Trip Reports

Ken hiked this trail with his family, his sister and her family. Kids aged 7 to 11. This is a fun hike and is very family friendly. Kens son was 3 the first time he hiked this. Bring all ages! We had a little rain but we stayed warm. There were even elk resting by the road that leads to the trail head before and after the hike.

For more on this trip visit http://survivingurban.com/amothers-day-hike/

We started later in the day, around 4:30, and we could tell that the trail was popular earlier in the day (some cars were still parked on the side of the road quite a distance from the trailhead) but by the time we arrived most of the crowds had subsided. The hike was beautiful, there were lots of wild flowers blooming and the trail was well maintained. We walked up to the falls and thought they were quite impressive. Make sure to take a look down both paths when the trail splits near the top. It give you an opportunity to see two very different perspectives on the the falls. We took a chance to relax for a few minutes next to the river on our way back to the trailhead. All in all great hike.

Beautiful hike!

There are a lot of scenic views in this hike, the terrain is a switchback, lots of hills but you are given some good resting points along the way. There are several different bridges and viewpoints of the falls, but I believe the lower viewpoint has the best view by far. There will be a lot of people out on a nice day, and parking can be hard to find if you get there too late. It's a $10 parking fee to park in the lot, or you can find parking on the road for free (just more of a walk to the trailhead!) I recommend this hike to anybody looking for a beautiful hike.

Perfect weather with great trail conditions. Water is powerful and worth the quick hike if your limited on time. Parking is limited at trailhead and trail was busy for a Friday.

I had never been on either of these hikes. It was a beautiful day to be in Washington.

Rattlesnake Mt
Pros:
views
close
not Mt. Si

cons:
short
traffic
most of it is in the woods
not Mt. Si

Twin Falls is a great little hike. There is a nice lookout that I took pictures from of the falls. A little ways farther you can stand above the towering falls and see the ones above the largest.

These two hikes together makes for a nice day hiking the I-90 corridor and get the mountain views and waterfalls.

First hike of the year. It was a beautiful day with blue skies and warm sun. The hike was a little less than 3 miles from trailhead to bridge and back. There were a few hills to hike up and down along the way.

Zac

We arrived just before noon on Saturday and there were many people on the trail. A lot of families and folks with dogs. The trail was damp in some places but a great hike overall!

Went out for a lovely Easter hike. Got lucky and parked right in front of the Trailhead. Many cars were parked for blocks and blocks down the road.

Lots of kids and dogs on the trail. It was positively HOT in the sun. Beautiful weather.

Falls were great. Not tons of water, but enough to definitely be beautiful. Had a lovely picnic lunch above the highest part of the waterfalls and headed back down again.

We arrived around 11 and it was much more crowded on our way out in the early afternoon.

Whats known....parking is bad..really bad, people parked at the corner when you turn in. Hike to the hike. Initial hike is fine, the view of the waterfall is obstructed so worth it to venture in. Bridge over looking falls is crowded as well but a nice view.

Quick, crowded hike today. Lots of kids and dogs. Arrived relatively late to the trailhead, about 1pm, and the parking lot was nearly full. Some mud on the trail but nothing treacherous.

Returned from a beautiful rainy day hike to find several vehicles with smashed windows. Hard to believe in such a busy trailhead parking lot.

Decided to do a quick day hike to take advantage of the sun and headed up to Twin Falls. There were a few cars that morning and significantly more by the afternoon but had the trial to myself the majority of the time.
No water on the trail and no blow downs. It was a really nice short hike!

Lots of people out enjoying the trail with us - kids, dogs, adults. A little bit of mud, but nothing that covered my hiking boots too much. And the falls were in their glorious full effect. An enjoyable Saturday hike.

This one had been on my bucket list for quite awhile and today was finally the day. I wanted something shorter today to beat the rain window and the mountains are still snowed in. Living in Lake Stevens and easy access to Mountain Loop and Highway 2 I only make down to I-90 a couple times of year. I arrived at about 10:40 and the parking area was 3/4 full. Cars where parked up the road when I returned about 2 1/2 hours later. It's a state park off I-90, I knew the trail would be busy and it was. People of all ages where out with the kids and dog.

The trail is in otherwise great shape with very little in the way of mud with just one hill being semi-bad. You could do this in shoes right now if you don't mind getting them dirty. I'm getting over a cold and I had no trouble going up the long switch backs on the way to the Lower Falls viewpoint. The side trail to the viewpoint was totally worth it, don't miss it. Loved the view down river at the bridge with another small fall to view. I then kept going just a bit further uphill to the Upper Falls. I probably went another 1/4 mile past that before turning around.

Even with the crowd I enjoyed my day. I had the Lower Falls viewpoint to myself for about 15 minutes! This cascading waterfall was pretty. Lots of ferns, moss and big trees made it feel like you were out in a wilderness area the whole length of the trail. The river and falls are full and fast right now. The coming spring runoff will make the lower falls spectacular. This would be great for beginners or out of towners.

Party of 5: Hiked up to the top (past the falls) Good day hike. A little mud on the trail in spots and little snow at the top but nothing in the way. A little cold but you warm up fast on hike. Some rainfall, but again, nothing major. Beautiful scenery.

A nice hike with a great view of beautiful waterfalls. Seriously, the falls are amazing!

The trail is really well maintained, though do note that there are some muddy spots right now.

There were many people on the trail, despite the weather not being great. But with timing we managed to not have anyone right behind or in front of us. Almost everyone had their dogs leashed, which was nice - but there were a couple of hyper, jumpy dogs without leashes.

Next time, I think we will come early to avoid a crowd - I can see this trail being packed out on a sunny day. But the falls are worth it, really beautiful.

Went for a quick hike today. Left Seattle at 12 and got there around 1. It was perfect as the sun was out. The trail is well-kept. There were some muddy portions but nothing that a pair of trail running shoes can't handle. The waterfall was beautiful and really flowing.

