5 Easy Dog Friendly Waterfall Hikes in Western Washington
One type of hike that I like to do with my dogs is waterfall hikes.
Rushing rivers and mountainous terrain makes for some of the most magnificent views—views that NEVER fail to take my breath away and make me feel in awe.
Fortunately, Washington State boasts plenty of dog friendly waterfall hikes.
Not every state in the country has the pleasure of having so many breathtaking waterfalls in their backyard, and it’s a benefit I try to take advantage of.
Rather, I’ve made it a goal, and consider it a true joy, to visit as many dog-friendly waterfalls in the state as I can.
What’s even better? Many of Washington’s most well-known waterfalls don’t require difficult hikes and are easily accessible to dogs and people.
Below are some of my favorite waterfalls that are easy to hike to.
Franklin Falls
I strongly encourage anyone who has a desire to get outdoors with their dogs, but may be intimidated by a lack of experience, to consider starting with Franklin Falls.
This hike will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first waterfalls outside of Seattle that I hiked to.
The hike is beautiful, with coniferous trees and ferns lining the trail, and a clear river running alongside for almost the entirety of the one mile walk.
The roaring 70-foot waterfall is close and intense once you reach the end of the hike, so plan on getting a little wet from the spray if you don’t keep your distance.
This hike is located in Snoqualmie Pass and is 2 miles (roundtrip) with well paved trails and rock steps that make the short hike to the falls easy and safe for hikers big and small, and of course, for our short four legged companions.
The elevation gain is minimal—only 400 feet—so you and your dog don’t need to be in any kind of exceptional shape to make it to the falls.
I should warn you, however, that at the end of the hike near the waterfall, there is a short, rocky climb down to ground level that can sometimes be slick from water spray.
Don’t let this be a deterrent, just wear a solid pair of shoes and don’t rush getting down, and you will be fine.
If you choose not to make the final decent, know that you can see the whole waterfall from the top.
Another wonderful thing about Franklin Falls? The waterfall sometimes turns into one sparkling, magical frozen icicle in the winter.
However, although not particularly difficult in winter, the road to the parking lot is closed so you need to walk about 8 miles round trip from the snow park just off Exit 47 (Denny Creek Sno Park) or about 4 miles roundtrip from the Summit at Snoqualmie.
You’ll need a Northwest Forest Service Pass to park at the trailhead when there is no snow on the ground.
In winter, you will need a Sno Park parking permit to park at the Denny Creek Sno Park and snowshoes or microspikes are advisable.
Also beware that there is an avalanche chute that dumps out at the base of the falls so be sure to check avalanche danger before you go.
Twin Falls
Twin Falls is a 2.5 mile (roundtrip) hike located near North Bend, and is one of the more popular hikes in the area.
The first portion of the hike is relatively flat and will take you alongside a river with sizable boulders.
Aside from providing a beautiful view, there are certain places within the river where the boulders block the strong current, in turn creating safe spaces for small fish to live and dogs to swim and play.
Gradually the hike will begin to lead you uphill, with switchbacks, to a resting spot with benches and the first view of the falls.
I highly recommend continuing along the trail to get to the lookout points of the falls.
It’s not much further in, and it’s the view there that makes the hike well worth it.
The 135-foot waterfall itself is pretty magnificent, painting the image of strands of thread cascading down the rock face of the cliff.
If you continue a little further up the trail, there’s a well-made bridge that will give you a second glimpse of the second waterfall (thus, Twin Falls).
Admittedly, this also a great place to snap some pictures of your pup.
Overall, this waterfall hike is easy to moderate, and able to be hiked by young kids, older adults and dogs of all shapes and sizes.
While it may be muddy at times, the view along the trails is wonderful, with the pathway being framed by ferns, moss-covered trees and old growth forest the whole way through.
You will need a Discover Pass to park at this trailhead.
Snoqualmie Falls
This waterfall is one of Washington’s most popular scenic attractions, is the second-most visited tourist attraction in Washington state, after Mt. Rainier
It requires very little to no (if you park at the upper viewpoint) hiking to see and admire the falls.
It’s a beautiful waterfall with an interesting history.
The falls have been a sacred site for the Snoqualmie Tribe for generations and, today, it’s a source of hydraulic power (source).
Snoqualmie Falls Lodge , on the cliffs above the falls, has a gift shop, observation deck, a lodge, informative signs explaining the Fall’s history, and lights that illuminate the waterfall at night—the whole shebang, basically.
It really is more of a tourist attraction than a hike, but worth seeing in my opinion.
If you want to see the falls from the lower perspective, but don’t want to tackle the hill down from the upper viewpoint, you can drive past the lodge to a lower parking lot.
