Hike at Wallace Falls
Details
Distance
5.6 miles
Elevation Gain
1300 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by The Outbound Collective
Hiking to the Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls make it accessible for both beginners and experienced hikers.
The trailhead is located at the far end of the parking lot, next to the info kiosk and bathrooms. It starts out in a wide open area that shortly leads to stunning views of Mt. Index and Baring Mountain. The trail turns to the left and you're greeted by a beautiful Wordsworth quote carved into a trail sign that's sure to resonate with lovers of the outdoors.
The trail continues at a even grade along the Wallace River. When you come to a fork in the trail at the half mile mark, follow the Woody Trail to the right to continue hiking. The left fork offers and wider path and longer option - one that is also bike-accessible for those looking to get out mountain biking.
Continuing along the river, you'll soon come to the trail's first steeper climb as it leads up to the Lower Falls. These falls are located two miles from the trailhead and have a nice picnic area as well. Continue about another half a mile up the trail and you'll come to the awesome views of the Middle Falls. If the sun is out make sure to watch for rainbows forming in the heavy mist surrounding the falls.
The steepest part of the trail awaits between Middle and Upper Falls, but is well worth the view and the solitude of having left most of the other hikers behind at the lower falls. There's also a great little spot to drop down off the trail in this section - you'll see a path to the right on your way up that leads you to an overlook with an expansive view of the Skykomish River Valley and, far in the distance, the Olympic Mountains. The trail officially ends at the Upper Falls at just 2.8 miles from the parking lot, making for an easy hike during shorter daylight hours or when you're short on time!
Looking for more adventures nearby, check out hike to Wallace Lake.
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Reviews
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Great views!
This was a very good hike! Great views all around. The falls were beautiful. The emerald forest was my favorite part of the hike. There were some great groves of trees. The only downside was that you couldn’t get up close to the waterfalls. I did this hike on a weekday in late April. There was already a lot of people to share the trail with. But everyone was very friendly. The ranger station at the beginning of the trail was great. They had a lot of great info. I’ll be coming back and going in deeper next time for an overnighter at the nearby lakes.
4.0
Amazing Views with a Short Hike!
This is one of my favorite trails to do in the winter because it’s low elevation and doesn’t have the avalanche risk of some others. Just about anyone can do it! I clocked 4.78 miles round trip with just under 800 feet elevation gain. It’s worth checking out, even in the colder months!
5.0
Day Hike Adventure
Our group really enjoyed this hike. We went to Wallace falls for a short day trip while visiting Seattle and it did not disappoint! We went on a Sunday arriving mid day and although we saw people throughout the hike it never felt crowded as has been described on other occasions. The trail has beautiful scenery throughout and the falls were roaring! The trail will challenge some with the amount of incline, we found it to be really enjoyable.
4.0
Perfect Day Hike
I had a great time doing this hike. There are beautiful bridges & lovely flowing river & layers of waterfalls. It was crowded to it being a warm Saturday, so I'd recommend doing it on a different day!
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
Nearby Adventures
Hike to Wallace Lake via Greg Ball Trail
Scramble up Mt. Persis
Hike to Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls
Hike to Heybrook Ridge
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