It's an easy hike but be warned that there is a set of stairs down to the overlook. I think they're 103 steps total.

Pressed for time this weekend, we chose this quick hike just outside of Seattle. Trail is in great condition although there were a couple of muddy spots. Lots of families out today. Falls were running nice.

It was a bit moist on the ground during this hike. The trail was crowded; however, bearable. I liked seeing the people on the trail. It was different from being out there alone. There are a few steep places, so be careful and I recommend taking trekking poles for wetter days. The Falls are worth it!

Highly recommended if you only have a half-day and want to get a workout without snow. We left Seattle at 7 and were on the trail before 8. The first part of the trail follows the river through a serious rain forest that's reminiscent of the Hoh! Lots of nurse logs, and so much moss hanging high in the trees that ferns and even small trees take root in it. The trail's in great shape, and the stairs and structures are impressive! The lookout just below the falls has plenty of "pucker factor". We hiked the two-plus miles to the junction with the John Wayne trail. The freeway was kinda noisy as you approach the junction. Still, this hike has a lot to offer. Great for dogs and little kids.

Very easy close in hike for a rainy day in Seattle. Twin Falls is right off exit 34 from I-90. The trail gains only 500 ft in two miles to the John Wayne road/trail. The tread is wide and well maintained with several nice construction features: crib steps, bridges, crib platform, and turnpikes. There are no blocking obstacles.

The trail follows the river for about a half mile through trees heavily coated with moss. Then it climbs up to a very nice overlook with benches that offer a good view of the lower falls. There is a very muddy spot along the way but it is clay mud rather than the squishy kind. At the lower falls is a stairway going down for a better view and it is well worth taking.

Beyond this is a sturdy bridge and the upper falls and then the trail glides easily up to the John Wayne road/trail. There was a slight dusting of snow but that is supposed to change tonight into a heavier snow. Although this trail is for hikers only, somebody rode their bike down it.

As we looked out our window this morning and saw the low, thick clouds and steady, heavy rain we hesitated venturing out, but decided to bundle up and give it a go. We are so glad we did. As we traveled southward during our 1-1/2 hour drive, the clouds thinned over North Bend and the sun peaked out just enough to warm our spirits. We loved the easy, well-maintained trail to the three falls. The ice mentioned in the previous trip reports had warmed and turned to mud. As mentioned by others, be sure to take the short side trip to the Lower Falls overlook as well as crossing the bridge at the Middle Falls and continue a little farther to the view of the Upper Falls. Such a beautiful area and yet so close to I-90!

What a beautiful day to be out! Be careful though- there is a lot of ice on this trail. http://www.pebblestew.com/archives/3285 for a full description and more pictures.

The trail was in pretty good shape. The ground was mostly frozen with some places being a little slippery. There was one section with a lot of ice on the trail where we saw a few people slip and fall. A walking stick would have been very helpful here.

The views were fantastic though. Don't stop at the bridge, keep going for a nice view of the upper falls. You can keep going even more, but the real payoff is the waterfalls. Make sure you take the steps down to the waterfall viewing area. Definitely the best views.

Great hike! Not too difficult and had some incredible views. I made the journey to check out the falls, but the whole hike was awesome. The Snoqualmie river provides gorgeous scenery most of the way up, and the forest is thick with beautiful ferns and mosses. Oh and the waterfalls were amazing, of course.
I would recommend this hike to all. The parking lot was easy to find and easy to get to (no long gravel forest roads). If you're anywhere near North Bend it's definitely worth a visit.

We went in the morning and got to the trail around 9. the road leading up to the trail head was icy and rather slick in some areas. once on the trail there was a layer of snow with ice on top of it but was no problem to hike though; however around 2/3 of a mile along the trail as you get to the first viewpoint for the falls the entire crest of the hill is one big ice sheet. we had to hold on to the railing at the side of the path just to keep from falling, hoping we could get past it we kept going, but it was too slippery. my dad who i was hiking with slipped and slid down the embankment for a little ways and so we decided to turn back. Having hiked this trail plenty of time before i know that is a nice hike and pretty easy but with the ice was much much harder. Even the dog was sliding on the ice.

The plan was to summit Mount Washington today, but the beautiful, fluffy snowfall and low visibility guided me towards Twin Falls instead.

Twin Falls, also known as Upper Snoqualmie Falls, and even called Upper Falls, is the 3rd highest waterfall on the Snoqualmie River. This is my first time viewing them and the trail was in good shape for the amount of snow the pass has been receiving in recent weeks.

The parking lot was icy and The John Wayne Trail/Iron Horse Trail was the same, but with an ¼ inch snow dusting, which made walking easier w/ poles.. Snowshoes aren’t required but if you want the extra workout, have fun! ^_^

As I descended towards the upper falls, snow on the trail became less of an issue... There wasn’t any snow on the trail as you came upon Lower Twin Falls. Temperatures were around freezing, so make sure to layer your clothing.

Trail was in good shape minus a few mudholes; BUT the mud was firm due to current temperatures. The falls were beautiful and many families were out enjoying them today.

We set this hike up as a one-way trip with a car shuttle from the lower Twin Falls trailhead to the Iron Horse TH near Rattlesnake Lake.

Starting out, it was pretty cold, so we kept moving, taking short and infrequent breaks. I forgot to pack dog treats which was a mistake. Not for my own dog; I don't have one. But for all the dogs out with their people on the trail. Nice dogs!

The side trail to view Twin Falls had a little ice so we bypassed it and kept going up, through some slick spots, to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. For the next 3.5 miles on the trail, it snowed lightly but with determination. There is another waterfall along the way, which was beautiful.

We found the turn-off for Cedar Butte and went up the direct route, admiring the light snow along the way. The summit was like a winter wonderland, but not icy or treacherous to get there. No view, but we used our imagination.

