Waterfalls near a city
Waterfalls near Seattle, Washington
Seattle's nearest falls in this guide charges no admission: Snoqualmie Falls, 25 miles straight-line to the east. Wallace Falls, 37 straight-line miles out, has a 265-ft main drop but needs a Discover Pass and a 5.6-mile round trip to the upper falls. Franklin Falls, 45 straight-line miles away, is a 2-mile round trip in summer.
7 waterfalls within 75 miles of Seattle
Distances are straight-line miles from the US Census Gazetteer internal point of Seattle, WA, not driving distances, so check a route before you go. Each card links to a full guide with fees, parking and current status.
A 268-ft drop with an accessible upper viewpoint and a short trail down to the base.
Snoqualmie Falls25 mi straight-lineOpen268FT
A 265-ft main drop on the Wallace River, 5.6 miles round trip to the upper falls.
Wallace Falls37 mi straight-line · ModerateOpen265FT
A 135-ft, three-tier falls off I-90 exit 47, about 2 miles round trip in summer.
Franklin Falls45 mi straight-line · EasyOpen135FT
A 60-ft cascade below Mount Rainier, about 1 mile round trip on a paved trail.
Myrtle Falls64 mi straight-line · Easy, steep stairsOpen60FT
A 168-ft falls on the Paradise River, a short, steep walk below a year-round parking area.
Narada Falls65 mi straight-line · Short but steepOpen168FT
A 50-ft falls that splits into channels, 0.8 mile from the end of Sol Duc Road.
Sol Duc Falls72 mi straight-line · EasyOpen50FT
A 90-ft falls on the most popular day hike at Lake Crescent, per NPS.
Marymere Falls73 mi straight-line · EasyOpen90FT
Map of waterfalls near Seattle
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Compare the waterfalls near Seattle
| Waterfall | Distance | Status | State | Height | Trail | Difficulty | Fee / permit | Swimming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snoqualmie Falls | 25 mi | Open | WA | 268 ft | Short walk or 1.4 mi | Free admission | Unsafe past boardwalk | |
| Wallace Falls | 37 mi | Open | WA | 265 ft | 5.6 mi round trip to Upper Falls | Moderate | Discover Pass ($10 a day) | No rule found |
| Franklin Falls | 45 mi | Open | WA | 135 ft | 2 mi round trip (about 7 mi in winter) | Easy | $5 day pass or Northwest Forest Pass | No rule found |
| Myrtle Falls | 64 mi | Open | WA | 60 ft | 1 mi round trip, paved | Easy, steep stairs | $30 per vehicle (cashless) | No rule found |
| Narada Falls | 65 mi | Open | WA | 168 ft | 0.4 mi round trip, steep | Short but steep | $30 per vehicle (cashless) | No rule found |
| Sol Duc Falls | 72 mi | Open | WA | 50 ft | 1.6 mi round trip | Easy | $30 per vehicle (no cash) | Stay in viewing areas |
| Marymere Falls | 73 mi | Open | WA | 90 ft | 1.8 mi round trip | Easy | Park pass ($30 per vehicle) | No rule found |
Where to stay near Seattle
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How the list breaks down
Two national parks, Mount Rainier and Olympic, come into range on a 75-mile circle; a 50-mile one would hold only three falls from this guide. Myrtle Falls and Narada Falls are in Mount Rainier National Park, 64 and 65 straight-line miles out. Sol Duc Falls and Marymere Falls are in Olympic National Park, 72 and 73 straight-line miles away.
Seven falls with their own pages fit inside that circle; others near Seattle have no page here yet. Each was open at its last check: six on October 28, 2026 and Narada Falls on November 3. Mount Rainier's chain rule began November 1, so read the winter notes first.
Our Washington waterfalls guide lists the rest of the state.
Four kinds of pass, plus one free falls
No single pass covers every falls on this list.
- Snoqualmie Falls: free admission. The official site lists a free lot across the street and a paid lot at $7 per hour.
- Wallace Falls: a Discover Pass, $10 per day or $45 per year (Washington State Parks).
- Franklin Falls: a $5 National Forest Day Pass or the $30 annual Northwest Forest Pass, as the Forest Service listed in October 2026. Interagency passes are accepted, but the Discover Pass is not. A Sno-Park permit is needed in snow season.
- Myrtle and Narada Falls: a Mount Rainier entrance pass, $30 per private vehicle for 7 days or $55 for the annual park pass. Entrances are cashless.
- Sol Duc and Marymere Falls: an Olympic National Park entrance pass, also $30 per vehicle for 7 days or $55 a year. Sol Duc's page notes that cash is not taken.
The $30 vehicle passes at both parks last 7 days. The Sol Duc page adds that America the Beautiful passes are accepted in Olympic National Park.
Walks from 0.4 to 5.6 miles
Trail length varies more than distance on this list. If you have kids or limited time, sort by walk first.
