Franklin Falls
Franklin Falls
Region: Central Cascades and Snoqualmie
Roundtrip Miles: 2.0 from exit 47 trailhead in summer, 7.0 from exit 47 trailhead in winter (road is closed), 3.0 from Snoqualmie Summit West trailhead (best option in winter) (note: this isn’t really a trailhead…you park at Summit West, walk down under the overpass, get to the NF-58 road, follow this until you get to the no-shooting sign, take a right and follow the path beaten in the snow until you meet up with the main trail coming from exit 47, hang right and you’ll be at the falls in a few minutes)
Elevation Gain (feet): 400
Best Month(s): February (winter hike), June (summer hike)
Hikeable: year-round (snow in winter though)
Trailhead Coordinates: 47.4130, -121.4416 exit 47 regular trailhead; 47.428591, -121.416305 Snoqualmie Summit West winter trailhead
Pass: NW Forest
Features: river, waterfalls
Water: This is such a short hike that the water you bring should be adequate; if the flow is low enough, you could get more water to filter from the river downstream of the falls
Summary: Franklin Falls is one of the most rewarding “easy” hikes in western Washington. It’s not really off the beaten path–you can see the highway from the falls itself–and the distance and elevation gain are low enough that families with children can manage this mini-adventure just fine. The falls often freeze during winter and the view is spectacular; try to see the falls during winter and during summer for two very different experiences. The best flows–not too much water but not down to a trickle–are usually between April and July. While you can see the falls from a viewpoint before actually reaching the falls, there is a narrow trail hugging the side of the rock face to get you down closer. Use caution here, especially with children, when the water is flowing at its peak as you could slip on the wet rocks and there is a small drop-off to the river’s path below. If the falls are at peak flow, there may be enough spray to warrant rain gear as well. The lower flow of late summer allows you to get closer to the base of the falls. Winter-time snow also allows you to get pretty close–just don’t get too close to the splash pool because the water eats away under the seemingly-solid snow shelf around the splash pool. Microspikes aren’t absolutely necessary in winter but I was very glad that I wore mine and I would highly recommend them–even the cheap ones are better than nothing. The only downside to this hike is that it can be very busy since it’s close to Seattle and easy. When I went in winter, the falls weren’t illuminated until probably 1pm so if you want photos of the falls in light then you don’t need to get here super early…but the trade-off is that parking is difficult if you arrive late in the morning. Even without having the falls to yourself, it’s a beautiful experience.
Post-hike Food Stop:
- Aahaar Indian Eatery (Snoqualmie): chana masala (vegetarian) or butter chicken or if you go Tues-Fri 11am-2pm then you can get one of the lunch specials (#4 mix and match with butter chicken, garlic naan, and mango lassi was yummy)
- Infusion Bar and Grill* (Snoqualmie): if you go during happy hour (3-6pm daily), order the BBQ pork or salmon sliders; lunch or dinner, order the fish and chips, infusion jambalaya, or dungeness crab fettuccine
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.