From there, it was a short jaunt to our waiting cars at the Iron Horse TH (where there are more bathrooms) and we did the shuttle back to Twin Falls and home.

This is a great little hike. There are a few challenging hills for those not in the best of shape. The trail was in good condition, mostly covered with leaves with a few puddles to jump over. The falls were full from the recent rains. We lucked out & had dry weather.

Trail is in great shape. Lots of families on the trail to enjoy the beautiful day. My friends took their 6 mo. baby on his first hike and had a lovely time.

It was a beautiful fall day for a hike to Twin Falls. When I left home from Seattle it was 32 degrees. When I got to North Bend there was snow pellets that melted when they hit my windshield.

At the trailhead at 8:30am there was only three other cars in the lot. By the time we came back the lot was full and parking extended up the road for several hundred feet. I had read this was a very popular hike but maybe the crowd had to do with free entry this weekend. In any case, I was glad we arrived early and got on the trail before it was too crowded.

We did see some snow pellets on some leaves on the early part of the hike but they had all melted by the time we were done. The trail is a bit wet and slippery at points but not really muddy at all. The lower falls are really beautiful. We skipped them on the way up thinking the upper falls would be better. However, the lower falls are much more spectacular.

We did hike past the bridge to the other end of the trail that meets up with a multi-use trail for bikes and horses. There really isn't much to see past the bridge, so you way want to turn around there unless you are wanting to put in more for mileage.

This is a great hike. But it is very popular with lots of kids and dogs, so get there early so that you can get a good parking spot and can enjoy the trail with less people.

This summer I started hiking with my 4 year old son and this hike was awesome. Tons to explore and keep him interested and the falls are beautiful.

A pleasant day hike. The trail was in great condition.

It was a nearly perfect hike for families: we had our seven-month-old, and we saw many other children--both younger and older--enjoying the scenery.

The leaves were just beginning to turn. Should be great in a week or two.

This was a fun and easy hike. I brought my four year old son and he did good. He was a little slow on some of the hills but he pushed passed it and enjoyed it. It went by pretty fast and we reached the falls before we knew it. It was nice to hang out by the river on some rocks for lunch time.
It is a fairly crowded hike so be prepared for lots of company.
I would recomend doing this hike if you have children and want to get out of the house as it is easy and pretty.

Perfect trail for young beginers. I had my 2 year old and 5 year old with me. 2 year old did the entire trail all by himself (well he was holding my hand though :)). Cool forest for a hot summer day like today. Trickling streams all through the trail kept the young ones interested. Numerous access to the clean river to cool off. My young ones so much wanted to go touch the falls. I wish there was a trail to the base of the falls. Verry happy with the tril. I would recomend this trail to anyone with kids.

An oridinary hike in north bent, we passed through a lot of forest before reaching the falls. The river can be reached by following a small trail down to it, easily. From here you have great views of the waters and forest. The hike was easy to follow up until the point where we thought there was one more waterfll to see, so we continued on and found ourselves far into another trail at some point. We had to ask, and turned around back towards to waterfalls. They should put a sign up there, "end of trail".

Great hike, with the river as high as I've seen it made for lots of white water and noise at the falls. Plenty of Wildlife and berries. Hiked the trail with my family including a 2.5 year old who only needed a little hand holding along a few parts. We will definately will do it again!

Trail feels like it goes uphill both ways. A lot of people and kids, definitely not a tranquil hike to get away. Lacked views, but the waterfalls were decent...some access to the river for a quick cool down. Definitely not a top hike in my books. Only go here if you have kids and don't really want to get away from things, Snoqualmie falls is a similar experience without the walking.

Awesome family experience. My big girls 10 and 9 made it the entire hike. They enjoyed the mini water trickles moving through the forest, and also enjoyed the sound of the fast paced water as we hiked along the river. My youngest two 2 and 4 made it only through the initial flat hike and ended at a wonderful rocky river edge where we were able to take gorgeous pictures of the kids, and let them throw rocks and explore the forest. Fantastic day...will go back soon! Next time I will bring a pack and plan to stay longer!

Twin Falls is a short hike jam-packed with most "must see" scenic sights for those wanting to experience the great Pacific Northwest. Today the weather was perfect and the skies were blue.

Along the trail you will experience the views and rushing sounds of the South Fork Snoqualmie River - rocks, boulders and rapids. Huge moss ladden maples, many old cedars, chirping birds, native undergrowth, flowers and berry vines are all around. Switch backs with elevation gain add to the experience and anticipation of viewing Twin Falls.

An added benefit to this hike, you can get a different perspective of the falls from four different locations: at the first set of double benches, the side trail down the wood steps to see the lower falls, from the impressive bridge crossing the river and farther up the trail to view the upper falls.

It was expected to see a great number of people on the trail this holiday weekend. However, it was amazing to see so many families with small children - babies in backpacks, babies swaddled, toddlers running, jumping, crying, falling, talking and experiencing it all. The adult to child ratio was at least 1:1, without a doubt, surpassing the adult to dog ratio today.

Lower falls overlook finally reopened (had been closed due to blowdowns)!

Wonderful weather and hike--only negative was my wife lost her prescription sunglasses--reward offered (jmk58us@yahoo.com)

My wife Sandy and I hiked to Twin Falls this afternoon with our daughter, Elsie. It was a glorious day, sunny and warm, and the trail was surprisingly full of families for a weekday. Lots of kids and dogs. Everyone having a great time. We saw some wildflowers blooming, and the river was running at a very quick pace.

This was the first hike we’d taken Elsie on without bringing the backpack to carry her in, and she made it the whole way without any pleas to carry her. She was very proud of her accomplishment. Along the way we saw old growth trees, lots of butterflies, and some installation art - a round river rock perched on a fallen log. Lots of fun.

