Watching water cascade down slippery rocks never seems to get old, especially when the water levels are up after a rainy Seattle winter. But viewing over nine different waterfalls in just a few miles – all within 60 miles of Seattle – is reason enough to drop what you are doing and head straight to Wallace Falls.
Wallace Falls State Park, located in Gold Bar, Washington near Stevens Pass, may only be an hour’s drive from Seattle, but the park makes you feel as if you have been transported into the depths of a lush, green rain forest. The mossy landscape is second only to the types of bearded trees you would find in the Hoh Rain Forest in the Olympic Peninsula. Moderate, dog-friendly, hiking trails abound. And of course, there is water, water everywhere – the highlight being the spectacular Middle Falls, falling a whopping 265 feet, one of the highest drops in all of Washington.
Wallace Falls State Park covers over 4,700 acres and is home to a series of lakes – Wallace Lake, Jay Lake, and Shaw Lake – accessed by the more determined hikers.
On a clear day, you will have the opportunity to view the nearby Cascades - and, if you look really carefully, the craggly Olympics as well. And if it’s not a clear day? You will still have plenty of spectacular waterfalls to gaze at (and perhaps even a cougar or falcon sighting, if you are really lucky).
Camping is available and Discover Pass required. Learn more about the Wallace Falls State Park’s schedule, directions, and features on the WA State Parks website.
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