Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: Discover Pass ($10 a day).
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Open. Washington State Parks' park page listed no closures when checked October 28, 2026. The only alert was a Level 2 burn ban, posted September 18, 2026. What the status labels mean
Wallace Falls is a series of drops on the Wallace River in Wallace Falls State Park near Gold Bar, with a largest single drop of 265 feet. The hike to Upper Falls is 5.6 miles round trip with about 1,300 feet of gain, per WTA. Parking needs a Discover Pass ($10 a day or $45 a year), and State Parks says the lot is usually full by 11 a.m. on weekends. State Parks listed no closures on October 28, 2026.
About Wallace Falls
Wallace Falls is a chain of drops on the Wallace River inside Wallace Falls State Park, near Gold Bar. Wikipedia puts the whole falls at 367 feet, with a largest single drop of 265 feet.
Sources count the tiers in different ways. Washington State Parks calls the falls three-tiered. Wikipedia lists Upper Wallace Falls at 240 feet and Lower Wallace Falls at 212 feet, each in five tiers. WTA counts nine falls in all.
According to Wikipedia, "Wallace" is a corrupted form of the surname of Joe and Sarah Kwayaylsh, Skykomish homesteaders. The state bought the land from Weyerhaeuser in 1971.
The park's brochure calls it a 1,380-acre camping park with nearly 20 miles of hiking trails and 5 miles of mountain biking trails. A 0.25-mile interpretive trail sits near the trailhead. Cabins and camping are covered below.
Getting there and parking
Wallace Falls State Park is at 14503 Wallace Lake Road in Gold Bar, off US 2, and parking requires a Discover Pass.
From Seattle and Monroe
The park entrance is at 14503 Wallace Lake Road, Gold Bar, WA 98251. WTA's directions: take US 2 to Gold Bar and turn left onto 1st Street. After 0.4 mile, turn right onto May Creek Road, then bear left at a Y-junction 1.3 miles on.
We found no official drive time from Seattle or Monroe, so check a map before you leave.
Parking and the live lot camera
State Parks says the lot is usually full by 11 a.m. on weekends. It runs a live parking camera you can check before you leave home.
Don't park along the narrow county road that leads to the entrance, State Parks warns. If the lot is full, come back later or pick a weekday.
Discover Pass price and dispenser
Parking requires a Discover Pass: $10 for a day or $45 for a year. The annual price rose from $30 on October 1, 2025, after 2025 legislation. WTA says a pass dispenser stands in the parking lot.
One pass can cover two vehicles, but only one at a time, per State Parks. Transaction fees may apply. An unattended vehicle left overnight costs $10 per night, State Parks says.
Looking for a shorter waterfall walk? In summer, Franklin Falls off I-90 is about 2 miles round trip, but it uses a Northwest Forest Pass, not a Discover Pass. Its access road can be gated in winter. Snoqualmie Falls is about 25 miles away in a straight line.
Cabins and camping at Wallace Falls
State Parks lists five cabins. Each has a covered front porch, picnic table, fire pit, barbecue stand and electricity, and sleeps up to five. Two are ADA-accessible and two allow pets. Reserve on the Washington State Parks booking site.
2026 cabin rates (State Parks fee table, before tax): $79 a night in peak season (May 15 to September 15) and $69 in the shoulder seasons. Winter nights (November 1 to March 31) are $55. Weeknight and weekend rates are the same.
2027 cabin rates: from January 1, 2027, State Parks moves Wallace Falls into its Basic Cabins tier. Peak nights rise to $100 on weeknights and $110 on weekends, shoulder nights to $85 and $90, and winter nights to $70 and $75.
Walk-in tent sites: the park page lists two walk-in tent sites near the parking area, first-come, first-served, with showers in the nearby restrooms. The brochure says they are 20 to 50 feet from the lot, with picnic tables and fire rings.
Backcountry: the brochure lists two backcountry campsites at Wallace and Jay lakes, reached by a 4- to 7-mile hike. They are also first-come, first-served. The park page says to call (360) 793-0420 for a backcountry permit before you visit. Registered overnight campers don't need a Discover Pass in the park where they're staying, per State Parks.
Map and nearby falls
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The Woody Trail to Middle and Upper Falls
To Upper Falls: State Parks describes a 2.8-mile hike to the top of the falls, with viewpoints at the lower, middle and upper falls. WTA lists 5.6 miles round trip with about 1,300 feet of gain.
The trail split: at about 0.5 mile the trail forks, WTA says. The Woody Trail to the right is for hikers only. The Railroad Grade to the left is also open to bikes.
Lower, Middle and Upper Falls: distances and viewpoints
Lower Falls: WTA puts Lower Falls at about 2 miles, at a picnic area.
Middle Falls: WTA calls the Middle Falls overlook the most panoramic view on the trail. It sits less than half a mile past Lower Falls, so it's a natural turnaround if you'd rather skip the steepest climbing.
Upper Falls: the top viewpoint is at 2.8 miles, after a half mile of switchbacks past Middle Falls, per WTA. No source we found gives the gain to each viewpoint.
The State Parks trail map (revised August 2024) shows the routes and a mileage scale but no distance labels.
Restrooms and side trips: besides the trailhead restrooms, WTA notes one on the Woody Trail, about 0.2 mile off the trail near the 1.5-mile marker. For a longer day, State Parks lists the Greg Ball Trail, which runs more than 4 miles to Wallace and Jay lakes.
When to visit
State Parks lists hours of 8 a.m. to dusk, year round, on its web page. The 2024 brochure differs: 6:30 a.m. to dusk from April 1 to September 30, and 8 a.m. to dusk the rest of the year. WTA says the information kiosk lists the sunset time for hikers heading out.
