Franklin Falls Trailhead

4.2 miles round trip and worth it! Extremely beautiful waterfall that's a 135 foot drop. Make sure to put Franklin Falls Parking Lot as your destination though, unless you have a handicap sticker, then you can park at the trailhead 😊. America the Beautiful pass is accepted here. There were some stairs throughout and portions of the trail was wet and mildly muddy (so you are forewarned if it has been rainy, what to expect). This trail also runs along the river, which serenades you with the rushing water. You can go all the way down to the waterfall and enjoy it. I recommend coming on a week day, less foot traffic.

Such an amazing area with great hiking and wonderful views. Huge cedar trees along with the incredible waterfall. Highly recommend. Trail was 2 mile round trip to the falls and it was easy enough for younger kids.

I went on the Franklin Falls hike two weeks ago with my family, and it was an amazing experience! The trail was a bit challenging at first but really fun overall. The view of the falls at the end made it worth it, and the sun was out, which made the day even better. I’d rate it 4 out of 5 and would definitely go again!⛰️

Fairly easy hike to a pretty waterfall. There is a large lot (you'll need a NW Forest Pass or Sni-Parks permit) with rustic bathrooms (bring your own hand cleaner). The trail head is close by. It follows a river gradually uphill through a moderately thick canopy with many wildflowers. The total rise us just under 400' over the 1 mile to the falls overlook. If it's safe, you can scramble down rocks close enough to get substantial spray from the plume. Turn around after you finish pictures or a picnic lunch.

Short and very easy hike. The waterfall is beautiful. Very well maintained trail, a little bit of mud. There is good amount of parking spots. We saw people from all the ages hiking. I think this one is a good one if you want to bring your kids.

🥾Difficulty: Easy, with the more challenging elevation gain being just before the falls. 🅿️ Parking: Lots of parking including handicap spaces ♿ however it's a popular trail so come early. 📜 Pass: 💳 Pay $5 at the lot for a day pass. 🏞️ Experience: Beautiful and peaceful with lots of opportunities to stop along the water and rest or take pictures while you're on your way. 🐶 Lots of friendly dogs, please keep them on a leash. Definitely go early. ☕🥐 Bonus: Huxdotter Coffee is a great stopping place for snacks and caffeine. They roast their own coffee and they also have pastries from Macrina. Try the Irish Cream Cold Brew if you get a chance.

Super easy hike, uphill to the falls and easy downhill on the way back. 1-2 hours total and great spot at the end as a reward. Highly recommend especially if you are staying at Denny Creek campground.

Short, easy, well maintained trial with a beautiful waterfall payoff. Perfect weekday hike, but expect crowds on weekends since it's so easy and very close to Seattle.

On a nicely manicured trail, down a shady road, up near snoqualmie pass, lies this delightful waterfall! We've been driving over Snoqualmie pass for darn near 40 years, and I had no idea this was here. From the waterfall, you're able to see the westbound lanes as you're descending the west side of Snoqualmie pass. The trail is well marked, and more manicure than we are generally used to. While it was a really nice hike, it honestly took a little bit away from it. That said, it's one we would do again. We don't hike on the side of the mountains very often, so we've forgotten how busy it would be on a Saturday. We were lucky to find a place to park, but do be ready to spend a little bit of time circling. They were probably 1000 people that we saw on the trail, and a few hundred down near the waterfall, including the number of groups that were swimming underneath it. It still remains very picturesque, and is the sort of place. It's nice to hike with friends, especiallyif you have younger kids. It's not a particularly difficult trail, and other than a slight descent to the waterfall, it's not much different than walking through a park.

Simply breathtaking, any time of year. It's a bite-sized creekside "hike" / nature walk to a wonderful waterfall at the end. Discovery NW Pass required. If you are going to do this hike, please be respectful of nature ^___^ Keeping our trails trash free preserved the beauty for us all (critters included!) I just love the PNW.

