If you love waterfalls and are visiting the state of Washington in the US, they are reportedly most prevalent on the state’s west side. Ah, but then again, eastern Washington is well represented too. In order to help you with your waterfall-watching itinerary, here are the 12 best waterfalls in Washington State.

12 Best Waterfalls In Washington State

1. The Snoqualmie Falls, Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie Falls is possibly the most famous waterfall in Washington state. East of Seattle, this 268-foot waterfall is perhaps best known for its inclusion in the opening credits of the 1990 TV show Twin Peaks. It is also known as a special meeting place for native groups.  

Get a better understanding of the significance of the falls at the nearby lodge. Get a closer look and learn more by hiking the interpretive trail. Located right below the falls, it’s less than one mile in length. The best time to visit is during the spring when Snoqualmie has its biggest snowmelt and flow. The summer is warmer, of course, but that’s also when you will encounter more tourists.

Spray Falls is in the northwest Mowich Lake area of the park. You’ll have to hike for 2.25 miles to reach the 350+-foot waterfall. The journey begins on a section of the well-known Wonderland Trail. It’s perhaps most known for being the only trail that actually circles massive Mount Rainier.

The trail will lead you past the popular Eagle’s Cliff overlook, which offers hikers an exceptional view. Follow the short spur trail and soon you will notice a misty cloud for which the waterfall gets its name. If you want a closer look, you will have to work your way around some huge boulders.  

Make a day of hiking to and from the falls. You can even follow the trail beyond the falls into Spray Park’s alpine meadows. Visit during the summer and enjoy the wildflowers in full bloom.

Palouse Falls is an ice-age waterfall found in Eastern Washington, roughly 40 miles out of Walla Walla. Also, the official state waterfall; it includes a drop of 200 feet, a huge bowl, and a striking gorge. If you require additional information or any assistance, the Palouse Falls State Park, below the falls, provides resources and camping opportunities to visitors.

More importantly, this state park also includes a trio of exceptional observation points. The easiest observation point to access is the lower one. It’s a great place for photographers and painters too if you’re artistically inclined.

Nestled in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in King County, this is reported to be “one of the best waterfalls” close to Seattle. The hike to the waterfall is short and with only minimal elevation gain. It’s a short hike on a well-maintained trail.

Thus, it’s also a well-liked family waterfall hike that runs along the Snoqualmie River’s south fork. The water here thunders down 135 feet over a trio of tiers. Only the final 70 feet can be seen from the trail.

You can get closer to the pool beneath the pool but know that the path is slippery. Visit in the summer. It’s the perfect place to chill out.

This pair of waterfalls is considered by some travel writers to be a nigh-defining attraction of Riverfront Park and one of the country’s “best urban waterfalls.” Located in the heart of downtown Spokane, both the Upper and Lower Spokane Falls have a long local history. This, too, was an important place for native gatherings. Today the city uses them to create hydroelectric power.  

Amidst all the urban development, the falls continue to be a real tourist attraction. Huntington Park, near City Hall, is a fine place to see the lower falls on land. Riverfront Park’s popular SkyRide features an exciting enclosed-cabin cable ride over the lower falls as well. You’ll get your best views of Upper Falls from a pair of pedestrian bridges.

Whatcom Falls is not only one of the city’s top attractions, but it is also the centerpiece of a popular park of the same name. Washington state’s Whatcom Falls Park welcomes visitors via a well-known Civilian Conservation Corps-era bridge. More importantly, this bridge also is an excellent place from which to see the falls.

If you want to see picturesque Whatcom Creek and other areas here, try hiking the three-plus miles of trails traversing the park. Visit the park’s fish hatchery, and go swimming in the swimming hole too. Other amenities here include interpretive displays, a playground, and picnic shelters.

Twin Falls in Washington is under an hour from Seattle in Olallie State Park. The hike to see the famous 165-foot waterfall is just two and a half miles. The trailhead is adjacent to the Snoqualmie River’s south fork.  

Ah, but the Twin Falls is not the only water attraction in this state park. You can hike an even shorter trail to the South Fork Picnic Area and the 77-foot-high Weeks Falls. You can also go mountain biking here. Hiking aficionados may also find it good to know that a section of the 212-mile popular Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail runs through this park as well.

Marymere Falls is nestled in the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. It’s one of the park’s most popular waterfalls and is easily accessible. The trailhead for the hike to the falls is on the peninsula’s north side, roughly half an hour’s drive west of Port Angeles on famous Highway 101.

The trailhead is also close to Lake Crescent’s shoreline. The hike itself is under two miles out and back. The trail is generally flat and leads you through a verdant, old-growth forest. Pack a lunch and rest and enjoy it at this 90-foot waterfall. You should be able to complete the hike itself in less than an hour but the scenery and, of course, the falls will discourage you from setting any speed records.

Looking for another family-friendly hike in Washington? Panther Creek Falls is located just 10 miles north of the rugged Columbia River Gorge. Your outdoor adventure begins at Forest Service Road 65.  

From there it is under half a mile to the falls. Here the water plummets down almost 70 feet into a blue, churning pool. There is also a number of higher rivulets that cascade down the face of the rock, adding even more to the overall beauty.

Need more? This area of the Pacific Northwest is fairly famous for its waterfalls. Not far away, you can visit the towering three-tiered Falls Creek Falls. Head south, and stop at the Columbia River Gorge. It’s home to many of Oregon’s best waterfalls, most notably the 620-foot-high Multnomah Falls.

The cascading attraction known as Wallace Falls is nestled within the state park of the same name, less than an hour out of Seattle. You can reach this 265-foot waterfall via a moderately trafficked trail that’s 4.6 miles out and back. There is an elevation gain of more than 1,300 feet to the upper falls.  

Much of this is the result of steep switchbacks towards the end of your destination. If you’d prefer less of a hike, you can see the middle falls prior to where the trail takes the first steep turn. If you visit in the summer, you’d best head out early to avoid the crowds.  

This wild waterfall is ensconced within the lush Gifford Pinchot National Forest just northeast of famous Mount St. Helens. You can reach this waterfall from Forest Service Road 25. It’s just a steep, tenth-of-a-mile to the creek and falls.

The best time to visit is in the late spring or early summer. This is when Iron Creek Falls flows the heaviest. Indeed, as summer makes its way to fall, the shore around the pool here becomes easier to explore. If you want to spend more time here you can even camp out at the Iron Creek Campground 10 miles north along Forest Service Road 25.

The iconic multi-tiered landmark along the Deschutes River is just minutes out of the state capital of Olympia in the 15-acre park donated by the well-known Olympia Brewing Company. A narrow gorge separates the upper and lower falls. This place is especially popular on summer afternoons.  

This is a maintained green space that also includes 1.5 miles of hiking trails. You can enjoy high vantage points of the cascading water from a number of different scenic footbridges here. The best time to visit if you’re a fan of wildlife such as fish is from September through October when the salmon are making their way up the river’s specially constructed fish ladder.