7 Best Waterfall Hikes Near Seattle
These waterfall hikes near Seattle are within two hours of the city.
There’s no better way to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Washington State than to visit some of our breathtaking waterfall hikes near Seattle.
Seattle is a fun place to explore, with many shops, bars, and restaurants to enjoy. But if you aren’t exploring past the city life, then you are missing out.
Exploring these waterfalls are just one of the many ways to immerse yourself in Washington’s beauty. We believe that visiting at least one waterfall is a must for any day trip or Seattle itinerary.
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Tip: make sure to wear hiking boots and bring water with you. You can find our recommendations for hiking boots here.
Breathtaking waterfall hikes near Seattle, Washington
We have listed the 7 best waterfall hikes near Seattle, within 1.5 hours of the city. We recommend getting there early in the morning because a lot of these hikes are very popular and the parking lots will fill up.
Snoqualmie Falls
.7 miles to upper falls viewpoint
1.4 miles round trip, 250 feet elevation gain to lower falls viewpoint
Snoqualmie, Washington
Tip: There are free parking areas available so you don’t have to pay for parking at the main lot. It is listed as “Free Parking Lot, Fall City, WA 98024” on Google Maps.
This is one of our favorite kid friendly waterfalls in Washington and it’s also on our list of the best waterfalls in Washington with no hike needed!
Only an hour away from Seattle, you can walk to the upper falls view point which is right across the parking lot. Then if you want to, you can hike down to the lower falls view point for a closer look at this spectacular gift from Mother Nature.
Franklin Falls
2 Miles round trip, 400 feet elevation gain
Snoqualmie Pass, Washington
Located in Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, you will find this easy waterfall hike near Seattle. This is one of the most rewarding waterfall hikes in Washington and one of our favorites to visit.
You will need a Northwest Forest or America the Beautiful Pass to hike this trail. It is one of our favorite kid friendly hikes in Washington and is very popular to hike in winter.
Twin Falls
2.6 Miles round trip, 500 feet elevation gain
North Bend, Washington
Twin Falls is located in Olallie State Park in North Bend. It is a moderately challenging hike and it is very popular, so we recommend arriving early in the day.
You can visit the upper falls viewpoint or hike down to the lower falls viewpoint, which is our favorite place to view these magnificent waterfalls. A Discover Pass is needed for this hike.
Teneriffe Falls
5.6 Miles round trip, 1,585 ft. elevation gain
North Bend, Washington
This waterfall has great views and is one of the more difficult waterfall hikes near Seattle on this list. You will need a Discover Pass to hike here.
This trail is very rocky, so make sure to wear sturdy hiking boots!
Wallace Falls
5.6 Miles round trip, 1,300 feet elevation gain
Gold Bar, Washington
This waterfall near Seattle is about an hour away at Wallace Falls State Park in Gold Bar, Washington. You will need a Discover Pass at this location.
It’s about 2.5 miles to the upper falls, and you will pass three different waterfalls.
For those looking to shorten their hike, you’ll encounter the lower falls and middle falls before reaching the upper falls.
Pro tip: the middle falls are considered the highlight of the trip, so if you’re considering turning back afterward, you’ll have already seen the most spectacular waterfall on the trail!
This trail is open all year long and the waterfalls are the most powerful in winter and spring months.
Bridal Veil Falls
4 Miles round trip, 1000 feet elevation gain
Index, Washington
This hike is about an hour outside of Seattle and is pet-friendly. The hike starts out flat with a few river crossings.
You will reach a fork in the road, one way will lead to Lake Serene and the other way leads to Bridal Veil Falls.
Following the Lake Serene path, you will hike to the lower viewpoint of the falls which is about 1/2 mile hike. If you follow the Bridal Veil Falls path, be prepared to walk up about 100 steps, and there you will find an incredible view of the top of waterfalls.
Little Mashel Falls
5 Miles round trip, 500 ft. elevation gain
Eatonville, Washington
This hike is about 1.5 hours away from Seattle and requires a Discover Pass. You will find that there are three different waterfalls you will come across, the third one being over 90 feet. We love the middle falls because you can walk behind the waterfall!
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