A friend had posted photos of waterfall and I just knew I had to come here. On a few different trail and hiking ops, it rated this as an easy trail. 1 mile there, 1 mile back and about an hour for the hike. But what I feel no one mentioned is that the hike there is ALL UPHILL. All of it. According to my watch it was almost a 400ft elevation gain. There are areas where there are stairs that made on the pathway but some of the stairs have a tall height. But the trail and path is wide enough in 99% of the areas so that it's easy to pass other hikers. There are a few sections where you can easily rest on the way up on the trail without blocking anyone walking on the trail so that is a very nice benefit. When you get close to the waterfall, the path ends and you have to navigate on rocks to get to the waterfall. As someone who doesn't always balance so well, I did need some assistance. The water from the waterfall is so clear and beautiful. There is something so soothing about being in nature like that. Surrounded by greenery, water sounds and fresh air. Going back down the trail is much faster since you are going down but for someone with bad knees the height of the stairs sometimes made it an issue when going down. It was better for me to walk on the outside of the stair instead. Overall highly recommend. It's beautiful and a great hike.

Beautiful scenery along the trail, most of the hike is flat, about a 3.0 mile hike. 483ft elevation gain. Moderate effort, lots of kids on the trail and people carrying infants! The waterfall is 10/10 and worth the walk! The rock quarry around the falls is misty and refreshing! Water is very cold! A few places to stop along the way and cool off in the river.

Franklin falls is a popular trail, easy hike even for children and pets! Depending on where you start it's about two miles roundtrip. The hike up was great with only a few incline areas, beautiful scenery and would recommend. It's also beautiful during winter time.

Humans are selfish pigs. If you have to nature pee do it and take your TP with you. If you bring snacks eat them and take the trash with you. Want to create art?... enroll in an art class or pickup supplies at Michael's store... what you do NOT do is mark nature with your attempts at art. Do NOT spray pain old growth trees that have been around for hundreds of years. Do NOT paint the walkway that humans have worked hard to make for everyone to walk on. Do NOT toss plastic bags, hair ties and other trash. Be sure to have zippered pockets so your trash doesn't end up in nature. Why do humans think they have the right to toss their shit anywhere they want. This trail doesn't belong to you it belongs to nature and we are just passersby who get to witness its amazing features. Pack it in pack it out means no crap left behind. Also do not give your toddler a baggie of treats when half of it lands on the ground leading to animal dependence on food from humans- keep nature wild!!!

Amazing waterfall! It's super full-bodied right now. There was barely anyone there on a Tuesday morning. We had the waterfall to ourselves! The rocks down are a little slippery and wet so just be extra careful there.

Went on a short hike today to see the big Waterfall. Parking was kind of difficult to find since there were a lot of people there. Luckily, we found one space in the main Visitor Parking lot when someone had pulled out. Just some cars were parked very close to each other. Some people can be very inconsiderate of others. We also witnessed several people driving down the wrong way and entering in where it clearly shows a DO NOT ENTER sign!!! Stupid people... The short walk up to the Waterfall was great! Enjoyed the nice weather, good trail and took a whole lot of pictures. Very scenic for the most part.

The falls are ok, but the trail is the highlight. We parked in the large lot up the hill past the first trailhead we spotted. We hopped on the trail here and completed the Wagon Road to Franklin Falls trail loop...through the gorgeous forest...down the slippery steps for a brief viewing of the falls...along the beautiful Snoqualmie River...past the adorable cabins...and back around to the opposite end of the parking lot. Sure the falls are pretty, but I enjoyed the hike more...beautiful place!

We have been to Franklin fall in the summer many times. This is our first time snowshoeing to the fall on a very merry white Christmas Day. Instead of going from the trail head parking lot. We came down from the Summit at snoqualmie all the way down to the fall. The walk was super beautiful and the kids get to play in the snow and even grab a few popsicles (icicles) to eat and play with. This is an amazing winter wonderland and the perfect day to hang outdoors with the family.

We hike here a fair bit, despite it being 40min drive from home. Love the hike, it's beautiful. Waterfall is beautiful. The creek is serene and clean. You can see the bottom of the creek. It's just an amazing site/sight :) The bathrooms however - DISGUSTING. People need to treat public facilities better. Recommend the hike, avoid the convenience.

Nice hike to Franklin Falls! It's hard to go to during winter and can get busy during the summer. Be careful at the last part before you get to the falls there is a path of rocks that can get slippery.

So easy to get to, yet so pretty! My uncle decided to take my family and I here after seven years. I recall that the last time we went, it was rainy and a bit slippery, but this time around, it was perfectly sunny. The wooden bridge to get to the trailhead was nice to take photos on, and the trail to get to the fall itself was nicely maintained. And boy, were the falls beautiful! You can walk pretty close to it on the rocks- def nice for photo ops. Def coming on out again if I want an easy, yet pretty getaway.