First hike up to Twin Falls of the year for myself & my dog. The trail is in great shape. A bit muddy in just a couple of spots. Beautiful 75 degree day. Saw less people then I expected with the sun out. I got there about 10:30. Lots more people and a full parking lot by the time we finished. This is a great hike and is easy enough for most people I think. Love to listen to the river. There are some flowers blooming to which make pretty pictures.

Twin Falls is a great little 4 mile round trip close in with only 500' gain. Access via exit 34 off of I-90 is well signed all the way to the trailhead. The tread itself is broad and in good repair except for 3 blowdowns above the upper falls. The middle blowdown is tagged with an orange ribbon and the east blowdown is an easy step over. The west blowdown is 18-20 inches in diameter. People have been clambering around the root ball through the brush to get around it. Access to the lower falls is closed due to damage from falling trees.

In spite of being right next to the interstate with all the traffic noise, this trail does offer some nice highlights. A lot of work has gone into it in the past 10 years. There are the two waterfalls, a very impressive bridge over the river between them, many access spurs down to the water from the trail, benches to sit on, and several nice viewing spots. The trail comes out on the John Wayne trail just a few hundred feet from the beginning of the Mt. Washington trail.

Due to a house fire blocking the exit 34 trailhead we were encouraged to approach this hike from the Ollie State Park Homestead trailhead off of exit 38 (Take exit 38 and turn right at stop sign. Trailhead is through the gates on the right). Since everyone gave up on the trail because exit 34 was blocked we had the trail to ourselves for several hours..and on a sunny Sunday that is rare! On our way back it was like a human flood gate had opened and we felt like salmon swimming upstream.

As it turns out it was a very interesting way to approach the falls, more of a turn around the corner and BOOM instead of the gradual buildup.

From the trailhead, proceed up the sloping access trail to the left of the informational bulletin board where you eventually join up with the Iron Horse Trail. You won't be on the trial too long before the Twin Falls turn off appears on your right (North side) from there just follow the trail.

Closed due to house fire

Started: 12 PM
Back to the car: 2 PM
Number of hikers: 2

The twin falls trail head was closed on this day for some reason. We took the John Pioneer Trail to reach the falls. Not many people took this route and it was mostly empty. Could not reach the lower falls as it was also closed.

First time here, and it was an absolutely lovely hike with a toddler. We only made it up to the viewpoint bench before we had to turn around (he's only 22 months and had to be carried up the final switchbacks to the viewpoint). Trail conditions were perfect up until then. There are two different trails you can take to the falls--use the ones on the WTA site!

Thanks to NB, who posted a trip report on April 16 and included a list of wildflowers in bloom. I don't know any of my wildflowers, but using NB's list, I read up on all of them--and found them all on the hike today. Here's what you'll see, complete with links. Print out and bring with as a lovely way to start learning your local flowers:

Nuttall's Toothwort: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamine_nuttallii

Trillium: http://green.kingcounty.gov[…];PlantID=80&PhotoID=124

Scouler's Corydalis: http://green.kingcounty.gov/[…]/Plant.aspx?Act=view&PlantID=162

Red Flowering Currant: http://green.kingcounty.gov[…];PlantID=30&PhotoID=286

Stream Violet: http://green.kingcounty.gov/[…]/Plant.aspx?Act=view&PlantID=118

Bleeding Heart: http://green.kingcounty.gov/[…]/Plant.aspx?Act=view&PlantID=40

:) If you're a PNW wildflower hunter, it's perfect timing.

Bleeding heart everywhere. Yellow violets, dainty coastal toothwort, snow-white trillium, Scouler's Corydalis (blah name, flashy flower!), and under the bridge there's a huge leggy red flowering currant that's happily in bloom just now.

Beware microclimates. We got hailed on. (That's my husband running away in the last photo.)

Oh yes, PS. For those who are unfamiliar, there's a lower trailhead accessed via the directions on this page (highly recommend it, much the prettier side) and an upper trailhead off a logging road near I-90. The lower half of the trail is very well maintained. The upper half has several fallen trees, and there's nothing much worth seeing above the falls unless you're into road noise, exhaust fumes, and views of I-90. :( Stick with the fresh air and wildflowers!

The trailhead is very easy to find from I90. We started early around (8am) as I find that trails in this area get very congested later in the day. It was a very pretty and sunny day with just a slight chill. It was my daughter's very first hike and this hike had been recommended to me as a great first. I had hiked this several years ago and I agreed. The trail was well maintained. The only issue I saw was the stairs that lead to the bottom of the waterfall was closed down due to some trees had fallen and there was some repair needed. My daughter had a fabulous time looking for fairies, climbing on rocks and helping me identify plants. She loved looking from the top of the bridge and dropping a leaf to see if she could see where it went. We ended the hike by building dams by the river and practicing skipping rocks. Note to parents bring extra clothes and a towel. You'll be glad you did! The parking lot was extremely full and parking was about a mile down the road when we came down around 10am. Very glad we went early! Super great hike for kids!

I took this hike with a three year old and a six year old, and it was very nice.

We arrived around 2pm in the afternoon and the parking lot was full, except for one muddy spot, which we snagged. There were cars parked along the road for a good half-mile back.

The first third of the hike was fairly flat along the river. The kids loved the small, river side rock beaches and we had a good time hanging out and eating sandwiches.

The remaining two thirds has some pretty steep spots for little kids, but my kiddos handled it fine. I never thought they were in an unsafe situation and I didn't have to carry either one of them. The lower trail was closed, as others have noted.

In some parts, the sides of the trail are a little soft and marked with orange ribbons. The trail was also fairly busy, but not overly so. Frankly, when I take my young ones on a hike, I am not bothered by a good flow of people. All in all, this was a great trip for the family.

