Seattle has no shortage of ways to get outside, from exploring the shores of Lake Washington to hiking around Rattlesnake Lake. But some of the region’s most impressive scenery is surprisingly close to the city, making it easy to trade skyscrapers for towering trees and rushing water without committing to a full weekend in the wilderness.
One of the best excuses for doing exactly that is a half-day trip to the Snoqualmie Valley, where Twin Falls and Snoqualmie Falls offer two very different waterfall experiences within the same outing.
Two waterfalls, two very different views
The first stop is Twin Falls, tucked inside Olallie State Park along the South Fork Snoqualmie River. The park is home to a network of forested trails, with the waterfall route winding through old-growth trees and alongside the river.
The Twin Falls hike is about 2.4 miles round trip with roughly 500 feet of elevation gain, according to the Washington Trails Association, making it an easy-to-moderate outing rather than a flat nature walk. The trail passes multiple cascades before reaching viewpoints overlooking the falls, with ferns, moss and towering trees filling much of the route.
Washington State Parks lists Twin Falls at 230 feet, while nearby Weeks Falls drops another 77 feet. The waterfalls are among Olallie State Park’s defining features, and the river has played an important role in the area’s history, including early hydroelectric development.
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Then comes the showstopper: Snoqualmie Falls. The waterfall plunges about 268 feet into the Snoqualmie River Valley. At 268 feet tall, Snoqualmie Falls is nearly twice as high as Niagara Falls’ American Falls, which stands at about 167 feet. The falls are also a culturally significant site for the Snoqualmie Tribe and became internationally recognizable after appearing in Twin Peaks.
What the Seattle-to-waterfalls excursion is like
The two-hour hike winds through old-growth forest and along the Snoqualmie River, with Twin Falls and Upper Falls as the main highlights. The trail has some uphill and downhill sections, so sturdy shoes are recommended.
From there, the excursion continues through the Snoqualmie Valley to the historic town of Snoqualmie, where you can see its old railway depot and preserved locomotives. Nearby Borst Lake also offers views toward Mount Si.
The final stop is Snoqualmie Falls, where several viewing areas offer a closer look at the 268-foot cascade without requiring another long hike.
