Location
Snoqualmie Pass
Distance / Difficulty
2 miles round trip / easy for most kiddos 3 and up (though they will need help at the descent to waterfall)
Pass/Permit
Northwest Forest Pass, or $5 per car, or get yourself an Interagency Pass so you can also use it at National Parks and lands across the US
Washington Trails Association has detailed directions and updated trail reports
FOLLOW UPS
This is our go-to get-out-of-the-house-and-hike hike. I mean, at this point, I’m not sure it even qualifies as a hike but meandering through the forest and ending up at a waterfall doesn’t seem like just a “walk”. This is an easy hike; mostly flat and wide with a slight incline and then decline towards the end. The trail itself is well maintained by WTA and we have never encountered a wash out or trees over the trail, though expect some mud in the spring. We’ve seen people do the first part of the hike with strollers, but you’ll have to leave them at the decent to the falls and there are steps along the trail before that point. At the beginning there is a large rock that jets into the river. In the low season (late, late summer) to let our kiddos hop in the water here and slide down the smooth rocks. The youngest uses water wings as after the rock waterslide there is a drop off. After that deep spot, it becomes very shallow and there’s a place to hop out and do it all over again. Please be cognizant of water levels, speed of the water, and your children’s abilities.* Along the way there are a few side trails that lead down to the river. Check out each one before you let your kiddos run down there but there are some really great places to let kids climb rocks and balance on fallen trees. There are also some deep pools near the falls that are good for swimming and we even watched some people canyoneering down the waterfall one day. If you can brave the cold, you can hop in the pool of the waterfall itself. Remember, do not swim directly under the falls as water carries rocks with it and a head injury doesn’t seem like a great way to end this hike.
This hike has become busier and busier and, unfortunately, there’s more trash as well. Carry an extra bag with you and pick up any litter you see. Pack out what you pack in and bonus if you carry out more than you brought! Your best bet is to come right away in the morning or in the later afternoon during the summer. It slows down a bit once school starts and we’ve even had the place to ourselves in the early mornings. Please note that in the summer, the sun doesn’t hit the falls until late morning (even afternoon) due to narrow-ish canyon it’s located in. This means it’s chilly much longer than you’d expect. The hike itself is heavily shaded and also stays cooler which makes it perfect for those (now-normal) scorchers of summer.
FIRST HIKE
I follow #PNWonderland on Instagram and when I see something close to us that I think our boys would love, we make an adventure of it. Franklin Falls was one of the photos I saw in Instagram and thought, “Yes, we must.” So, we did. The hike itself was easy peasy. The little one hiked most of the way himself and the boys ran and “parkour-ed” along the trail. Near the beginning of the trail was a spot that you could go out into Denny Creek. I’ve gotten in the habit of bringing extra clothes from Merch from DREAM and shoes with us as we adventure these days. My kids love water as much as I do so we likely all end up wet, them from jumping in, me from helping them out. The water is a beautiful blue-green and hopped and tumbled as it hit the boulders around it. We promised them we’d come back to this spot on our way out and continued along the trail.
This is at the top of the list for well-kept trails that we’ve been on. The end was a little bit sketchy as you have to walk down a narrow path carved out of a rock but at that point you can see the falls so it’s well worth it. There’s barely enough room to pass people going the opposite direction so the babe ended up on dad’s shoulders for this part. There is a lot of room to explore around the base of the waterfall and I’m sure we’ll be visiting this little watering hole when the temperatures are hot. The boys will love to wade in the water. We hung out for about an hour, just enjoying the scenery and the mist. We regretted not packing a lunch but definitely will next time.
On our way back we stopped at the spot we had explored earlier. The creek wasn’t super fast but it definitely was moving along. The water, as usual here, is so cold. My oldest begged to jump in a little pool surrounded by little boulders. I warned him of the temperature and told him exactly where he could go so as not to get caught up in the current. He jumped in and I watched a wave of shock hit his face. Even swimming in Lake Superior doesn’t prepare you for this cold. He made it across to a dry rock while I held his hand and his little brother hopped in next. He was more prepared and they both happily explored the other side of the river for a bit. While my momma heart jumped a few times when they slipped or stumbled, I knew that at least in that spot, the worst that would happen is they’d end up sliding back into the creek. Watching their confidence grow as they tackle challenges is one of my favorite parts of our adventures.
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