Mima Falls

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Mima Falls

Region: Olympics

Roundtrip Miles: 6.5

Elevation Gain (feet): 650

Best Month(s): April

Hikeable: year-round

Trailhead Coordinates: 46.9019, -123.0640

Pass: Discover

Features: waterfall, fall foliage, river, old growth, campsites

Water: Several small culverts diverting water along the way

Summary: We did the Mima Falls hike early (7:30am) on a Sunday morning and had the trail to ourselves until the last mile of the return trip. We were back to the trailhead around 10:15, and this allowed for a 30-minute break to enjoy the falls and force the dogs to pose for pictures. The falls consist of water cascading over rocks. Not the most impressive you’ll ever see, but still a nice little gem of tranquility and beauty close-in to town. Go in spring while the water is still flowing because by late summer it morphs into a pathetic trickle. There are small areas of clear-cut out in the sun but most of the hike is through second-growth forest, nicely shaded, with lots of wildflowers (trillium and bleeding heart were abundant, but just slightly past peak when we went in the first week of May–most of the trillium had turned purple). It’s a really pleasant trail if you go before everyone else is awake. The trail itself is in excellent shape–no rock minefields to trip over, well-maintained, moderate grades, a nice picnic area at the falls. Make sure to keep your dog leashed! There are frequently horses, bikes, and runners on the trail. Another consideration is that there is a gun club nearby the trailhead so you may hear gunshots in the distance; we didn’t but, again, we went early in the morning.

Post-hike Food Stop:

  1. Curry Corner (Lacey): honestly, everything here is delicious but my favorite is the Butter Chicken…make sure you order garlic naan as your side or in addition to your side of rice; the vegetarian options are fantastic as well…Dal Makhni and Dal Tarka are especially good
  2. Ramirez Mexican Store and Restaurant (Tumwater) – authentic, delicious, and good service; the breakfast Machaca is bomb! I think they may have the best Mexican food in Washington state
  3. Fish Tale Brewpub* (Olympia): crab cakes, clam chowder, fish and chips

Note: The restaurants and breweries denoted with * are potentially dog-friendly for their outdoor seating. Their patio dining may only be open during summer, however. You should always check with each restaurant to see if outdoor space has a separate entrance and if they are willing to accommodate well-behaved dogs. I would never assume just because a place has allowed dogs in the past that this is still the case.