After finishing up digging for quartz crystals near Hansen Creek, hit the falls for a bit of a cool down for fun. 

Take the Wagon Road trail in to avoid the conga line. And enjoy plentiful fern, devils club and skunk cabbage. 

We noticed a lot of camping families with children hiking in suits and towels on the way in giving the hike a public pool feel. 

Next time, if there is one, I plan to bring a trash bag and grabber with me. Sad to say there was lots of garbage in the rocky areas close to falls- wrappers of mixed variety, discarded chips, half drunk bottles of water sitting in the water upright, on and on, and it appeared no one cared as they took photos. Anyway. A new goal. 

Today we did a hike with the Snoqualmie Valley Senior Center senior hiking group. Since the last time we had hiked to the falls three years ago the Forest Service had constructed a new trailhead parking lot for the Franklin Falls Trail. After gearing up the group hiked over to the beginning of the trail to the falls next to the highway bridge over the South Fork Snoqualmie River on the road to the Denny Creek trailhead parking lot. This trail has had some improvements since the last time we had hiked it three years ago. A new view point above the river with log fence where a waterfall can be scene, along with some gravel/log steps. Further along rock steps were put in going down to Franklin Falls. There were a few people at the falls when we arrived. A few minutes later two bus loads of 60 elementary school students hiked down to the 70 foot tall falls. After some photo taking and snacks our group headed back. 

To make a loop hike, we took the old Wagon Road Trail to return to the parking lot. This trail was part of the first road built over Snoqualmie Pass and completed in 1868. The paved Road 58 to the parking lot past the Denny Creek Campground that goes up to Snoqualmie Pass was part of the old Sunset Highway and used as the main highway until four lane Highway 10 was built over the pass in 1937 (now the east bound lanes of I-90). After finishing our hike, we stopped for lunch at the Asahel Curtis picnic area next to the South Fork Snoqualmie River near Exit 47 of I-90. The weather was cool and no bugs. Made for a nice senior hike.

Finally made the walk to Franklin Falls. Its a delightfully loud, water crashing-misty experience. Lots of nice views of the river it creates on the way in. I imagine its a lot lower foot traffic on a Friday. Took the Wagon Road back to the parking lot, plenty of Trillium blooming, tons of Devils' Club and Skunk Cabbage. Would like to see it in the winter. 

My cousin, pup and I arrived at the trailhead around 1pm to find approximately 15-20 cars lining both sides of forest service road 58.  We parked and walked approximately 1.7 miles down a bare forest service road 58 before the road abruptly turned snow covered.  The area was well traveled and only slightly slippery.  We made it to the trailhead and quickly realized our yak traks/ micro spikes were necessary, since the trail was snowy (still about 2 feet deep) and incredibly slick.  The trail also had elevation gain that the road did not have, which made the trail that much harder to navigate without traction gear.  Folks in hiking boots/ trail runners/ sneakers were all having a very difficult time. We made it to the falls and decided to go to the base, since we had our traction gear.  We made it no problem, but we saw one fellow in sneakers (using the knotted rope) almost end up in the river.  That would have been a long, cold hike out, assuming no injuries.  Traction devices are highly advised for the entire trail.  After taking some pictures and getting a bit cold, we headed back up the trail and veered left to take wagon road trail back.  We only made it about a quarter mile before previous sets of footprints petered out and we post holed to our knees.  The pup post holed to her thighs.  Since we didn’t have snow shoes and weren’t entirely sure of the trail, we decided to turn around and head back down the Franklin Falls trail.  

We got back to the vehicle around 4:30 and headed to Snoqualmie Falls.  There was plenty of parking in the free lot and the upper overlook to the falls wasn’t too crowded (perhaps 10-15 people total). That walkway was entirely paved.  There were a couple folks with day packs presumably gearing up to go to the lower view point (perhaps .7 miles each way).  We had enough hiking so we returned to the vehicle and proceeded west to the nearest Dairy Queen to get a blizzard (adults) and a kids cone (pup).  Then it was homeward bound.

Pup Report: the only available water sources during the trip was when walking along forest service road 58 and two little bare patches that had melt runoff on the trail itself.  The trail was slippery but a low enter of gravity helped.  Frolicking in the snow highly advised.  Post holing up to all four thighs was definitely not fun, nor recommended.

I parked at the summit west parking lot and walked the road to the start of the wagon road that leads down to Denny Creek. I walked the road, which had a great compact track to follow. I walked down the road around one big curve at a switchback. Then when I reached the next big curve at the next switchback, I followed a well used track that connected to the trail and I followed that briefly to the waterfall. The ice display was so spectacular! Only 3.4 miles when coming down from the pass, rather than 7 miles if starting at exit 47. Microspikes are not even needed except maybe at the final approach to the waterfall.

GPS track: http://www.movescount.com/moves/move202221658