Very beautiful hike! Can get a little sketchy when it's wet and cold and icy. Had the fortune of hiking this path over the fall, and it was so very beautiful. There is still some foliage remaining when I was there, so the colors were very vibrant. Pretty busy path, lots of people, so the trail is pretty well trotted out. Definitely got a little muddy, so I recommend legit hiking boots. Also follow the signs easy to get lost in there. I definitely enjoyed it.

Short relatively flat hike to a beautiful payoff, Franklin Falls. Remember that you'll need the US Forest pass or the America the Beautiful annual pass for the parking lot. Traffic now flows one way only; on your way out, you'll be making a loop to Snoqualmie pass. The large amount of debris from this past winter's controlled avalanche continue to make their presence known. I doubt that they will be cleared any time soon, if ever. Recent melt from the heatdome last week provided an impressive waterfall today. And as always, please pack out what you pack in.

Arrived Friday around 10am and there were a bit of cars parked on the side of the street closer to the trailhead. The parking lot was a little further down and was only half full. I scanned the QR code which links you to the day pass section of DiscoveryNW. Paid $5 online and wrote the order/confirmation on a piece of paper placed on my dash (bring a pen and paper if you pay onsite!). The trail was well kept and a bit muddy at some sections. Mostly covered by the trees with no bugs! There were a few groups and families but overall a pretty open trail for my dog and I. The falls had a good spray and the rocks were a little slippery closer to the base. When I left around 11:15am, the parking lot had a few open spots but was definitely getting crowded.

From WTA.org Length: 2 miles round trip Elevation: Gain 400 feet This hike took us 2 hours, but we took our time stopping for pictures. There are no trash cans or benches along the way. As of 6.8.20 the bathrooms were closed, along with the self pay station. Northwest Forest Pass wasn't being sold online when I checked 6.7.20, but it might be back up now. GPS was not helpful because I guess the normal route has been turned into a one way road. WTA.org has directions. We did take exit 47 and there was a sign for Franklin Falls on the right at the end of the exit ramp, so we followed that and made it to the parking lot. Trail was easy to follow but muddy in some spots. There were some stairs to go up and down, but not too difficult. Waterfall was satisfying in the end.

We found this to be a beautiful and leisurely hike with a rewarding end. It's a pretty popular hike even though it's a decent drive from the city, so plan to arrive early or give it a visit on a weekday. The parking lot is right at the trailhead and takes the NW Forest Pass. It's a pretty mild hike with only 2 miles roundtrip and a 400 ft elevation gain. The trail is pretty smooth and well maintained. There are two vista points, one directly on the trail and the second you can climb the rocks to go right up to the base of the waterfall. The trail is shaded the whole way so you don't have to worry too much about the sunscreen. The falls themselves are beautiful at 135 ft of total waterfall and an icy cold pool of water at its base. The trees and natural PNW forest are an incredible backdrop making these falls a breathtaking sight. There's lots of places to sit on rocks and just enjoy the water, that is if there aren't too many people around. We took the Wagon Road Trail back to the parking lot which completes a nice loop and was less trafficked than the in and out Franklin Falls Trail. It's a well worthy hike and perfect for a quick outdoor experience.

A beautiful trail and easily navigable one, too! The beginning of the hike is lovely and easily done by small children in the group. However, as the ascent gets more steep and the stairs closer to the falls make their appearance (about half-way up), the trail gets narrower, has fewer areas to retreat into for a small break, and can be dangerous when wet (slippery and jagged rocks), especially in the last hundred feet or so before you reach the base of the falls. The views throughout the hike are lovely. The falls themselves are surrounded by trees that were cut down (avalanche control, I believe), and have left a somewhat "messy" look and feel to the otherwise beautiful and small pond at the foot of the falls. It is nice but a bit anticlimactic, and a less than perfect spot for lunch once you've completed the hike.

My favorite hike ever! Its easy for kids and adults and the trail is well maintained throughout. If you're not feeling like doing the entire 2 mile round trip hike you can always cheat and cut through the middle as well as there is an opening with stairs a few ways up from the main parking lot and you can park on the street or I believe there is also another parking lot towards the middle. This hike is perfect for those chilly days or when you just want to get out in nature but not do something too strenuous. They're so beautiful up close and you can feel the mist of the falls so make sure to pack a rain jacket. Also getting down to the falls can be a bit slippery especially during the winter time as ice creates a slippery layer on the rocks leading down to the fall so be careful and wear good traction shoes or just shimmy down on your butt, hah! Overall, well worth the hike for the beautiful views along the way and at the end. Highly recommened! Pro tip: during the winter the entrance to the trail head is snowed in about 5-8 miles so this 2 mile roundtrip hike ends up taking way longer but well worth the views if you're up for a longer hike in the snow. Snow boots or waterproof boots would be a good idea for sure. Have fun!

