A long hike to a stunning hidden waterfall is pretty special, but sometimes you are in the mood for a quick leisurely walk with easy rewards. Or, maybe even a drive-up waterfall that you can see from a scenic outlook. If you’ve been looking for easy-access waterfalls in Washington you are in luck. There are several beautiful waterfalls hiding in plain sight, most of which take just a short walk to reach. Whether you’re not much of a hiker, have little ones in tow, or just don’t feel like going on a strenuous trek, these 10 easy-to-reach falls should definitely be on your list of things to do in Washington this summer.
- Narada Falls
Mount Rainier National Park/Flickr This two-tiered beauty is in Mount Rainier National Park, just west of the Paradise area. It’s only about a 0.1-mile walk from the parking lot to the overlook, where you can enjoy a misty view of the waterfall veiling down a massive basalt rock wall. Take a look at the beautiful Narada Falls in this soothing video in Mount Rainier National Park:
Narada Falls, Washington 98361, USA
- Myrtle Falls
Liz Lawley via Wikipedia Myrtle Falls is another gem near the Paradise area in Mount Rainier National Park. It can easily be seen after a short 0.5-mile trek along the Skyline Trail. A short path to the right leads over to a viewpoint, where you can stop and get photos of the 72-foot cascade and beautiful Mount Rainier backdrop. Myrtle Falls, Ashford, WA 98304, USA
- Merriman Falls
Gary Windust/Flickr Visible from South Shore Road, Merriman Falls is one of the easiest cascades to access in the Quinault area. It drops about 40 feet down a short cliff into a pile of rocks covered in moss and ferns. Merriman Falls, Quinault, WA 98575, USA
- Madison Creek Falls
Jasperdo/Flickr This horsetail-shaped waterfall plunges about 50 feet by the Elwha River, just west of Port Angeles. Luckily, the path out to the cascade is short, paved, and wheelchair accessible, making it a must-visit when seeking easy-access waterfalls in Washington. Madison Falls Trailhead, 1930 Olympic Hot Springs Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98363, USA
- Spokane Falls
Tracy Hunter/Flickr This thundering waterfall drops downtown by Riverfront Park. It’s a perfect reminder that even in our state’s big cities there’s still magnificent natural beauty everywhere. You can even take this Gondola ride over the falls to enjoy impressive aerial views of the cascade. Spokane Falls, Spokane, WA 99201, USA
- Marymere Falls
Jack Wei/Flickr Off Highway 101, just south of Lake Crescent, Marymere Falls can easily be reached. The 90-foot waterfall is hidden at the end of a short 0.9-mile stroll through an old-growth forest. Continue your Washington waterfall tour with this video showing the hike along the short but sweet Marymere Falls Trail to, you guessed it, Marymere falls itself:
Marymere Falls, Washington 98363, USA
- Panther Creek Falls
Thomas Shahan/Flickr A short 0.4-mile walk through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest leads to this other-worldly cascade. The waterfall consists of multiple tiers, with the largest dropping 102+ feet over a huge moss-covered rock wall. Panther Creek Falls, NF-65, Carson, WA 98610, USA
- Tumwater Falls
Joe Mabel/Wikipedia One of the most beautiful natural wonders in Washington, Tumwater Falls consists of both an upper and lower cascade on the Deschutes River in the Olympia area. You can walk out on a wooden footbridge to get a good view of the lower falls, or sit and enjoy a meal at Falls Terrace Restaurant, where you’ll be treated to great food and even better views. Tumwater Falls Park, Tumwater, WA 98501, USA
- Sunbeam Falls
Andy Simonds/Flickr While driving down Stevens Canyon Road in Mount Rainier National Park, you can spot this hidden waterfall near the end of the canyon by Louise Lake. As the road crosses Sunbeam Creek, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the cascade in all its glory. Sunbeam Falls, Washington 98361, USA
- Rocky Brook Falls
Karen Blaha/Flickr Rocky Brook Falls is one of the most impressive cascades on the Olympic Peninsula, and it’s not a very far walk at all. A short 200-yard path leads out to this cascade, which drops 229 feet over a giant rock wall. The pool at the bottom also serves as a popular swimming hole during the summertime. Let’s take the short path to Rocky Brook Falls and bask in its beauty for a minute in this quick video:
Rocky Brook Falls, 2405 Dosewallips Rd, Brinnon, WA 98320, USA
In our quest to find easy-to-get-to-waterfalls in Washington, we discovered some mighty nice locations to explore. The nice thing about a “drive-up waterfall” is that they can oftentimes be seen right off the parking lot or roadside overlook. Have you been to any of these gorgeous waterfalls before? What are some of your favorite cascades that are hiding in plain sight?
