Seattle, Washington
Best Waterfalls
Near Seattle
Six waterfalls within an hour of the city — from no-hike viewpoints to full-day trail adventures.
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Overview
The Puget Sound area gets significant rainfall, and the surrounding Cascades channel it into some excellent waterfalls within easy reach of Seattle. Both I-90 and Highway 2 provide convenient access as they climb the mountains, with several trailheads along the way.
Some falls require no hiking at all — Snoqualmie Falls has a platform next to the parking lot. Others reward a half-day hike with a truly dramatic payoff. Use the map and guide below to find the right waterfall for your trip.
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Best Waterfalls at a Glance
Most famous and easiest access
Snoqualmie Falls
Best waterfall hike
Twin Falls
Most dramatic
Bridal Veil Falls
Best for families
Franklin Falls
Most accessible
Weeks Falls
Snoqualmie — 30 min from Seattle
Snoqualmie Falls
Best For
Why It's Great
Snoqualmie Falls measures 268 feet and 100 feet wide, and even during the dry summer months it stays powerful. A large viewing platform sits next to the Salish Lodge hotel, just steps from the parking lot — no hike required. For a closer look from the bottom, you can either hike the ¾-mile trail down to the lower observation deck or park at the lower lot.
What to Know
- No pass required for the upper viewing platform.
- Lower viewing deck accessible via ¾-mile trail or lower parking lot.
- Falls remain strong year-round — one of the few near Seattle that does.
- Very popular on weekends. Arrive early for easier parking.
North Bend — 30 min from Seattle
Twin Falls
Best For
Why It's Great
Twin Falls is a 2.6-mile round trip hike through old-growth Douglas fir along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River. The main falls drop 135 feet and can be viewed from a platform above or scrambled down to from the riverbank. Crossing Twin Falls Bridge and continuing up the trail reveals additional smaller waterfalls. One of the most rewarding waterfall hikes close to Seattle.
What to Know
- State park — Discover Pass or paid day pass required for parking.
- Parking lot fills early on nice weekends. Arrive before 9am.
- Multiple viewing spots including a platform and riverbank access.
- Falls are strongest spring through early summer.
Gold Bar — 1 hr from Seattle
Bridal Veil Falls
Best For
Why It's Great
Bridal Veil Falls drops 1,291 feet over seven distinct tiers from Serene Lake. A four-mile round trip with just over 1,000 feet of elevation gain brings you to the base of the second tier, where water roars down more than 100 feet right in front of you. The trailhead is shared with the popular Serene Lake trail, so the parking lot fills quickly on nice weekends.
What to Know
- No Discover Pass required for parking.
- Shared trailhead with Serene Lake — popular and can fill quickly.
- 4 miles round trip with 1,000+ ft elevation gain.
- Best flow in spring — typically May and June.
Snoqualmie Pass — 45 min from Seattle
Franklin Falls
Best For
Why It's Great
Franklin Falls is a 70-foot waterfall located just below the elevated I-90 freeway, but once you're at the falls, the freeway fades away. At 2.5 miles round trip and 400 feet of elevation gain, it's one of the most accessible waterfall hikes near Seattle. Less than an hour from the city, it's consistently one of the more popular weekend hikes — the large parking lot often fills before lunch.
What to Know
- No Discover Pass required — free to park.
- Parking lot fills before lunch on nice summer weekends.
- Final approach to the falls involves a wet and slippery rock ledge.
- Suitable for families, but supervise young kids on the last stretch.
North Bend — 30 min from Seattle
Weeks Falls
Best For
Why It's Great
Weeks Falls is one of the most accessible waterfalls near Seattle. A flat, half-mile trail leads to the falls, and there is very limited parking just 100 yards away for those who want the shortest possible approach. A viewing platform sits on top of a hydroelectric facility that uses a tunnel to divert water upstream — the falls themselves are natural and predate the facility.
What to Know
- State park — Discover Pass or paid day pass required for parking.
- Very limited parking close to the falls.
- Half-mile flat trail option if the close lot is full.
- Viewing platform sits above a hydro facility — unusual and worth knowing.
Shoreline — 15 min from Seattle
Boeing Creek
Best For
Why It's Great
Boeing Creek has a couple of small waterfalls tucked within Shoreview and Boeing Creek Parks, just north of Seattle. The Boeing Creek Loop Trail follows the creek and passes these modest cascades, which run best in late winter and early spring when rainfall is highest. The trail is mostly flat and family-friendly, though it is washed out in a couple of places. The closest waterfall option to the city center.
What to Know
- Free — no pass required.
- Trail is washed out in a couple of places.
- Falls run best in late winter and spring.
- Parallel parking on NW 175th St near the Pond Trail Loop trailhead.
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Planning Tips
Spring (April–June) gives the best flow for most falls near Seattle. Snoqualmie Falls is the exception — it stays strong year-round.
Twin Falls and Weeks Falls both require a Discover Pass for parking. Franklin Falls, Snoqualmie Falls, and Boeing Creek are free to park.
Popular falls like Twin Falls and Franklin Falls have parking lots that fill before noon on nice summer weekends. Arrive early or plan a weekday visit.
Franklin Falls is the best family pick — short, easy, and dramatic. Just watch kids on the slippery rock ledge at the very end of the trail.
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