Off I-90 Exit 47. Go 3 miles to the parking lot. Easy short little kid-friendly hike up a gradual incline & many steps for 1 miles and be rewarded along the way with views of Denny Creek and then the beautiful the 70' Franklin Falls waterfall at the end. Saw big volumes of water when visiting at the end of July. Great return on hiking effort! 5* Fee paid $5 pass per car online at www.discovernw.org, printed out the pass OR write the confirmation number and leave it on the dashboard Parking parking lot is ~3miles from the exit 47 ramp but will see cars lined up along the side of the road as well. Was able to find parking at 1:30pm on a Thursday in the lot. Trail mostly shaded incline with overall 370' elevation. Mostly cleared trail & steps except the last short portion just before the fall which is a bit narrow, slippery when wet slope and rocky area so need to hold little children's hands for safety. Timing About 45/50 minutes from Seattle to the parking lot. Forgot to time it but was about 35-40 minutes there going leisurely but steady and about 25 minutes on the return. Fallen Trees there was a controlled avalanche on February 24, 2021 and now there are many fallen trees in the area by Franklin Falls. Bathroom About 100' east of the Franklin Falls Trailhead or across the road 500' SW of the parking lot Dogs on lease allowed

Awesome 6.5mi 4hr round trip winter forest stroll. You have to park by the freeway in winter and need to purchase a snow park pass in advance to avoid a ticket. Beautiful when weather has been cold to form icicles.

Came here on a Thursday around 1PM, parking lot had lots of space, trail was clear, all in the shade. Not too many people, waterfall had a ton of water, close to the waterfall has a lot of water so is a bit slippery. Short and sweet!

This is our first time at Franklin Falls cuz of Covid-19 we came early 8:30am. Went on 12/28/20 and you can't get to the parking lot, had to leave the car by the road. 8 miles of walking in winter wonderland last Monday of 2020. My friend took me here my first visit, loved meeting very friendly people staying safe. Theres few people not wearing face mask. It was tooo slick. Microspike is a must. I want to go back there next month with my microspike. I've heard there's a shortcut to the falls. You can park at Alpental or Summit Parking lot. But the Franklin Falls exit is going to be 8 miles instead of 2.1 cuz they close the road to the trailhead but you won't even notice you've been hiking 8 miles cuz it's so beautiful and very easy hike. Dress appropriately for the weather and microspike or waterproof boots are recommended. There's slippery ice, snow, mud, and rocks along the way. I'll go back there with our microspike and poles. It was too slippery without it. Should definitely check it out if you enjoy a good workout and reward yourself with the scenery. However, the hike and the extra mile of effort was worth it. What a beauty! Blessed to live in a beautiful state full of Mother Nature. Well worth the winter hike!

A-ok as far as hikes go. It's a short 2 miles round trip out-and-back hike. Great for kids and novice hikers and dog friendly! I chose this hike simply because I'm out of shape and wanted to feel like I actually accomplished something. My one advice is to get there early for parking. The parking lot and parking along the street gets crowded by 9-10am. The parking area is a starting point for several hikes in the area. Also, don't forget to pay for parking ($5 dropped in an envelope in the parking lot) if you don't have the Recreation Pass (Discover Pass doesn't count). Even with the short hike, the falls at the end of the trail are pretty breathtaking! You hike all the way up to the falls! The mist is refreshing on a hot summer day!

Great, easy hike just about 45 minutes out of Seattle! Majority of the 2 mile round trip trail has been nicely fixed up by the WTA, so there is a good amount of railing and stairs that are easy to walk on. Overall the hike is very family friendly and doable for all levels of hikers, but be careful with the rocky steps down to the base of the waterfall, as the mist from the falls does tend to make it slick. My friends and I love getting into the water, so if the weather is nice and you're up for it, I'd definitely recommend taking a dip in the water!! Just remember to be safe as the rocks in the water can be very slippery and can shift as you walk on them. The parking lot fills up relatively quickly, so if you don't come early enough, you'll have to parallel park along the road. One more thing, GPS will tell you to take exit 52 but DO NOT, as the road to franklin falls is closed that way. Instead, take exit 47 and the GPS should reroute you the right way.

