfalls Near Seattle
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Tons of people travel to Washington and the Pacific Northwest every year to hike beautiful trails, but many people are looking to explore the outdoors who aren’t avid hikers and want to make the most out of their time on vacation. Lucky for you, I’ve put together a list of ten waterfalls near Seattle that are just what you’re looking for!
And the best part? Each of these falls are accessible through easy to moderate hikes, making them perfect for a spontaneous day trip or a leisurely weekend escape. So lace up your hiking boots, grab your water bottle, and let’s dive into the scenic wonders waiting just a stone’s throw from Seattle! And if you're anything like me—always itching to explore hidden gems tucked away in nature—then you're in for a treat.
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Snoqualmie Falls
Trail Distance: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 331 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 34 minutes
Parking Pass: None required
This stunning 268-foot waterfall gets 1.5 million visitors a year and has been providing the surrounding area energy since 1898. You may also recognize this iconic waterfall from the hit show Twin Peaks! Driving from Seattle to Snoqualmie Falls only takes about 30-40 minutes making this waterfall very accessible. The trail itself is 1.4 miles roundtrip and relatively easy but you may feel a little winded during the incline between the viewpoints. There are three viewpoints with parking lots at the Lower and Upper Viewpoints making it easy to see the waterfall without having to do the hike if that’s not your thing. The Lower Viewpoint has a boardwalk that leads you toward the bottom of the waterfall and is a fantastic spot for a photo.
If you want to stay near Snoqualmie, the Salish Lodge is a wonderful option at the top of Snoqualmie Falls. Its convenient location gives you easy access to Seattle and the Northern Cascades, making it the perfect place to spend a few days!
If renting a car from Seattle isn’t an option for you, there’s a great small-group guided tour to Snoqualmie Falls and they also take you to Leavenworth.
Snoqualmie Falls in Washington
Coal Creek Falls
Trail Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Elevation Gain: 416 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 30 minutes
Parking Pass: None required
Coal Creek Falls trail is another relatively easy waterfall hike near Seattle and it’s one the whole family can enjoy. This trail is dog-friendly as long as they’re leashed, and great for people of all ages thanks to its low incline. The best time to visit this waterfall is during the spring or fall months. Sometimes the waterfall dries up in the summer depending on how much rain the area has received.
This trail is inside Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park which is a protected area covering over 3,000 acres. There are several trails intertwined in this area so it’s best to save the map to your phone before hitting the trail. This area also used to be a major coal mining region and was once used for logging so you’ll be able to see old mining caves and large stumps reminding you of its past.
Twin Falls
Twin Falls
Trail Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 616 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 45 minutes
Parking Pass: Discover Pass (Washington State Parks)
Twin Falls is about a 45-minute drive from downtown Seattle or an additional 15-20 minutes from Snoqualmie Falls if you want to see both waterfalls on the same day. Twin Falls Trail is a 2.6-mile, dog-friendly hike with over 600 feet of elevation gain. This trail is more strenuous than Snoqualmie Falls and there are a lot of steep switchbacks, but the view is worth it!
This trail takes about an hour and a half on average to complete. One thing to note is that this trail bumps into another trail so the endpoint is not as obvious as others. The turnaround point is at the waterfall unless you’re more advanced and want to continue on the John Wayne Trail.
As you approach the falls, you’ll find a series of stairs that lead to a viewpoint to your right. This will let you see the falls from a mid-level. After taking in these views, head back up the stairs and continue on the path to your right until you reach a wooden bridge. This bridge crosses over the falls giving you a tops-down view, and if you look back behind the falls, you’ll see another waterfall in the distance. I visited in February and the snow was melted but there was still ice in some spots on the trail near the waterfall so always keep an eye out if you’re hiking during the Winter months.
Cherry Creek Falls
Trail Distance: 5.0 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 450 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 50 minutes
Parking Pass: None required
If you’re looking for a place to cool off in the summer, this trail is for you! Cherry Creek Falls trail is a bit longer than the previous trails listed, but still great for kids and dogs alike. It features two 25-foot waterfalls that flow into a natural pool surrounded by rocks. The main waterfall on the right flows year-round, but the one on the left sometimes dries up by late summer. One thing to note is that the first half mile of the trail is on private property so make sure that you’re following leash laws, you don’t litter, and you keep noise to a minimum.
Franklin Falls
Trail Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 344 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 1 hour
Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or American the Beautiful Pass
Franklin Falls is popular year-round but is most accessible in spring through fall. It’s located near Snoqualmie Pass and turns into a snow park in the winter months. There are two bathrooms located near the two parking lots where you’ll find ample parking, unlike most trails in Washington. Franklin Falls is a 70-foot waterfall and such a fun trail for all ages. The trail itself is extremely well maintained and it’s one of my favorite easier hikes. Once you reach the falls, you’ll carefully climb down some rocks to get up close and personal with the waterfall.