Great hike to do with kids. Quite a coincidence to meet another family that we know at the trail-head just as we were about to start the hike. Made our hike more fun as the kids had a great time. We made several stops along the way and really took our time to enjoy the surroundings.

Viewpoint to lower falls is still closed. We went to the bridge to view the upper falls and a bit beyond.

Stats:
Time to Falls: 1.5 hours
Car to Car: 2.5 hours
Elevation Gain: ~500ft
Distance: 3 Miles (RT)

It was sunny in Seattle, so we hoped that we would have a decent day for a hike. However, driving east to the Snoqualmie Pass rainforest reinforced the lesson that all weather is local. Twin Falls is a good rainy day hike, and that is how it played out. It was drizzling when we reached the trailhead at 2:30 pm, but there was plenty of parking and the trail was not too crowded. The trail was in good condition, with minimal water and mud despite the rainy conditions. Moss was in abundance, as usual. We took the trail all the way to the viewpoint overlooking the upper falls. The only regret was that the spur stairway to the viewpoint of the main (lower) falls was closed for maintenance. To compensate, I found my way, boulder-to-boulder, to the middle of the river to take a picture of the lower falls.

Quick little day hike just off I-90.

Left the trailhead around 1:45pm, hiked out to the falls (lower trail still closed off, but bridge between the falls still accessible), then turned around just beyond the falls around 3:00, got back to the parking lot around 3:45.

Great short hike, weather was nice, and we even ran into some people doing maintenance on the trail!

Some mud on the trail, but if you're wearing sturdy waterproof hiking boots then you should be fine. So yeah, if you're looking for an easy, short, day hike go check out Twin Falls.

I decided to take a quick pit stop and hike the twin falls trail. The weather was beautiful as the sun was shining and the temperatures were in the high 50s. The trail had one or two muddy spots but was otherwise hikable in tennis shoes, if one so desired. This is a very enjoyable quick jaunt sure to relax away the stress of the city life.

After viewing Snoqualmie Falls, we drove to the lower Twin Lakes TH and hiked 0.9 miles beyond the upper falls viewpoint to the Iron Horse Trail where we turned around. There were 3 blowdowns beyond the viewpoint 2 of which were easily stepped over. The third was more difficult for my short legs. There was no rain and a few sun breaks with blue skies. Snow started about 1/4 mile from the Iron Horse Trail.

It's been raining and the trail was very wet but not in too bad of condition. There were some large puddles and muddy patches but they are easy to get around. The viewpoint to the lower falls is closed but the views at the upper falls are nice and worth the short hike.

The trail was really busy, which was not surprising given the good weather. No snow on trail, but it was wet leaving the trail with some muddy spots. No big deal - they were easy to maneuver. Overall an easy hike from the parking area to upper falls. Note: the lower falls trail is closed for maintenance.

Overcast and rainy, not many people on the trail.

The stairs to down to the lower falls lookout were closed. The sign mentioned damage from fallen trees. Might be the widowmaker mentioned in the report from 1/29.

No blowdowns over trail up to the falls, but beyond the upper fall there were a few, easily gotten over.

Wet snow on trail above the upper falls, along the John Wayne Trail, and down to the Homestead Valley parking lot.

The falls were lovely, as always.

A definite widow maker over the stairs leading to the lower falls. Right now it's been caught by another tree but who knows for how long. Two blowdowns which were doable but a bit of a pain. People are going slightly off trail to get through so erosion will be a problem if not taken care of soon. (One is a quarter mile from the parking lot and the other near the old growth tree) Falls were beautiful as usual.

Great for kids. We took our two boys along with a couple of other Cub Scouts. Trail was dry with a couple of minor exceptions. Fairly crowded given the exceptional weather. Easy to find.

Great hike for a quick jaunt. Left at 1pm, included the 1.8 mi roundtrip to Iron Horse Trail and got back at 3pm.

Lots of happy kids and some trail runners today. Trail is covered with beautiful big leaf maple leaves in some sections. The maintenance is very good, some sections being worked on currently. You do need a "Discover Pass", which pays for the maintenance, but they do have a one day pass station in the parking lot.

The trail follows the river, winding through huge, moss covered alder and fir. Then it swicthbacks up to the benches overlooking the lower falls. From there, another 0.5 mile gets you to the upper falls bridge & platform. We decided to keep going along the 0.9mi extension that meets up with the iron horse trail. Not as pretty and you hear I-90 traffic below, but provides for a better workout with the extra elevation gain and distance.

After several days of heavy rain, today broke to blue skies. I was planning to find a close hike with "water features". A few people suggested Twin Falls.

Being that today was the day after Thanksgiving, the trail was very busy with families and dogs. I got there around 2PM and parking was full well past the trail head lot.

The air smelled fresh and green. It was quite too, cool so be prepared with gloves and hats. The trail was in good condition although quite wet and muddy. Ventures down to the rivers edge are very slippery, so use the three-point system going up and down the slippery rocks.

LOTS of water in the river and the falls were roaring. Most of the leaves are down, and views of the nearby peaks with a fresh dusting of snow were easy to see. Overall, a very nice hike.

Twin Falls is one of my favorite hikes and I go about once a month. This hike is right outside of Seattle, super easy to get too, and safe for single, young, females. During the weekend it gets quite crowded, so you have to get there early if you dont want to get caught in a traffic jam of people and kids. During weekdays, you can have the whole place to yourself almost, but with enough people here and there to feel safe. the trail is very well maintained and starts off pretty flat, running along the river, with off shoots that make it easy to get to the water along the way. after maybe a mile, it turns into a switchback and can be a good uphill climb, but very safe and easy to navigate. the switch backs get you to the end, where you come up on the stairs that go down to the lower falls, and if you walk past them, very shortly you will come up on the bridge over looking the upper falls. this hike is hard to get lost on. there are no forks, and its an in and out.. not a loop, so you follow the same trail to get you back. it can be slightly slippery after rain, but very safe. it is an excellent hike to take visitors on. it's just long enough to get a great workout, and with excellent views. the falls are big and loud.