State Parks says the lot is usually full by 11 a.m. on weekends, so arrive early or plan a weekday visit. Wikipedia counts 190,111 visitors to the park in 2024.
Weather and flow by season
The sources we checked don't name a best month for flow. The USGS gauge at Gold Bar, charted on this page, shows the river highest from November to January and again in May, and lowest in August.
On October 28, 2026, State Parks listed no closures. The only alert was a Level 2 burn ban, posted September 18, 2026.
State Parks set 12 days in 2026 when you don't need a Discover Pass. Veterans Day, November 11, is the last free day of 2026.
When is the water highest?
At a USGS stream gauge about 1.7 mi from the falls, the flow averages highest in May and lowest in August, based on 30 complete years of records between 1949 and 2025.
Show the numbers
| Month | Average flow (cfs) |
|---|---|
| January | 218 |
| February | 181 |
| March | 150 |
| April | 193 |
| May | 241 |
| June | 208 |
| July | 98 |
| August | 49 |
| September | 69 |
| October | 147 |
| November | 236 |
| December | 241 |
| Height | 265 ftNote: largest single drop; 367 ft overall per Wikipedia; State Parks calls it three-tiered and WTA counts nine falls |
|---|---|
| Trail | 5.6 mi round trip to Upper Falls with about 1,300 ft of gain (WTA); Middle Falls overlook is a shorter turnaround |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Entry fee | Discover Pass: $10 per day or $45 per year (Washington State Parks) |
| Permit / reservation | No hiking permit; Discover Pass required to park |
| Parking | Park lot; usually full by 11 a.m. on weekends |
| Hours / season | 8 a.m. to dusk, year round (State Parks web page); the 2024 brochure lists 6:30 a.m. to dusk from April 1 to September 30 |
| Dogs | Allowed on a leash at all times; WTA notes a strictly enforced fine for off-leash dogs |
| Swimming | No rule found; stay on the trail and at the overlooks |
| Wheelchair / stroller | No accessible route to the falls listed by State Parks or WTA; the trail to Upper Falls gains about 1,300 ft (WTA) |
| Restrooms | At the trailhead, plus one about 0.2 mi off the Woody Trail near the 1.5-mile marker (WTA) |
| Crowds | High on weekends; lot usually full by 11 a.m. (State Parks). 190,111 visitors in 2024 (Wikipedia). |
| Managed by | Washington State Parks (Wallace Falls State Park) |
Safety and swimming
We found no swimming rule for Wallace Falls. Stay on the trail and at the overlooks, and keep children close near any drop-off.
The trail to Upper Falls gains about 1,300 feet, mostly on switchbacks, per WTA. Carry water and leave time for the walk down. On the Railroad Grade, watch for bikes.
Keep dogs leashed at all times. WTA says the off-leash fine is strictly enforced. Our waterfall safety guide has general tips for wet trails and viewpoints.
Where to stay near Wallace Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Gold Bar.
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Photos
Wallace Falls FAQ
Do you need a Discover Pass or ticket for Wallace Falls?
You need a Discover Pass to park: $10 for a day or $45 for a year. There is no entry ticket or timed entry. WTA says a pass dispenser is in the parking lot.
How long is the Wallace Falls hike?
5.6 miles round trip to Upper Falls, with about 1,300 feet of gain, per WTA. The Middle Falls overlook, which WTA calls the most panoramic view, is a shorter turnaround.
How hard is the Wallace Falls hike?
Moderate. WTA lists 2.8 miles each way with about 1,300 feet of gain, much of it on the half mile of switchbacks above Middle Falls. The Middle Falls overlook, less than half a mile past Lower Falls, is the easier turnaround.
What time does Wallace Falls State Park open?
8 a.m. to dusk, year round, per the State Parks web page. The 2024 brochure lists 6:30 a.m. from April 1 to September 30, so check the park page before an early start.
Are dogs allowed at Wallace Falls?
Yes, on a leash at all times. WTA notes that fines for off-leash dogs are strictly enforced.
How tall is Wallace Falls?
Wikipedia gives 367 feet overall, with a largest single drop of 265 feet. State Parks calls it three-tiered, and WTA counts nine falls in total.
When does Wallace Falls parking fill up?
State Parks says the lot is usually full by 11 a.m. on weekends. Check the park's live parking camera, and don't park along the county road to the entrance.
Can you camp or rent a cabin at Wallace Falls?
Yes. State Parks rents five cabins, from $55 a night in winter to $79 in peak season in 2026, with higher rates from 2027. Two walk-in tent sites near the lot and two backcountry sites at Wallace and Jay lakes are first-come, first-served.
Nearby waterfalls
Snoqualmie Falls25 mi straight-lineOpen268FT
Franklin Falls33 mi straight-lineOpen135FT
Myrtle Falls75 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
City guides: Waterfalls near Seattle, WA
On these lists: Dog-friendly waterfalls
Sources
- Washington State Parks: Wallace Falls State Park (read Oct 28, 2026)
- Washington State Parks: Discover Pass
- Washington State Parks: No Discover Pass required on these 2026 days
- Washington State Standard: Legislature approves hiking Discover Pass price to $45 (April 2025)
- WTA: Wallace Falls
- Wikipedia: Wallace Falls State Park
- Washington State Parks: Wallace Falls State Park brochure (08/2024)
- Washington State Parks: Wallace Falls trail map (revised Aug 23, 2024)
- Washington State Parks: Overnight roofed accommodation fees (2026 and 2027)
- Washington State Parks: Wallace Falls live parking camera
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Washington State Parks (Wallace Falls State Park) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.