Franklin Falls - Winter — Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025

UPDATE: A very different experience than just ~3 weeks ago! The ice on the trail has been replaced by snow, so the trail is much easier to navigate. The walk through the forest is lovely, with plenty of snow on the trees. The falls themselves are more frozen, with amazingly beautiful ice formations. I have replaced the original 4th pic with a picture from today. There were folks ice climbing both the falls, and the cliff to the right of the falls. Lots of people on the trail. The road and parking lot are mostly plowed, although there are fewer parking spaces at the lot than normal, and with compact snow traction tires are definitely recommended.

Bottom Line (OG: 1/20/25):

Alternately amusing, and slightly terrifying that folks, especially kids, would try this without microspikes! Snowy butts do not lie!! As long as folks are only falling on their butts... but there are areas of exposure on this short hike that could lead to an uncontrolled slide into the water! Dad mode off ;) BEAUTIFUL day at the falls in all their frozen wonder after a week or so of cold weather! The trail is VERY icy, but no problem with the right gear. Busy, but had some alone time at the falls to get some pics! Snow depth is about 18 inches maybe in the deepest areas - winter does not want to seem to cooperate now after a good start! Hopefully we will get some more cold weather to add some snow to the mix at the falls. The falls are largely in the shade this time of year given how low the sun is on the horizon. Road to Denny Creek parking area is clear. Snow Park pass required - pay kiosk available.

Stats:

• Distance: ~3 miles with some exploring; short, sweet and beautiful
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Vertical: ~400 ft
• Road/Parking: The road is clear to the Franklin Falls parking lot. Restrooms. Snow Park pass required, with a pay kiosk at the lot. Plenty of parking despite the holiday. No roadside parking - tow zone. 
• Weather: Sunny, with high cloud; no wind (although signs warning of gusts on I90); temperature around freezing. No snow on the trees, and lots of areas of bare ground under trees. Chilly at the falls with freezing mist - suggest gloves and thermal layers.
• Trail: Parts of the trail are solid ice - traction strongly recommended. You can create a loop by (from the parking lot) walking up the (snowy, closed) road until you hit the (obvious) trail junction, and then on the return sticking to the gorge trail all the way down to the bridge. The trail is lovely, with some old growth trees, and terrific views into the river gorge along its length (so many icicles!). But be careful - with the snow/ice, there is some exposure should you slip. The trail down to the falls is a set of stairs, covered in ice, and a short traverse on a rock ledge. Moderate, but weather and conditions can make things more challenging. One down tree otherwise clear. The falls are a mix of flowing water and frozen ice - see pics. The river is mostly open water with areas of ice that make the gorge views on the way up especially beautiful. The aquagreen water color combined with the ice and snow was lovely. The ice formations from the freezing mist are otherworldly! (pics below do not really do them justice). There is a top-down route to the falls from Snoqualmie Summit, as detailed in this trip report (includes video). CAUTION: Watch for falling icicles.
• Takeaway: Would love to return on a snowy day with lots of snow in the trees and the gorge, and the relative quiet that would bring (the freeway can be noisy) - we need a weather pattern change!

I have attached a YouTube short of this hike.

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://www.instagram.com/wta_alpinewanderer/