Insanely beautiful I visit often and I'd say best time to hike this trail

When we got there a car had been broken into talked to the people then continued on our way thinking they would not dare come back a second time once the police found out... Way wrong came back to find my window smashed and belongings strewn everywhere.

They also came back while the fist break in victims walked to find help and took the rest of their belongings

Don't regret visiting lake twenty two today though...

So beautiful!

Twin Falls hike really needs to be renamed--Multi Falls hike. There seem to be more than two waterfalls this year. The river is beautiful, lots of water tumbling over rocks. The trail was in pretty good shape--there are a couple of areas with drainage problems, not really surprising considering the amount of snow/rain we've had this year. Only one area seemed in dire need of drainage work, the rest will probably be fine once things dry out. There is one spot where people have cut a switchback badly and it is in need of help as the erosion will eventually result in a structure falling down, and I'm sure we don't want that. There weren't many people when I started out today but the parking lot was filling up by 10:00 when I headed back to my car. For a Thursday, that is pretty amazing, I guess people like this trail alot.

Great hike, lots of side trails to explore and full of awesome views!!!

Early-morning hike. Trail nice and dry, streams and river flowing freely. Busy toward mid-morning, as is to be expected. Past the low falls bridge, trail quiets down and narrows. A pleasant, if crowded, hike.

OK, so it's a beautiful Sunday northwest summer day, 82 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and what hike would you recommend when all you have is a few hours. The highly popular, crowded, Twin Falls. These are some spectacular falls you have to see at least once. To avoid the crowds we chose the "reverse" route - we started at the East trailhead just off I-90 exit 38. It's actually a shorter hike - about 2.5 miles round trip if you stop at the lower observation deck, but no where near as crowded as the West trailhead this guide takes you to. That said, be prepared for some good exertion as in the last quarter mile or so you drop at least 500' (therefore the "reverse" hike meaning you'll need to climb your way out on the return). May not be the best route for small kids, especially since you're not following the tame river below the falls, but a great quick afternoon hike otherwise!

    We flew in from VA for a few days and wanted to find a short hike close to Seattle. After a little research, we found this hike and it was wonderful. The weather was awesome, crystal clear around 80 degrees. We arrived in the afternoon around 3pm and proceeded to fill out our registration form and submit $10 in the envelope for parking. The parking lot was mostly full, but still some spots available. Shortly after starting up the trail we met several young people coming down the trail in bathing suits.
There were several places to swim, but I bet the water was cold.

The trail was well traveled and several spots to stop and take in the awesome view of the falls,huge trees, hanging moss, and beautiful undergrowth and ferns.

  There were three or four elevation stops with great views of different levels of the falls. Some rather steep climbs and several steps in places, but not too bad that anyone in reasonable shape couldn't handle.
  
We would definately recommend this trip to anyone just about 40 mintues east of Seattle via I-90. I'll try to include a few photos. Chilco

We got to the trail head at 10 am with 3 kids, 3.5, 4 and 4.5 years old. The parking lot was beginning to fill up. (When we left at 12:30, the lot was full and parking was lined up by the side of the road almost 1/4-1/2 mile from the trail head.)

Make sure to have $10 since there is no way to get change when you arrive.

The trail was lovely, large boulders for the kids to climb, beautiful old growth forest, no bugs today, lots of families on the trail, some brought strollers but them abandoned them since there are many, many steps. The walk was 90 percent dry with not much loose gravel so perfect for kids! There are many places to stop and have a snack with kids too.

Hiked Twin Falls today. The parking lot was full, but we didn't get there until 2pm, so we were able to grab a spot, as a few folks were leaving. For the amount of cars in the parking lot, it didn't seem like there were a ton of people on the trail, which was nice. There were a few muddy spots along the hike, but nothing you couldn't manage. The water is roaring right now. The falls were the fullest I have ever seen them (have done this hike several times). Planned on lunch along the water, but not very many rocks to choose from right now, since the river is running high. Bugs weren't too bad, but on the way back, we stopped at the lookout, where the big benches are, and the bugs came out.

What a great little hike to start the season with. It was a little on the busy side, even late in the afternoon but that was to be expected with it being a holiday. The trail was great, no snow just a bit of water in a few places but nothing extreme. It rained a bit but the tree covering kept us pretty dry. Lots of people with children, so I think this is a great hike to do with the kids. The falls were great and the river was beautiful. A few spots off the trail to view the river and have a quick lunch or just get a few quiet moments to yourself. We stopped at the bridge to take it all in and as we started to continue up to the view above the falls another hiker coming down informed us that there was a small black bear just off the trail about 100ft or so from the bridge. We decided to head back after that. I would recommend this hike to anyone, especially beginning hikers, families with children and anyone who loves waterfalls.

Trail looks great. A little standing water. Falls were decent with the recent rainfall. Definitely will return next time water is running fast!

1.6 mi one way, +250/-540 ft, Iron Horse, Upper Twin Falls

Trailhead 47.44169, -121.67232, 1160 feet, Homestead Road
Endpoint 47.44490, -121.69670, 870 feet, Twin Falls

Went in at upper trailhead, guessing that the lower one would be crowded. Probably was a good choice considering the huddled masses seen at the falls.

From the trailhead, the trail ascends on a moderate grade and meets a service road which also ascends on a moderate grade. The service road meets the Iron Horse rail trail just east of the trail to the Owl Hike Spot and Mt Washington beyond. The rail trail descends on a shallow grade. The upper Twin Falls Trail breaks off on the right (north) and descends on a shallow grade until nearing the falls, where the trail descends on a steeper grade. The trail between the upper and lower falls is in pretty good shape considering the amount of water that puddles on it and the use it gets. As expected, there were a lot of people on the big bridge above the lower falls.