This trail is great! We decided to capitalize on what may have been the last sunny Sunday for awhile by going for a hike. Hubs took me and the kiddos up to Franklin Falls to see what we could see. The trail is well maintained and covered enough that the recent rains hadn't penetrated too much and the trail wasn't too muddy. There was snow here and there along the trail, adding to the beauty of the adventure. The hike is super family friendly! It was great to see younger kiddos tromping along the trail and having fun. Elevation gain is negligible and there are sturdy rails to hang on to should you wish. The tricky part was getting down the rocky path to the base of the falls--it was a bit slippery and narrow but entirely doable! People were picnicking at the bottom with tables and chairs they carried down, so it's not too crazy. The falls are beautiful, as waterfalls tend to be. Apparently the falls are really robust after the spring rains, so we will be coming back to check that out for sure. Restrooms were closed d/t the pandemic so stop off in North Bend or at the Summit to use the facilities before you get here. Handicap parking is adjacent to the trailhead, otherwise, park on the road or follow the road around the bend to the big parking lot.

Really nice easy hike. The waterfall was a great reward for the ~1 mile hike. Most of the path is easy and safe, however right at the end you will definitely want to hand hold the little ones since it becomes a little slippery with not much to hang on to.

This is a gorgeous family-friendly hike, one of my favorite I. Washington! The trail is well maintained and my 5 year old did it no problem. It's up hill basically the whole way to the falls so it's down the way back. Have to say the address in this yelp listing will super not get you there, so be sure to use the washington state parks website for directions.

Such a rewarding hike with a gorgeous view of the waterfalls! Unlike Snoqualmie or Twin Falls, you can get right up to the waterfall for some amazing photo opps. Well, at least close enough to see the rainbow on a sunny day and get hit with the mist - I don't recommend swimming near the base of the waterfall since the water is super cold and you'd probably get sucked underneath the current. It's shorter in height compared to Snoqualmie and Twin Falls, but it's still an experience to be able to picnic next to a waterfall along the rocks. For the most part this trail is really easy and I would recommend it for beginners. And kids! Virtually no switchbacks and steady inclines - elevation gain is only 400 ft and it doesn't wear you out. I do recommend wearing waterproof sneakers and clothes you don't mind getting wet - once you get to the waterfall, you'll get hit with the mist which can leave you soaking if you're there for an hour. Still refreshing after a hike! The only hard part is at the end towards the waterfall, since you have to walk along the edge and hold on to a rope against the wall. This can be tricky since the rocks get slippery and when it's crowded, you have to deal with people trying to go up. Don't recommend bringing strollers on this trail, since you can't get them down to the waterfall at the end. The other hard part is the lack of trail etiquette... given that it's an easy hike, you'll run into a lot of folks who don't know the unspoken manners of hiking. Like letting others pass if you're holding up the line, walking on the right side of the trail, etc. If you have people who can't do the 2 mile round trip hike... there's actually a parking lot near the halfway point that makes this about a 1 mile round trip hike. Not entirely sure how you get there, but it exists and I saw a few cars parked there. The 2 mile round trip is worth it though for the gorgeous views of the river that you walk next to, plus the ending of the falls makes it worth it. Other thing... they only have portopotties or those chemical outhouses at the entrance. They smell AWFUL... so I recommend going to the bathroom before arriving. Be sure to pay for parking too (unless you have a park pass). There's a small stand that has the envelopes where you drop $5 for payment near the restrooms.

