Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Franklin Falls
Featured In:
Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region,
by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. The trail is well marked as it follows the old wagon track along the South Fork Snoqualmie River. There's also a continuation of the Denny Creek Road as it follows the old highway route up to the pass. If the kids get footsore on the mile-long hike up to the falls, let them skip down the road on the way back. But the trail is the better option, as it climbs through the mossy forest, periodically crossing the old carved ruts of the wagon road--those steel-shod wooden wagon wheels cut deep. The path reaches Franklin Falls at 1 mile, with the last 100 yards climbing steeply on rocky trail to the base of the falls. The tall falls pounds down a sheer rock face, providing a refreshing spray to cool hot hikers. Don't venture out into the falls water, however. It's coming down hard and frequently carries loose rocks down with the tumbling water.
Driving Directions:
From Seattle drive east on I-90 to exit 47 (Asahel Curtis/Denny Creek). Turn left over the overpass and proceed to a T. Turn right and travel 0.25 mile to Denny Creek Road (Forest Road 58). Turn left and drive 3 miles, passing the Denny Creek Campground. Just past the camp-ground, turn left onto FR 5830 and park before crossing the bridge. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail | Road to trailhead inaccessible
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Nice day for a hike. Plenty of snow on the trail and icy in some places. Road is...
Nice day for a hike. Plenty of snow on the trail and icy in some places. Road is blocked about 1/2 mile below the campground.
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail | Road to trailhead inaccessible
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Beautiful Winter hike! Road was open until just before you hit the first bridge, but this only adds about a...
Beautiful Winter hike! Road was open until just before you hit the first bridge, but this only adds about a quarter-half mile hike in to the trailhead. If you have a solid 4x4 with high clearance, you may just be able to power up to the trailhead. Snowy trail throughout the hike. The falls were partially frozen and aesthetically breathtaking! Some really cool icicles along the way to the falls. Enjoy!
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail | Road to trailhead inaccessible
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This hike is still easily accessible. The road is plowed to the bridge, but it is a little bit...
This hike is still easily accessible. The road is plowed to the bridge, but it is a little bit icy. The extra road walk is about 1/2 mile. The trail is well packed and easy to follow. I did it with microspikes, but they shouldn't be necessary.
There is much less snow than in the last trip report. The falls were still nice, and there were some cool ice crystals near the shore of the river. I found a cell phone submerged in water at the edge of the river. I've been trying to dry it out, but so far it won't turn on. I'll drop it in a cell-phone recycle bin next week unless someone claims it before then. Day hike
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Snow on trail
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We had a great hike to a very snowy Franklin Falls. The road was clear to within about .75 miles...
We had a great hike to a very snowy Franklin Falls. The road was clear to within about .75 miles of the trailhead, and we walked from there. At the falls, there was about two feet of snow. Although we were only the second group of hikers coming in, the trail was definitely manageable without snowshoes. The icicles around the falls were spectacular, as was the brilliant blue sky. Waiting at the falls is Franklin, our snowman.
Day hike
Issues:
Mudholes | Water on trail | Snow on trail
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it is snowing in the mountains now. coming from seattle, you will start to see the snow line in the...
it is snowing in the mountains now. coming from seattle, you will start to see the snow line in the mountains around north bend. 90 was fine, and once you get off at exit 47 for franklin falls, the road is snow covered from there on- but you should be fine as of right now as long as your vehicle is capable of driving in light snow/ice. fortunately, there were tire tracks leading the entire way to the falls, so i just followed the same tracks to the trail head (I have no 4wd and standard tires)- but i imagine people will need to check weather reports from here on out for the rest of the season before trying to get back to these trails. they arent going to salt those roads and you could get stuck if another snow fall comes. Once you reach the trail - it was a super easy hike. there was snow on the ground the entire way from the trail head to the falls - but there is barely any elevation gain. there was water on parts of the trail, so you had to step in large puddles 3 or 4 times, and mud in 3 or 4 parts as well, but extremely easy to traverse and people shouldnt have any trouble. it began snowing while i was on my way back to the trailhead - and i was worried about being able to drive back out, but aside from that, it was a beautiful hike. the waterfall was even more beautiful than ever with all of the snow and i would totally recommend the hike to anyone with a vehicle that can safely get them in and out if it snows. it was much different than summer and was still very easy/safe. you cant really lose your way, even if fresh snow covers the trail. it runs along the river and is a very simple in and out. short and sweet.
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Franklin Falls. Photo by Susan Elderkin.
2011
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