Mount Rainier National Park/Flickr
This two-tiered beauty is in Mount Rainier National Park, just west of the Paradise area. It’s only about a 0.1-mile walk from the parking lot to the overlook, where you can enjoy a misty view of the waterfall veiling down a massive basalt rock wall. Take a look at the beautiful Narada Falls in this soothing video in Mount Rainier National Park:
Narada Falls, Washington 98361, USA
Liz Lawley via Wikipedia
Myrtle Falls is another gem near the Paradise area in Mount Rainier National Park. It can easily be seen after a short 0.5-mile trek along the Skyline Trail. A short path to the right leads over to a viewpoint, where you can stop and get photos of the 72-foot cascade and beautiful Mount Rainier backdrop.
Myrtle Falls, Ashford, WA 98304, USA
Gary Windust/Flickr
Visible from South Shore Road, Merriman Falls is one of the easiest cascades to access in the Quinault area. It drops about 40 feet down a short cliff into a pile of rocks covered in moss and ferns.
Merriman Falls, Quinault, WA 98575, USA
Jasperdo/Flickr
This horsetail-shaped waterfall plunges about 50 feet by the Elwha River, just west of Port Angeles. Luckily, the path out to the cascade is short, paved, and wheelchair accessible, making it a must-visit when seeking easy-access waterfalls in Washington.
Madison Falls Trailhead, 1930 Olympic Hot Springs Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98363, USA
Tracy Hunter/Flickr
This thundering waterfall drops downtown by Riverfront Park. It’s a perfect reminder that even in our state’s big cities there’s still magnificent natural beauty everywhere. You can even take this Gondola ride over the falls to enjoy impressive aerial views of the cascade.
Spokane Falls, Spokane, WA 99201, USA
Jack Wei/Flickr
Off Highway 101, just south of Lake Crescent, Marymere Falls can easily be reached. The 90-foot waterfall is hidden at the end of a short 0.9-mile stroll through an old-growth forest. Continue your Washington waterfall tour with this video showing the hike along the short but sweet Marymere Falls Trail to, you guessed it, Marymere falls itself:
Marymere Falls, Washington 98363, USA
Thomas Shahan/Flickr
A short 0.4-mile walk through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest leads to this other-worldly cascade. The waterfall consists of multiple tiers, with the largest dropping 102+ feet over a huge moss-covered rock wall.
Panther Creek Falls, NF-65, Carson, WA 98610, USA
Joe Mabel/Wikipedia
One of the most beautiful natural wonders in Washington, Tumwater Falls consists of both an upper and lower cascade on the Deschutes River in the Olympia area. You can walk out on a wooden footbridge to get a good view of the lower falls, or sit and enjoy a meal at Falls Terrace Restaurant, where you’ll be treated to great food and even better views.
Tumwater Falls Park, Tumwater, WA 98501, USA
Andy Simonds/Flickr
While driving down Stevens Canyon Road in Mount Rainier National Park, you can spot this hidden waterfall near the end of the canyon by Louise Lake. As the road crosses Sunbeam Creek, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the cascade in all its glory.
Sunbeam Falls, Washington 98361, USA
Karen Blaha/Flickr
Rocky Brook Falls is one of the most impressive cascades on the Olympic Peninsula, and it’s not a very far walk at all. A short 200-yard path leads out to this cascade, which drops 229 feet over a giant rock wall. The pool at the bottom also serves as a popular swimming hole during the summertime. Let’s take the short path to Rocky Brook Falls and bask in its beauty for a minute in this quick video:
Rocky Brook Falls, 2405 Dosewallips Rd, Brinnon, WA 98320, USA
These falls are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to beautiful places in Washington. There are lots more. Need proof? Read about some of the best natural wonders in Washington.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Even More Waterfalls In Washington August 02, 2021 Daniella DiRienzo What are some must-visit natural wonders in Washington? Some must-visit natural wonders in Washington include:
Diablo Lake Hurricane Ridge Mount Rainier The Columbia River Gorge
There are lots of natural wonders in Washington, and one you don’t want to miss is Diablo Lake. Located in North Cascades National Park, it’s about 2.5 hours northeast of Seattle. Known for its brilliant turquoise waters, it’s easily one of the most beautiful places in Washington, if not the U.S. A great place to take in sweeping views of the stunning lake is the Diablo Lake Vista Point, which can be found on State Route 20. From the vista point, you’ll be afforded panoramic views of its shimmering waters. Which beautiful places in Washington shouldn’t be missed? One of the beautiful places in Washington that shouldn’t be missed is, Granite Mountain is sure to come to mind. The mountain itself is stunning, but the views from its peak are absolutely incredible. The trek to the top of Granite Mountain is a steep one; for every mile you go, you gain almost 1,000 feet in elevation! However, the effort is definitely worth it, as the trek culminates with expansive views of the surroundings, which include Mount Rainier, Crystal Lake, and Kaleetan Peak. What are the best things to do in Washington? Some of the best things to do in Washington include:
See the Space Needle Go to Olympic National Park Hike in Mount Rainier National Park Tour the Future of Flight Aviation Center
There are lots of fun things to do in The Evergreen State, but one of the best things to do in Washington is a Boeing Tour at the Future of Flight Aviation Center in Mukilteo. Sure to be a memorable experience, the tour takes you behind the scenes at Boeing, where you can watch 747, 777, and 787 Dreamliner planes being built. You’ll also be allowed admission to the Aerospace Gallery and Strato Deck. It all takes place in the “world’s largest building by volume.” This is a popular attraction and tickets tend to sell out, so make sure to get yours in advance.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Even More Waterfalls In Washington
August 02, 2021
Daniella DiRienzo
What are some must-visit natural wonders in Washington? Some must-visit natural wonders in Washington include:
Diablo Lake Hurricane Ridge Mount Rainier The Columbia River Gorge
There are lots of natural wonders in Washington, and one you don’t want to miss is Diablo Lake. Located in North Cascades National Park, it’s about 2.5 hours northeast of Seattle. Known for its brilliant turquoise waters, it’s easily one of the most beautiful places in Washington, if not the U.S. A great place to take in sweeping views of the stunning lake is the Diablo Lake Vista Point, which can be found on State Route 20. From the vista point, you’ll be afforded panoramic views of its shimmering waters. Which beautiful places in Washington shouldn’t be missed? One of the beautiful places in Washington that shouldn’t be missed is, Granite Mountain is sure to come to mind. The mountain itself is stunning, but the views from its peak are absolutely incredible. The trek to the top of Granite Mountain is a steep one; for every mile you go, you gain almost 1,000 feet in elevation! However, the effort is definitely worth it, as the trek culminates with expansive views of the surroundings, which include Mount Rainier, Crystal Lake, and Kaleetan Peak. What are the best things to do in Washington? Some of the best things to do in Washington include:
See the Space Needle Go to Olympic National Park Hike in Mount Rainier National Park Tour the Future of Flight Aviation Center
There are lots of fun things to do in The Evergreen State, but one of the best things to do in Washington is a Boeing Tour at the Future of Flight Aviation Center in Mukilteo. Sure to be a memorable experience, the tour takes you behind the scenes at Boeing, where you can watch 747, 777, and 787 Dreamliner planes being built. You’ll also be allowed admission to the Aerospace Gallery and Strato Deck. It all takes place in the “world’s largest building by volume.” This is a popular attraction and tickets tend to sell out, so make sure to get yours in advance.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Some must-visit natural wonders in Washington include:
- Diablo Lake
- Hurricane Ridge
- Mount Rainier
- The Columbia River Gorge
There are lots of natural wonders in Washington, and one you don’t want to miss is Diablo Lake. Located in North Cascades National Park, it’s about 2.5 hours northeast of Seattle. Known for its brilliant turquoise waters, it’s easily one of the most beautiful places in Washington, if not the U.S. A great place to take in sweeping views of the stunning lake is the Diablo Lake Vista Point, which can be found on State Route 20. From the vista point, you’ll be afforded panoramic views of its shimmering waters.
Which beautiful places in Washington shouldn’t be missed?
One of the beautiful places in Washington that shouldn’t be missed is, Granite Mountain is sure to come to mind. The mountain itself is stunning, but the views from its peak are absolutely incredible. The trek to the top of Granite Mountain is a steep one; for every mile you go, you gain almost 1,000 feet in elevation! However, the effort is definitely worth it, as the trek culminates with expansive views of the surroundings, which include Mount Rainier, Crystal Lake, and Kaleetan Peak.
What are the best things to do in Washington?
Some of the best things to do in Washington include:
- See the Space Needle
- Go to Olympic National Park
- Hike in Mount Rainier National Park
- Tour the Future of Flight Aviation Center
There are lots of fun things to do in The Evergreen State, but one of the best things to do in Washington is a Boeing Tour at the Future of Flight Aviation Center in Mukilteo. Sure to be a memorable experience, the tour takes you behind the scenes at Boeing, where you can watch 747, 777, and 787 Dreamliner planes being built. You’ll also be allowed admission to the Aerospace Gallery and Strato Deck. It all takes place in the “world’s largest building by volume.” This is a popular attraction and tickets tend to sell out, so make sure to get yours in advance.