- Shortest: Narada Falls is 0.4 miles round trip, but NPS describes a steep 200-ft descent and climb back. At Snoqualmie, the upper viewpoint is a short, accessible walk from the upper lot.
- About a mile: Myrtle Falls is 1 mile round trip on the paved Skyline Trail, with a steep stairway to the best view (NPS). Snoqualmie's lower deck is 1.4 miles round trip with a 250-ft drop.
- Under 2 miles: Sol Duc Falls is about 1.6 miles round trip. Marymere Falls is 1.8 miles round trip, with stairs at both viewpoints. Franklin Falls is 2 miles round trip in summer.
- Longest: Wallace Falls is 5.6 miles round trip to the upper falls, with about 1,300 ft of gain per WTA. The Middle Falls overlook is a shorter turnaround.
Winter changes on this list
As of early November 2026, several of these falls have seasonal limits.
- Mount Rainier: all vehicles must carry tire chains from November 1 to May 1. NPS says the Narada Falls viewpoint trail is snow covered and hazardous in winter. The Longmire to Paradise road has had nightly gate closures since October 29.
- Sol Duc Falls: NPS says Sol Duc Hot Springs Road often closes in winter for snow and ice. Call 360-565-3131 before you head out.
- Franklin Falls: in winter 2025-26 the Forest Service closed the Franklin Falls Sno-Park and Forest Road 58 to vehicles. With the winter gate closed, the walk is about 7 miles round trip from Asahel Curtis Sno-Park. No notice for winter 2026-27 was posted as of late October.
- Snoqualmie Falls: in high water, the river can run alongside the lower boardwalk.
- Marymere Falls: the trailhead is open, but Storm King Ranger Station is closed for the season.
Dogs and water safety
Dogs are allowed at three of the seven falls and banned at four.
- Allowed on a leash: Snoqualmie Falls, though the official site discourages dogs at busy times. Wallace Falls, where WTA notes a strictly enforced fine for off-leash dogs. Franklin Falls, per WTA.
- Not allowed: NPS bans pets on all Mount Rainier trails, which rules out Myrtle and Narada Falls. In Olympic National Park, pets are banned on the Sol Duc trails and on Lake Crescent trails, including the route to Marymere Falls.
None of these falls pages lists a designated swimming area. The Snoqualmie Falls site says it is unsafe to go past the end of the boardwalk. At Sol Duc, NPS asks visitors to stay in the viewing areas and warns of a whirlpool and a second drop downstream.
Waterfalls near Seattle: FAQ
What is the famous waterfall near Seattle?
Snoqualmie Falls, by visitor numbers: Wikipedia counts more than 1.5 million visitors a year. It is a 268-ft single drop, per Wikipedia and the City of Snoqualmie, 25 miles straight-line from Seattle. Admission is free, and it is open daily from sunrise to sunset. See the Snoqualmie Falls guide.
Is Snoqualmie Falls worth visiting?
It suits a short visit with little walking. The upper viewpoint is a short, accessible walk from the upper lot, and entry is free. The lower deck adds a 1.4-mile round trip with a 250-ft drop. Dogs are allowed on a leash but discouraged at busy times.
What is the most beautiful waterfall in Washington?
Height is the one thing we can compare. Snoqualmie Falls is a 268-ft single drop, per Wikipedia and the City of Snoqualmie. Wallace Falls has a 265-ft main drop and 367 ft overall, per Wikipedia. Narada Falls is 168 ft per NPS, and Franklin Falls is 135 ft over three tiers, per WTA and Wikipedia.
Which passes cover the waterfalls near Seattle?
Snoqualmie Falls is the only one on this list with free admission. Wallace Falls needs a Discover Pass, and Franklin Falls needs a Forest Service day pass or a Northwest Forest Pass. Myrtle, Narada, Sol Duc and Marymere Falls need a $30 per-vehicle national park entrance pass.
Which waterfalls near Seattle can I visit in winter?
Snoqualmie Falls is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and Washington State Parks listed no closures at Wallace Falls on October 28, 2026. The national park falls carry winter rules, such as chains at Mount Rainier from November 1. Franklin Falls may need a longer approach if the winter gate closes.
Sources
Facts for each waterfall come from its own guide, where every source is listed. The city sources are below.
- Official Snoqualmie Falls site (parking and hours, read Oct 28, 2026)
- Washington State Parks: Wallace Falls State Park (read Oct 28, 2026)
- USFS: Franklin Falls Trail 1036 (updated Aug 31, 2026; read Oct 28, 2026)
- NPS: Myrtle Falls
- NPS Mount Rainier: Narada Falls (read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS: Sol Duc Falls Trail
- NPS: Marymere Falls Trailhead
- US Census Bureau: 2024 Gazetteer Files (places)
State guides: Washington waterfalls. More cities.
Photos: Guywelch2000, CC0; Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo credits