Wallace Falls
Late winter/early spring?
Wallace Falls State Park near Goldbar is one of the more iconic stops on the Northwest waterfall circuit, which means, of course, that it’s a popular place. And for very good reason. The hike to multiple tiers of falls is a joy, with excellent overlooks, interpretive information, a couple of nice loop options, and some longish connecting trails to less-busy Wallace Lake.
Kids and families often enjoy the hike, but there are some major dropoffs, despite the protective railings, so keep the little ones close. If you’re not up for a throng of trail companions, don’t even go on sunny weekends unless you arrive especially early or late in the afternoon, when the morning shift is returning to their cars (parking can and does fill up). For more breathing room, try a weekday in less than perfect weather, say late winter, early spring when the flows are high, or perhaps later in the fall after a rainy spell.
Nevertheless, Wallace Falls is worth whatever strategy you happen to chose. This is a state park, so a Discover Pass is required and available at the park. Or snag the annual pass in advance, ideally when you renew your car’s license tabs.
The daily rate (on my soapbox here) feels a lot like price gouging, to be diplomatic about it. In fact, I wonder sometimes if the gub’ment should be paying parents the ten bucks to take their younger kids to the park, instead of the other way around. I’m inclined to think that the lifelong benefits kids receive from recreating, socializing, and learning new stuff in our parks probably outweighs the costs we incure as a society when the troubled kids who grow up without these esteem-building experiences perhaps exceed the modest sums that are raised from park fees. That said, the annual $30 fee seems much more reasonable. If the $10 daily rate must stay, why not credit three individual day passes toward one free annual pass?
If you are new to Wallace Falls, the main trail is obvious and the loops are well signed. Beware that the hike past the falls and on to the lake and back, say via the scenic Greg Ball Trail, is about 10 miles long, so study the trail maps and distances carefully as you plan your day.
For those looking for something less arduous, you can skip the steep climb to the upper falls, since you will have seen most of the good stuff once you arrive at the Middle Falls Overlook, about two miles from the trailhead. It’s a good turnaround point for a moderate hike.
The park and falls are named for the first couple to homestead the area, Joe and Sarah Kwayaylsh (anglicized to “Wallace”), members of the Skykomish Tribe. The park was established in 1971.