10 Best Waterfall Hiking Locations in Washington (2026 Updated)
These 10 Washington waterfalls are reached on foot and rated highly by the people who hiked them, led by Narada Falls, Cascade Falls, and Franklin Falls. The list spans the Mount Rainier and the South Cascades, Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound, and North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor.
How We Picked
We started with the 21 publicly accessible Washington waterfalls whose reviews or listing mention hiking, trails or walks, then ranked them by a weighted Google rating. Difficulty notes quote what reviewers say; always check current trail conditions with the land manager. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Narada Falls
Eatonville, WA · Lewis County · Mount Rainier and the South Cascades
Why hike it
On the trail: "Cascading falls featuring 2 separate tiers, with trails & a pool at the base of the lower half." It is rated 4.9 stars by 260 Google reviewers. 10 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Washington Cascades and Tato Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Lane Peak, a summit 1.2 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 94 named falls in the Mount Rainier and the South Cascades region. The nearest town is Eatonville, about 25 miles to the west.
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2. Cascade Falls
Friday Harbor, WA · San Juan County · Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound
Why hike it
On the trail: "Picturesque 40-ft. waterfall accessed by a short hiking trail through national park forest." Reviewers describe the hike with words like "easy hike", so it suits most hikers. It is rated 4.9 stars by 37 Google reviewers. 3 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Rustic Falls and Cavern Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Little Summit, a summit 0.8 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 17 named falls in the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound region. The nearest town is Friday Harbor, about 11 miles to the southwest.
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3. Franklin Falls
Tanner, WA · King County · North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor
Why hike it
On the trail: "3-tiered waterfall on the Snoqualmie River’s south fork, a popular hiking & picnicking destination." It is rated 4.8 stars by 660 Google reviewers. 2 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Keekwulee Falls and Snowshoe Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Denny Mountain, a summit 1.1 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 69 named falls in the North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor region. The nearest town is Tanner, about 15 miles to the west.
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4. Rustic Falls
Friday Harbor, WA · San Juan County · Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound
Why hike it
On the trail: "A network of trails crisscrosses the forest in which this waterfall drops 10m into a small pool." It is rated 5.0 stars by 6 Google reviewers. 3 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Cascade Falls and Cavern Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Little Summit, a summit 0.8 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 17 named falls in the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound region. The nearest town is Friday Harbor, about 12 miles to the southwest.
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5. Deception Falls
Gold Bar, WA · King County · North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor
Why hike it
Reviewers describe the hike with words like "easy hike", so it suits most hikers. It is rated 4.8 stars by 290 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Alpine Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Windy Mountain, a summit 1.7 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 69 named falls in the North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor region. The nearest town is Gold Bar, about 25 miles to the northwest.
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6. Marymere Falls
Port Angeles, WA · Clallam County · Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound
Why hike it
On the trail: "90-ft.-high waterfall accessed by a short, popular trail through old-growth evergreens & ferns." It is rated 4.8 stars by 267 Google reviewers. Pyramid Mountain, a summit 1.9 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 17 named falls in the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound region. The nearest town is Port Angeles, about 17 miles to the east.
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7. Bridal Veil Falls
Gold Bar, WA · Snohomish County · North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor
Why hike it
On the trail: "1,328-ft. perennial waterfall flowing from Lake Serene, with a hiking trail wreathed in mist." It is rated 4.8 stars by 174 Google reviewers. 3 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Sunset Falls and Canyon Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Mount Index, a summit 1.2 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 69 named falls in the North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor region. The nearest town is Gold Bar, about 7.6 miles to the northwest.
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8. Twin Falls
Tanner, WA · King County · North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor
Why hike it
On the trail: "Natural waterfall with a forest trail, wood bridge & major, hidden underground power station." It is rated 4.8 stars by 148 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Teneriffe Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Mount Washington, a summit 1.3 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 69 named falls in the North Cascades and the Snoqualmie Corridor region. The nearest town is Tanner, about 3.1 miles to the northwest.
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9. Dry Falls
Soap Lake, WA · Grant County · Columbia Plateau and Northeast Washington
Why hike it
"Scenic, expansive landscape of scalloped cliffs & groundwater-fed lakes, plus a visitor center." It is rated 4.8 stars by 111 Google reviewers. It is one of 32 named falls in the Columbia Plateau and Northeast Washington region. The nearest town is Soap Lake, about 16 miles to the southwest.
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10. Sol Duc Falls
Port Angeles, WA · Clallam County · Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound
Why hike it
On the trail: "Nature site with a scenic waterfall accessible by a short hike & a wooden bridge." It is rated 4.8 stars by 101 Google reviewers. It is one of 17 named falls in the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound region. The nearest town is Port Angeles, about 21 miles to the northeast.
When to Visit Washington's Waterfalls
West of the Cascades, rain sustains falls for much of the year, but the most powerful flows come with spring snowmelt from about April through June and again with autumn and winter rains. Higher falls such as those around Paradise on Mount Rainier are often snowbound until early summer, so July and August are the main season there. In eastern Washington, Palouse Falls and Spokane Falls peak with spring runoff, usually from March to May, and both drop considerably by late summer. Winter brings heavy rain at low elevations and deep snow in the mountains, closing some park roads and making approaches like the Franklin Falls trail prone to avalanches. Summer weekends bring the heaviest crowds.
Before You Go
Washington's falls are split among national parks, national forests and state lands. State parks and Department of Natural Resources lands generally require a Discover Pass, while many national forest trailheads require a Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass, and the national parks charge entrance fees. Popular trailheads along I-90 and US 2 fill early on weekends, and Snoqualmie Falls draws crowds year-round. Hazards vary by region: in the Cascades and Olympics, cold, swift glacial and snowmelt rivers, moss-slick logs and rocks, and winter avalanche paths; at Palouse Falls, unfenced basalt cliffs where people have fallen to their deaths. Wildfire smoke and closures can affect eastern Cascade trails in late summer.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out. Hiking with children? Read waterfall hikes with kids.
Explore More Washington Waterfalls
See all 212 waterfalls in the Washington waterfall guide, or browse by town: Eatonville, Friday Harbor, Tanner, Gold Bar, Port Angeles, Soap Lake.
More Washington Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hiking waterfall in Washington?
Narada Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 260 Google reviews. It is near Eatonville in Lewis County.
How was this list made?
We started with the 21 publicly accessible Washington waterfalls whose reviews or listing mention hiking, trails or walks, then ranked them by a weighted Google rating. Difficulty notes quote what reviewers say; always check current trail conditions with the land manager.
How many waterfalls are in Washington?
Our directory lists 212 named waterfalls in Washington. See them all, sorted by town, in the Washington waterfall guide.
What is the most visited waterfall in Washington?
Snoqualmie Falls in King County is by far the most reviewed in our directory, thanks to its observation deck, park and location close to Seattle. Franklin Falls and Palouse Falls are the next most reviewed.