It's a pretty short trail but you still get a bit of a workout since the majority of the second part of it is all uphill. There were lots of people with kids and dogs on the trail and the trail is nestled amongst the trees so there weren't a lot of problems with sun or rain coming directly down on you. The trail is well maintained and there were only a few muddy spots but there would likely be more if it rains or is raining. There were two parts that I found a bit dangerous. The first being that you have to cross a main road where cars travel on to get to the second part of the trail. It can be a little crazy if you're trying to cross with kids, so just keep your eyes peeled and don't let your kids get too far away from you. The road crossing is just before the parking lot where the bathroom is. The second somewhat dangerous part is coming down the slippery rocks down to where the falls actually are. If you don't have shoes with reasonably great traction and aren't too sure of your overall footing, proceed with caution. I thought carrying my friend's daughter would lower the risk of injury but then noticed that my own footing wasn't that great since the rocks are jagged and narrow. Slowly but surely I was able to coerce my friend's daughter down the rocky slope to the falls. What a sight the falls are though. I love that you can get super close to the falls and hear the water crashing over onto the rocks from quite a distance away. I wish we could have stayed a bit longer but there seemed to be quite an influx of people coming down and lingering around the falls so it gets a bit crowded especially on the narrow slippery rocks leading to/away from the falls. We went with a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old in a baby carrier and there were plenty of kids of all ages, shapes, and sizes that made it to the falls. It's a relatively easy hike though and just enough to tire your kids out so they sleep in the car on the way home. So...bonus! We got to the lot at 9am and there were still plenty of parking spaces. When we got back to the lot around 11 ish, the lot was full.

A lovely short walk/hike with a rather dangerous ending before you reach the beautiful waterfall. The trail is very shaded, certain areas I consider dangerous due to narrow path and steep fall off if you don't pay attention. The creek water is crystal clear! Before you reach the waterfall, the trail narrows significantly, one person at a time, on a rocky descending path and you want to hang on to the wall. It is slippery. I would go again.

Beautiful hike with a lovely waterfall at the end. Easy for everyone to do as well. One warning though- the road gets narrow to a point of one lane. My car got scraped as we were going back up because someone drove a moving truck into the road that pretty much blocked everyone...

Living in the PNW gives us the best of both worlds, I've hiked this trail several times and it's different depending on which season you decide to hike in. During Winter months, the road entrance towards the trail is usually blocked off or closed due to heavy snowfall. A trail that is supposed to be 2 miles RT can easily turn to 5-5.5 miles RT. If you do drive in, I would recommend having chains or studs on your tires. As well as snow gear - spikes for your boots or poles to help with traction. Trust me, it will make a huge difference in your hike and you won't be slipping going down or up hills and falling on your ass. It is hilly and more dangerous during the winter months, especially going downhill towards the waterfall, so be extra careful at these points. (this is where having spikes would be beneficial). During the Summer months, the hike is super easy and you can literally drive up right by the trail and park on the side near the trail entrance. The trail is well kept and you don't really "need" hiking boots for this type of trail but it is always recommended. It is more dirt than gravel or rocks I would say. It's definitely a great hike for any beginners or kids - \they can enjoy, play in the water and take in the views. The trail is fairly popular so if you want to avoid large crowds, go during the weekdays or weekends, early mornings and afternoons. If you're looking for a short & quick hike, this is the one for it. It's one of my favorites and equally as beautiful during the cold months and hotter months.

A great hike, beautiful winter wonderland scenery everywhere you turn. Make sure you have the right shoes or hiking poles! If not wear snow pants and just sit and slide down for steeper icy slopes (not intense incline but hard if you're in rain boots or none grip hiking boots), it's fun and it's like sledding. Chains + 4WD needed when you get towards the parking area. Go extra early for a good parking spot like arrive before 8am. We got there around 9:30am and we struggle a little to find a parking spot. If you arrive late be careful about where you chose to park (avoid the free way and inappropriate parking) on the way out we saw about 20 cars that had TOW on it! This place is monitored!

Wow just the best trails and final view of the falls! You need a parking pass- buy at exit 52 (open 0830-4p) vs $5 at the box by the restrooms. Come early for best parking like we did 0845! Restrooms are gross -just a portapotty inside a room. Bring water and snacks. Don't forget good hiking sneakers and shoes and the trails get muddy and wet! Exiting is a mess as people park in the road so it becomes just one way! Stunning views and highly recommended for families and petowners!!!