The path is well-fenced-in to keep curiosity from killing the cat, dogs and people, but some do flout the law of natural selection and try to get a closer look at the falls.

It was a beautiful day for a hike with our 4 year old and pup. The rain was light, and the trail was in decent condition. There were a few muddy spots but nothing to worry about. We got there at about 2:30PM with only two other cars in the lot. I plan to do this hike at least once a week for summer time. So beautiful!

Beautiful day for a hike along the rushing Snoqualmie River! The trail is in great shape and there was a hard working group out there making improvements to the trail. There are a few muddy spots but for the most part the blowdowns have been addressed and taken care of. My father and I arrived around 10:45 and finished the 3 mile hike around 1:45 with my five year old son in tow. There are lots of little things to keep little ones interested on this trail-mud puddles off the trail and collecting rocks by the river shore just to name a few. I don't think I've ever seen this before, but the trailhead has a sign indicating that it is an 87.00 dollar fine to not have your dog on a leash and I think some people heeded the warning, because I saw more leashed dogs then I usually see out there.

Arrived at the trailhead before 0830 with only one other car in the parking area. I last hiked this trail years ago and didn't seem to remember much about it except that it paralleled the river in the beginning. The trail was steeper at times than I remembered although still easy to hike. The views of the waterfalls were great. A tree was across the trail, but very easily managed. Saw a lot of people going up when I was coming down. Go early for a parking spot and to avoid the crowds.

this trail was well maintained not too muddy great views the whole way up. the trail starts out flat and then goes up some switch backs to a view point with some benchs then goes down for a second then goes back up again with more switch backs and then you see stairs and as you walk up the stairs you can here the falls there is an upper view and a lower view both are great. the hike is easy took me 1 hr to get there and 1hr to get back thats with taking pictures and exploring very fun i will be doing it agian soon.

Great hike on a beautiful day. There was a fair amount of melting snow on the trail which resulted in some muddy sections, but nothing too hard to get through. Lot of traffic on the trail, and with good reason, great day hike!

Fantastic. Newly uprooted tree has fallen over the trail just beyond first falls outlook. Can be scrambled over (hope it doesn't continue to slide downhill!) Trail is snow-covered with a little ice in places. Truly beautiful on this sunny cold day.

Beautiful day for a hike as seen by the many people on the trail. Trail in excellent condition until the lookout bridge area where it gets a bit muddy but other than that the trail was awesome. The falls were gorgeous!

Twin Falls presented a nice option for a winter hike on a cloudy day. The trailhead parking lot was busy but there was available parking. Of course, this trail is close to Seattle and not too rough on the thighs, so company was not unexpected. The trail was in good condition, and boots and poles were not needed. The roar of the Snoqualmie river was enjoyable, and I marveled at the quantity of moss hanging from the trees. The falls were not particularly spectacular, but it was a nice jaunt in the woods nonetheless. What would be a great waterfall-mountain combo hike would be to hike Twin Falls, continue to the Homestead Valley Trailhead (1 mile beyond the falls), and then climb Mount Washington.

Hike was really nice and trail is in pretty good shape. There are trouble mud spots so be sure to wear a good pair of boots. Further into the trail there area couple trees leaning into the trail so be sure to look up. Well maintained but definitely needs a little work. Have fun! Be safe

Taking in a short hike today allowed for a later start time in the hopes the morning clouds would clear and the sun would break through and warm things up a bit. This trailhead is easy to find less then a mile off of I-90, Exit 34 in Olallie State Park.

At 1:00 p.m. there was lots of activity in the parking lot; people returning from their hike and a few starting as well. Fortunately, there was plenty of parking. What was most amazing upon arrival was the pronounced rushing sound of water once the car door opened. It was quite invigorating to hear the sounds of the rushing water in anticipation of seeing the falls.

The trail starts off next to the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River. It is entertaining to watch the river, boulders, rocks and sun reflecting off of the water. The trees are huge and the amount of thick moss on the trees, branches and rocks were everywhere creating interesting and stange shapes as though they were unusual art sculptures.

The trail moves away from the river and climbs to the first set of benches to get the first real view of Lower Twin Falls. Ensure you bring a hat as the temperature was a bit cold and windy as the trail is tucked in the shadows of the surrounding mountains. Look closely at the falls here and you can see a wooden bridge that crosses the falls. This is your destination.

Continue on the trail and you will come upon a huge, old fir tree majestically standing amongst some other large trees. You will see a sign posted on a wooden fence informing the many year-round visitors of its purpose to protect the tree from damage. As the sign indicates, the fence was built as a Boy Scout Eagle project in 1993.

A bit farther on don't miss the set of wooden steps to the right leading to a 2 tier viewing deck that protrudes out over the edge of the hillside to allow one to experience the power and beauty of Lower Twin Falls. The deck is amazing and it actually takes a moment to steady one's self to feel comfortable looking out and looking below - straight down into the pooling water. This view point is definitely the highlight of the hike.

The Upper Falls are not far away. Return to the main trail and soon you will reach the 80-foot bridge which you first saw at the beginning of the hike at the first benches and view point. Part of the trail was wet and rather muddy but the bridge was safe and it was fun to watch the water and check out the views on each side. Not far after crossing the bridge, the trail climbs and there is another bench along the trail with a sign indicating this was also a Boy Scout Eagle project installed in 1999. A short climb farther allows for the best view of the Upper Falls. This is the end of the Twin Falls trail.

At this point, the skies had cleared some and you could see the trail continued via switchbacks with an elevation gain. Venturing on it was surprising to get a clear glimpse of the Haystack on Mount Si through the trees. A few more switchbacks and an even better view of the Haystack. The trail started to pull away from the views so it was time to turn around.

It was a quick return to the car as the sun was low in the sky and a chill in the air. Lots of fun today for a 2 hour hike.