If you plan to visit Franklin Falls during the winter months, this trail changes from easy to moderate. The road leading into Franklin Falls will be closed and you’ll have to walk yourself in to access the trail. This adds on quite a few more miles making the whole hike 6.5 miles roundtrip. The basin of the waterfall is a steep avalanche shoot so be sure to use extreme caution when visiting in winter and stay up to date on all avalanche conditions.
Wallace Falls
Trail Distance: 5.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Parking Pass: Discover Pass (Washington State Parks)
I had the pleasure of hiking the trail at Wallace Falls State Park on New Year’s Day this past year with Washington State Parks and it was so magical! This is one of the more popular waterfall hikes near Seattle, but well worth it. The trail to the Middle Falls Overlook is relatively easy and the steep portion is from the Middle Falls Overlook to the Upper Falls Overlook. The best views can be found at the Middle Falls, but if it’s a clear day, I recommend going all the way to the Upper Falls for scenic mountain views. But if you don’t make it to the top, that’s okay! Plenty of people choose to stop at the Middle Falls and I almost did as well. Wallace Falls is one of my favorite trails and state parks because it has it all. From old-growth forests and flowing streams to mountain views and the showstopping waterfall - you won’t regret coming here!
Bridal Veil Falls
Trail Distance: 4.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1,043 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or American the Beautiful Pass
Expect to get a little wet from the mist of this waterfall! Bridal Veil Falls is located in Index, Washington which is great for a day trip but also the perfect place to rent one of those iconic A-frames or cabins for a couple of days to escape city life. There are tons of trails in this area and it’s all around beautiful. Once you’ve reached the waterfall, the viewpoint at Bridal Veil Falls offers stunning views of Skykomish Valley and it’s a great place to have a picnic lunch on a giant boulder just off to the side of the waterfall. There’s a set of wooden stairs at the top of the trail allowing you to walk right next to the waterfall and gaze at it from every angle. The water is runoff from Lake Sereve and cascades down a 100-foot rock making the water span across instead of being one large stream.
Narada Falls
Trail Distance: 0.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Parking Pass: America the Beautiful National Parks Pass
Say hello to the largest waterfall accessible by car at Mount Rainier National Park! This 168 foot waterfall is one mile away from Paradise and can be visited year-round. I visited this impressive waterfall in February and it was truly magical. There was snow on the ground and we were able to clip on our snowshoes and walk down the very short downhill trail to get a closer look at the waterfall. Be sure to watch your footing in the winter as the trail can be slippery in some areas. This trail connects to the 97-mile Wonderland Trail, but it’s an easy pitstop for those of you visiting Mt Rainier National Park.
Myrtle Falls
Trail Distance: 0.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 160 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Parking Pass: America the Beautiful National Parks Pass
Myrtle Falls is another beautiful waterfall at Mount Rainier National Park and you can visit both on the same day. You can access Myrtle Falls by taking the Skyline Trail at Paradise Visitor Center inside the park. The Skyline Trail is paved part of the way and Myrtle Falls is in the first portion of the trail so you don’t need to complete the entire Skyline Trail to see the falls. On a clear day, you can see Mount Rainer directly behind the waterfall, but as I’ve learned, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to see this iconic mountain when visiting. The weather can be unpredictable on the mountain and clouds roll in quickly. Either way, Mount Rainier National Park should be on your list when visiting Seattle and it’s worth the trip no matter the weather!
Marymere Falls
Trail Distance: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
Drive-Time from Seattle: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Parking Pass: America the Beautiful National Parks Pass
Clocking in at right under 3 hours away from Seattle is Marymere Falls located in Olympic National Park. The Olympic Peninsula is one of my favorite areas in Washington and I absolutely loved this hike! It’s easy and rewarding at the same time. The trail begins just off of Lake Crescent, not far from Storm King Ranger Station. Make your way through old-growth forests lined with ferns and moss-covered trees until you reach the wooden platform overlooking Marymere Falls. This 90-foot waterfall will not disappoint and will make you appreciate nature even more.
Visiting Washington soon?
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I hope this has inspired you to explore outside of downtown Seattle next time you visit. Hiking and being in nature is such a treat and my appreciation grows with each trail I’m on. If you’d like to explore more trails near Seattle, be sure to check out the Washington Trail Association’s website.
Happy travels!
-Tess
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
