Washington's Most Spectacular Waterfalls

Washington's waterfalls range from the accessible and dramatic (Snoqualmie Falls) to the remote and extraordinary (the falls deep in the North Cascades wilderness).

Snoqualmie Falls (270 ft)
The most famous waterfall in Washington, located 30 miles east of Seattle near the town of Snoqualmie. The falls plunge 270 feet over a basalt cliff — twice the height of Niagara. The Salish Lodge & Spa at the top of the falls (featured in the TV show Twin Peaks) adds to the cultural cachet. The falls are visible from a free observation deck with minimal walking; a longer trail leads to the base of the falls. At peak flow (spring snowmelt), the mist can be felt 200 yards away.

Palouse Falls (198 ft)
Washington's official state waterfall, located in southeastern Washington's channeled scablands — the result of catastrophic Ice Age floods (the Missoula Floods) that carved the landscape. The falls drop 198 feet over a horseshoe-shaped basalt amphitheater into a deep plunge pool. The surrounding landscape of scabland geology is unlike anywhere else in Washington. Palouse Falls State Park is remote but increasingly visited.

Sol Duc Falls (Olympic National Park)
A series of three channels converging at a narrow basalt ledge and plunging into a pool surrounded by old-growth Sitka spruce and hemlock. The Sol Duc Falls trail (1.6 miles round-trip from the Sol Duc Hot Springs area) is one of the most popular short hikes in Olympic National Park. The combination of old-growth forest and dramatic falls in a small area is superb.

Franklin Falls (70 ft)
An extremely accessible waterfall near Snoqualmie Pass — a flat 1-mile walk from the parking area to the falls. Franklin Falls drops into a large pool surrounded by basalt walls and old-growth forest. On hot summer days, the mist from the falls cools a large area. The combination of easy access and impressive scale makes it one of the most visited waterfalls near Seattle.

Twin Falls (150 ft)
In the Olallie State Park area on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River — two large falls visible from a suspended footbridge over the gorge. The 2.6-mile trail from the trailhead is a classic Washington waterfall hike.