Gorgeous waterfall that you can get up, close, and personal with! A rather short and easy nature hike - or rather walk - at just over 2 miles, or less, depending on where you start from. Because of this, I'd highly recommend doing this then hitting up Rattlesnake Ledge on your way back into Seattle to get more mileage in. Depending on when you go, it can take at least an hour to get out to Franklin Falls, so might as well kill two birds with one stone if you're driving that much already. We followed the directions on GoogleMaps to make it to the trailhead of Franklin Falls and ended up in Denny Creek Campground area. I'm not sure where the actual Franklin Falls parking lot is, but we did end up turning left, traveling past the officially marked trailhead, crossing the narrow bridge, and into a parking lot designated for the Melawka Lakes/ Denny Creek trail. *NW Forest Pass ($5) required when parking. You can purchase this online (http://www.wta.org/hiking-info/passes/passes-and-permit-info) if you know your vehicle's license plate (we had a rental), at REI, or at the trailhead itself.* For some reason, the machine was down during the wintertime (it was covered and a sign alerted us to this), so we didn't purchase a pass. We didn't get a ticket, but it's better to be safe than sorry so purchase ahead of time. Not sure if they just let everyone slide during the winter just because the machine is down. From this trailhead, you tack on an extra 0.25mi, so roundtrip it'll be 2.5mi. It gets misty, so be prepared with some rain gear so you aren't miserable. Wonderful hike for everyone and so glad we had the trail practically to ourselves on a cold Sunday morning. I hear it gets busy on other days, so plan accordingly, but don't hesitate to add this to your itinerary when in Seattle.

Mesmerizing, serene, beautiful, heavenly, spectacular. I am falling short of words. Our first hike in 2017 and i am so glad it was ! We went on a Sunday at around noon. It had snowed just the day before so roads towards the trail were pretty slow and slippery. Mostly all the cars were taking u turns. We ended up parking about 2 miles away from the trailhead. Hence the total distance for the hike was about 3.5 -4 miles. Hike was pretty much flat with small inclinations in the last 1 mile, None of it was strenuous. The view of the frozen falls in the end is so worth every step you take towards it. Loved it!! I would highly recommend getting crampons before going there in winter. Parts on the roads and the last quarter mile were quite slippery and I could complete it only because of my crampons.

This hike was a lot of fun! The weather was in the 80s and perfect for this hike, it was only 2 miles round trip so it wasn't too difficult. The waterfall was absolutely beautiful and there was a nice breeze when standing near it which felt amazing after sweating a little on the hike. We took our shoes off and dipped our toes in the cold water and that was pretty refreshing. Next time I will pack water shoes so the rocks don't hurt my feet when walking in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. Packing a lunch and blanket to sit on and stay for a while would be so much fun also! It's peaceful there and I would have loved to stay longer. There is a bathroom at the beginning of the trail but it's not the cleanest and there was no toilet paper so I would definitely bring some with you or have some extra napkins just in case. You do need to have a Northwest Forrest Pass or a Sno-Parks Permit to park there. If you don't have one, there is a QR code at the beginning of the trail that will take you to the website and you can pay for a day pass there (it was only $5) You just have to write down your pass number and display it in your front window. Also don't follow the directions on Yelp! It took us to a neighborhood and that was 7 miles away from where we were supposed to be. We went to the Washington trail association website and got the correct directions from there.

Super pretty winter hike. Only wore my hiking boots and didn't have spikes, but I lived. Just be careful because it can get slippery. Cold, but worth. Just took a while to get there because the road there was blocked so we had to find an alternate route.

BEAUTIFUL!!! Went today the weather was perfect. Trail to Franklin Falls is clean and well maintained. The trail is not far at all with steps throughout that help the incline. As your walking up there are so many beautiful spots to stop along the way and look at the beautiful scenery. Over the winter they had a controlled avalanche so there is a lot of debris currently at the bottom but still very very beautiful!! Lots of spots you can walk down to the river before you get to the actual falls. You need to pay for parking / have a permit. Your able to park in the lot or along one side of the road once you get near the trail. This location has a few different trails you can choose from, can't wait to try the others.

Amazing and easy waterfall hike. Recommend going when it is pouring so you minimize crowd potential.

Hiked Sunday 3/13/2016 Miles hiked: 3.48 miles out and back Directions: I used the directions off the WTA site "From Seattle, head east on I-90 to exit 47 Denny Creek/Tinkham Road. At the top of the exit ramp turn left and cross over the freeway. Go .2 miles and turn right at the stop sign onto Forest Road 58. The road crosses under the freeway and after .2 miles turn left. Continue ahead for 2.4 miles and take a left just after Denny Creek Campground and arrive at the Franklin Falls trailhead" But we were not able to drive to the trail head. On that 2.4 mile stretch, there was road blockage by huge snow/ice chunks. We ended up parking our car on the side of the road and hiking in from there. We parked 0.74 miles away from the trail head. Trail: since there was so much snow, we missed the trail head, but the road and the trail eventually meet up, so we found the trail a bit further down. What is nice about the area is I had phone service the entire time so I could look at google maps and see where we were. Franklin Falls Trail comes up on google maps. Hike itself was short, but it was beautiful! Definitely an adventure cuz of all the snow. The waterfalls wasn't frozen, but it was still plenty cold. Only downer about this hike, is right above the waterfall is the highway. The day we went, hiking out we didn't see much people. Hiking back we passed large teenage crowds. Glad we went early! Parking pass needed.