The parking lot was full when we arrived around noon, but there was still plenty of space along the road.

The trail was in good condition, apart from a few slightly muddy spots, and some short but slippery sections on boardwalk. No traces of snow anywhere.

The waterfalls appeared to be running full blast.

Encountered a lot of people, many with kids and (leashed) dogs.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/eric.jain/TwinFallsJanuary2011
Tracklog: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/64650096

Weather was rainy but not cold. The first section of trail along the river was very slushy. Maybe 3 inches of snow and slush and standing water. My boots kept me dry enough till the very end. The switch backs are less slushy but still a bit wet. The stairs were super slick. We used trekking poles but not traction devices but I could see them being necessary if the temperature drops. Poles were very helpful. We were the first ones up the last half of the trail or so and it was easier to walk through that snow. The falls were impressive. There was one tree across the trail right at the top of the last stairs before the overlook for the upper falls. It was easy to duck under. The way down was slippery but neither of us fell. The forest was mossy and green and wonderful, the snow was nice, I would hike this again.

Arrived at trail head around 11:45. Some cars couldn't make the very last hill before the parking lot due to ice. It was VERY cold out!Snow on trail from the start but the trail was not icy for the most part for the first part of the hike. You come to some benches for a bit of a look out. Then about 10-15 minutes later you hit a super icy hill where many people tried to get up and couldn't so they turned around. I had chains on my shoes and trekking poles so I got up fine. There were of course those people who go out hiking in there tennis shoes and made it just fine. at one point you come to stairs on the right that go down and it is a awesome view! A must! Right now the waterfall has tons of icicles forming all over the cave area where the waterfall falls from. Then we got up to the bridge for the next lookout but was not nearly as nice as the one from the stair cases. We turned around there since we were told there wasn't much more for lookout points and the trail just headed up to the Iron horse trail. Was a nice hike for sure. I would recommend getting some traction for your shoes and getting out there asap before the icicles melt. There was lots of people on the trail (was a Sunday) and lots of dogs and kids.

Snow from the trailhead onward! Nothing impassable in just hiking boots, though. I90 was closed just a few miles further. South Fork Snoqualmie River is beautiful with its snow-covered rocks, and the hike is quiet (till you reach 90 again!).

Nice winter hike!

There is a little snow on upper parts of the trail and stairs it is compact and a little slippery. We also had some wild gusts of wind.

The falls are beautiful. There were a lot of people hiking here today.

Was a beautiful hike today, plenty of water on the falls, but none on the trails. Plenty of people out today to enjoy the beautiful day.

The trail was very busy today!! It was very wet and slick on the rocks from the water and the leaves probably starting to decompose. I slipped on a few rocks walking downhill and rolled my ankle, so wear some good shoes or boots! Great fall colors and the leaves are starting to fall off the trees.
I saw quite a few parties hunting for wild mushrooms.
Great little hike!

It was a very busy day at Twin Falls! The trail was a little slick, especially on the rocks, so make sure to wear good shoes or boots! I slipped on the rocks a few times and rolled my ankle. There is some great fall colors going on right now! I saw a few parties out hunting for wild mushrooms. Great easy hike!

This is a busy trail, as many know, so the parking lot was quiet full for a weekday. The trail was in good condition. Only a few spots where it was wet/muddy. The fall colors are out, which I was happy about, being that we wanted a fallish hike, but didn't want to travel over the pass to find one. Many folks on the trail with kids and dogs. Looked like there was even a group of teens with their teacher on a Friday adventure. Talked with a guy at the upper falls and asked what the trail was like beyond the upper falls and he said he tried it once and seen power lines and decided to turn back, so my friend and I decided going further wasn't worth it and made our way back down to the trail head and had lunch at the nice swimming hole. This is a good hike if you want a quick and close brush with nature.

This was our first time on Twin Falls trail and we had a very pleasant surprise. The proximity to the river with periodic view points made the hike interesting from the start. The switchbacks were minor and the trail was well groomed. The falls were spectacular and well worth the hike. Be sure to take the stairs on the right as you get near the falls. They lead to an observation deck where you can thoroughly enjoy the falls from a unique vantage point. We recommend this hike for all ages and abilities in spite of the elevation gain. Just take it at your own pace when necessary.

The trail to the top was pretty easy,nothing too difficult. Couple of rocks out of place but other then that it was a good hike.

Once I reached to the twin falls I ended up going further up and ended up on some road. Unless the hike wasn't long enough for you there's no point of going further to see if there's more to see.

My first trip to Twin Falls. Trail condition excellent except for erosion where hikers have taken shortcuts. A few damp spots, but not easily stepped over. First signs of late summer as sporadic leaves of birch and Oregon grape begin their transformation to fall colors.

Conspicuously uncrowded for a Sunday afternoon in summer. Probably encountered eight or 10 parties in all, amounting to perhaps 25-30 hikers. Red huckleberries either picked over or haven't fruited yet. Saw no berries whatsoever.

Bug repellent suggested. Moderate number of mosquitos.

Water volume still plentiful.

This was the perfect little hike for people who don't want to venture too far out of Seattle, but are looking for some great nature views, complete with old growth trees, flowing river, and a beautiful waterfall. The trail was dry and well maintained, with one exception, which I will get to later. The trail was easy enough for one who doesn't do much hiking, but has a few inclines, stairs and switchbacks to keep it a little challenging in some places.

Between the ease of the hike, its accessibility, closeness to Seattle, and the weather being so nice, this trail attracted a LOT of other people. If you're looking for a little seclusion, this is probably not the trail for you. Due to a higher population on the trail, there was quite a bit of garbage on the trail (and some in the river). I've already made a note to myself to bring a garbage bag if/when I return to this trail to help clean up. There were also quite a few "land mines" from pet owners who were not curbing their dogs, so keep an eye on where you step.