Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest begins roughly one hour east of Seattle, and offers seemingly unlimited day hiking opportunities perfect for travelers looking to escape from the big city for an afternoon. While there are countless stunning trails in the King County area, one of my personal favorites takes hikers to Franklin Falls, a gorgeous waterfall set at the end of a peaceful, heavily forested path.
Easy to reach, the Franklin Falls trail head offers ample parking, although travelers visiting in the summer ought to consider hiking during the week on early in the morning on a weekend. Understandably, this is a popular trail, and crowds flock to the falls on warm and sunny days. While this may not be the trail to escape to if you want to be alone in the wilderness, its accessibility and stunning waterfall make it one of my favorite day trips from the bustling city of Seattle.
Quick: spot the puppy in the above photograph! While I’d love to say this happened to be a coincidence, Kevin and I were taking a break by the stream and as soon as I saw the playful dog, I quickly whipped out my camera and took the shot.
In case you didn’t know, I’m a total dog lover. When I was growing up, there was at least one dog in the house, often two, and I miss not having any four-legged friends around. I’m that hiker who stops to pet literally ever dog that passes by.
The trail itself is charming and tranquil enough on its own. A lazy stream, dark green forests one can only find in the Pacific Northwest, and no signs of civilization in sight, I would have recommended this hike even if it didn’t culminate at a waterfall.
But, Franklin Falls is the whole point of this hike, and it sure makes the trek worthwhile. Crystal clear water cascading over a rocky cliff surrounded by a lush cover of trees = Northwest perfection.
Is there such a thing as too many photographs of a waterfall? I happen to think the answer is a strong and unwavering no. So many waterfalls to see, so little time. Sigh.
Would you actually believe I have a Microsoft Word document that is one giant “Waterfalls Bucket List”? Unsurprisingly, Iceland features heavily, but the Pacific Northwest has a fair number of entries. Whenever I have trouble sleeping (which is often), I basically troll Instagram and the interwebs writ large for waterfalls and I add them to my travel list. I know, it’s an preoccupation. I’m also a sucker for birds-eye views of lakes and those charming, small European towns with colorful roofs. We all have our travel obsessions, right?
On the return hike back from the falls, Kevin asked, “So, have you had enough waterfalls yet?” Franklin Falls was our second or third waterfall of our mid-summer Northwest adventure.
“Nope,” I said, assuredly. I told him about a few other waterfalls I’d discovered in the Seattle area I wanted to check out at some point or another. Let’s just put it this way: he doesn’t quite have the love of falls that I possess.
The entire hike took about ninety minutes, and this included ample time spent photographing Franklin Falls. #SorryNotSorry. Perfect for those with an unoccupied afternoon to fill, I’d say Franklin Falls is probably one of the more family-friendly hikes in the King County area. For the most part, the trail leading to the waterfall is flat with little elevation gain, and I found it to be perfectly maintained.
Naturally, there were still plenty of people using those hiking poles and carrying massive backpacks the size of an average third grader. Why? I have no idea. All I’m trying to say is this is the ideal hike for any ability – you don’t need to be a pro (or have the gear of one) to reach the falls.
Adding to the hike’s perfection was the fact I visited on a clear and sunny day in mid-July; the weather felt so distinctly non-Seattle I felt as though I’d left the state of Washington. While this weather was something of a fluke, something tells me Franklin Falls is just as lovely under the region’s trademark cloudy skies.
Important Note:
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is the only national forest I’ve visited so far that requires day passes. It’s a confusing system (to say the official website stinks is an understatement), but visitors planning to hike to Franklin Falls need to purchase the National Forest Recreation ePass, not the Discover Pass, which is used to visit any of the Washington State Parks. Don’t conflate the two! Luckily, it only costs five dollars, which isn’t as prohibitive as other attractions in the pricey Seattle area. Buy and print out a copy of the ePass here.