Very short and easy day hike. Super kid or dog friendly, just practice caution once you get to the actual fall point, that's where the trail turns into climbing rocks to get down. Usually pretty crowded, but people are conscious & kind to give space and/or let each other take turns at taking pictures next to the fall The fall itself is magical... Parking lot will have an open space if you are patient enough to wait when it's full. They do not accept Discovery pass, pay only $5 to park, so it's worth it. Pack a lunch and if you prefer a more secluded vibe, go down to the water at the beginning of that trail

I saw this on TikTok and I thought I should give it a try (I am glad I did) it is a very moderate hike that even the little ones and the furry friends can enjoy.

Me and my boyfriend left Seattle at 6:30am today (Sunday, January 14, 2018) and got to the trailhead around 7:30am. We took exit 47, made a left off the exit, and then a right following signs to Franklin Falls. We drove about 1 minute till we reached the gate(closed) which takes you to Denny Creek Campground. We made a U turn and parked right next to the gate with the head of the car facing the way we came in(recommended!). This is because we knew there would be ALOT of people when we came back, so we wanted an easier getaway. 3 cars were already there when we arrived and 3 more cars showed up as we were getting ready to hit the trail. From the gate, you walk about 2 miles on a paved road to the trailhead of Franklin Falls. The 2 miles is pretty easy since the road is paved and there is little to no incline. You will pass a few cabins along the way, hear cars go by on the I-90W to your left, and see the South Fork Snoqualmie River on your right. However, the road is icy so around 1 mile in (where the bridge is at) we put on our traction cleats (Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats for Walking on Snow and Ice. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094GO9DA?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf). Once you hit the campground, you have the option to go strait or left. Take a left and you will pass a bathroom and the trail's parking lot covered in snow. The trail is to the right of the parking lot ( you will see a sign that points you in the direction of Franklin Falls 1 mile away). The trail itself is well maintained (with rails at dangerous parts) and heavily trafficked, as there is only 1 path that you really follow. It is pretty packed down from all the hikers as the snow is brown. Endure a bit of cold and elevation and you will be greeted with an amazing winter wonderland view. To get to the Falls at the last bit of the hike, you have to go down a short (single file line here!) icy slope. Traction really helped here as I saw people without them struggle, even with trekking poles. We quickly snapped some pictures and made our way back as my fingers started to freeze. We saw SO MANY people on our way back that we just knew there had to be a lines at the falls forming. By the time we were back at our car around 10:30, the entire road was filled with cars and people were fighting for spots. You can just tell it was no bueno. Tips: 1. Go early.. honestly 7:30am was perfect, and park facing the exit for a quick escape :) 2. Traction cleats are not a must, but they help a great deal. Can't imagine how much I would struggle without them.

Fairly simple hike, took my two huskies during a weekday and it wasn't too busy. Mostly flat path with steps which increases intensity closer to the waterfall. The end before the waterfall bottom is a little steep rock area so make sure to have good grip shoes. Luckily they didn't drag me down! It was helpful to have them pull me upwards though! Great hike!

Franklin falls has been a family hiking place for my family. We've been here twice and it never disappoint us. The waterfall view at the end is worth the hike. The hike towards the waterfall too is a good workout. Going down towards the waterfall is a scary narrow hike so make sure you have a good balance and some comfy shoes.

Franklin Falls is an amazing, easy day hike. It's so great for beginners, families, etc. This was my third time going, and it was great to actually go when the place isn't frozen completely over (that's how it was the last time I was here). The trail is very clean, fairly easy, but it does get packed on these summer weekends for sure. The water is FREEZING. My sister and I did our best to try and get in, but we couldn't make it past our waist! So many people were swimming full on, and I commend them for that. Impressive, to say the least. Along the way, you get to see some pretty awesome views of the creek down below that provide a lot of cool picture stops. Word of advice: get here early, because I parked about a half a mile away due to how many people were there and how small the parking lot is.