Snoqualmie welcomes close to 1.5 million visitors each year, so prepare on sharing the view with multiple other people when you visit, especially if you’re going on a nice day.
If your pup isn’t a fan of crowds or other dogs, you may want to consider this before choosing this location.
A general rule of thumb with waterfalls: the worse the weather the better the view, as rain and snow create a much stronger, louder and awe-inspiring waterfall.
The great thing about Snoqualmie is that you can enjoy the thunderous roar of the waterfall (and even standing hundreds of feet away, you will still get wet with mist), without getting muddy or having to navigate sketchy trail conditions with your pup, making this a great place to visit year round.
The main parking area at Snoqualmie Falls is a fee lot. There are free parking areas available in the upper and lower lot.
Mashel Falls
Mashel Falls is located in Eatonville, about an hour and a half away from Seattle.
The tallest waterfall plunges over 90 feet.
The falls are not “little”. The names derive from the Little Mashel River (pronounced like “Michelle”).
The official names are Lower Little Mashel Falls, Little Mashel Falls, and Tom Tom Falls, but they are more commonly referred to as Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls, respectively.
These falls are tucked away in the Pack Forest area, and consist of three different waterfalls along the trail: lower, middle and upper falls, which present themselves in order as you follow the river.
While the hike itself is beautiful, especially on a sunny day when rays of sunshine peak through the forest leaves, the trail itself is notoriously difficult to find.
There is an administration building that will hand out maps, which, after reading quite a few reviews, are your best bet in finding the correct trailhead.
The hike to the Upper Falls can be a little hairy, but there were ropes to hold onto for sections of steep decline when I was there.
As for the upper falls: they were beautiful and peaceful. Not nearly as strong and demanding of attention as Franklin or Snoqualmie, but Mashel Falls were relatively secluded and calm, allowing me an opportunity to sit quietly with my dogs and take in the surrounding forest.
While we didn’t get a chance to visit them, I’ve read online that the lower falls has a nice, calm lagoon-type area that is great for dogs to swim and play in, and that the middle falls (which many feel are the most beautiful of the three) have an area that allows you to walk behind the waterfall, which is not a treat that many waterfalls allow.
No parking passes are required at this trailhead.
Panther Creek Falls
Panther Creek Falls is located near Carson, WA and is considered to be one of the prettier falls in Washington State.
It’s a part of the Columbia River Gorge, so imagine canyons, electric colors and a sense of being tucked away from the rest of the world.
It’s only a half mile hike roundtrip, so (really) not much of a hike at all.
Still though, it’s a dog friendly area and is great for novice hikers who want to get outdoors but don’t have tons of experience.
The falls themselves (there are two tiers) empty down a canyon and into the same basin, and are surrounded by draping plants and vibrant green moss.
A viewing deck was constructed recently in order to eliminate climbing risks and allot visitors a place to admire the view.
If one is feeling adventurous, people are allowed to descend to the base of the falls, but should be aware that doing so requires some technical scrambling, and can be risky.
The great thing about Panther Creek Falls is that it is located in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, so it’s easy to pop in, see the falls, and spend the rest of the day hiking other trails in the surrounding area.
There is no parking pass required at this trailhead.
Final Thoughts
There really is no way of saying which waterfalls in Washington are the best—there are so many, and let’s be honest… waterfalls are somehow always magical in their own way, no matter how big or small.
If you’re new to being outdoors or want an easy hike that you and your dog can tackle, perhaps start with some of the ones on this list.
That being said, there are hundreds of beautiful waterfalls waiting to be explored in the Pacific Northwest.
If you’ve had opportunities to explore various dog friendly waterfalls in the Washington, I would love to hear some of your favorites.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Jessica. I’ve been studying the Dachshund breed since 2007, owned 3 of my own, and shared in the lives of thousands of others through their owner’s stories. When I’m not sharing what I know on this blog, you can find me hiking, camping, and traveling with my adventurous wiener dogs.
I love taking my collies hiking to waterfalls! (Which is obvious by all our the waterfall pictures). We are on the East coast though, so we won’t get to see these.
Elena Gifford Pinchot is a national, forest , not a park – important only because national parks are not dog friendly and national forests are
Hi Laura. You are correct. Thanks for catching that. I didn’t see it when I edited Elena’s article but I’ve fixed it now.
Thank you for this article! So many “hiking with your dog” articles are geared towards those with larger dogs. I have shih tzus and don’t think they could do 6 miles. This is really helpful information for me!
Don’t underestimate them! Ha, ha. When my Dachshund Gretel is in good hiking shape she can easily hike 7-10 miles in a day. I can barely hike that myself so that is her limit. Every human and dog has their own limits though.
Thanks for the compliment on my article. I do really want to see more small dogs out on the trails and everyone has to start with the easier ones, even if they choose to go longer later in the season.