We got a late start on Memorial Day, but we were still able to manage a beautiful hike at Wallace Falls. The parking lot was full when we got there in the early afternoon, but we were able to grab a spot as someone else was leaving. On a nice day, an early start would be recommended.

We had our infant (in a carrier) and four year old daughter with us, so that limited us to the lower falls (pictured here), but those alone were worth the trip. The lower falls were only a 4 mile round trip. We ran into several who were easily able to make the five mile round trip to the upper falls even with an afternoon start. The consensus from other hikers that we talked to was that the middle falls were the most spectacular, and the upper falls were a bit anticlimactic is light of that.

The hike is rated as medium difficulty, but even our four year old coped well. There are a few steeper grades, but they aren’t very long, and there are plenty of more level grades (and lots of benches) to help catch your breath. If you were wanting to make a longer day out of it, there are plenty of other trails in the area, including a few that go up to three lakes up above the falls.

Wallace Falls State Park is right on the edge of Gold Bar, only a few minutes off of Highway 2. With no traffic, it is a little over an hour from downtown Seattle. Once you are in Gold Bar, you should have little trouble finding the park from the signage in town.

Enjoy!

Some beautiful late summer weather meant it was a great day for a trip to Snoqualmie Falls (map). Only about 30 minutes from downtown Seattle, Snoqualmie Falls makes for a great family destination to get out of town, if only for a few hours.

We began our adventure at the top of the falls. There are a number of shaded tables and beautiful lawns, so it makes for an ideal picnic. There was plenty of parking on the other side of the highway, even on this busy day. It was a bit of a walk, but not too much trouble. The picture to the right was taken from an overlook at the top. In the spring, the falls cover the width of the opening due to the spring runoff. However, even the lower water levels of late summer make for a beautiful view.

After the picnic, we took a hike down to the bottom. The hike is pretty easy. Our three year old was able to make it down without being carried. The view from the bottom is once again breathtaking, though most ended up leaving the marked trails to get a closer look. For those who don’t want to make the hike, it is possible to drive most of the way to the bottom. From the top of the falls, continue west on 202 to the next left turn and follow it back to the parking lot.

To get to Snoqualmie Falls, take 90 east to Hwy 18. Head north on Hwy 18 to 202 and turn left to head west to the falls.

On a previous trip over the Deception Pass Bridge after a long and tiring day, we knew we would have to come back to explore Deception Pass further. We made the trip back to Deception Pass State Park (map) only a few weeks later when friends were visiting from out of town.

Even on a busy holiday (4th of July), we found the park to be very accessible. We chose to picnic on north beach on the south side of the pass (park map). It was an easy trek down to the beach from the parking lot, though climbing over a few logs and the rocks can be a bit of a challenge for little ones. Once there, we were presented with a gorgeous view of the bridge and the pass itself.

After the picnic we drove around a bit. West Beach was quite a bit busier but looked a bit softer and included some concessions for a more classic beach experience. There is also a lot of camping and hiking within the park itself. Deception Pass State Park is a good destination for any number of experiences you might want to enjoy.

Some friends flew into town on this Saturday morning, and we wanted to get out and about as soon as possible, so we found Bridal Veil Falls to be a nice half day hike. The destination of this hike presented a beautiful reward. The falls were gorgeous, and there was an amazing view looking out at the surrounding landscape.

The trail itself was well kept up. It was a fairly easy hike, though it did present a number of steps toward the end which could wear some down quickly. For the most part, those of us on the hike were in average physical condition, and we were able to make it up and down the trail, with some time at the falls, in about three and a half hours. There were also some families with small children there, including a three and a half year old who had easily made it up the trail. So, it’s a great hike for families, though children would need to be very closely monitored while at the falls.

The trail head is only a few miles east of Gold Bar, Washington, so it is only an hour or so drive from central Seattle, depending of course, on traffic. Take highway 2 a few miles east of Gold Bar to Mt Index Rd 6020. (map)