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Parking used to be a challenge at Wallace Falls. It was get there early or don’t bother, as the small parking lot quickly reached capacity on sunny weekends.
The lot has since been expanded. That doesn’t mean, however, that parking won’t be at a premium. This is one of the most popular hikes in the region. Plan accordingly.
Distance: 7 miles
Destination: Upper falls
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 1,400 feet
Getting there: Take U.S. Highway 2 about 30 miles east of Everett to the town of Gold Bar. Take a left at the sign for Wallace Falls State Park. The entrance to the park is two miles ahead on the left.
The Trek: Wallace Falls can be seen from the north side of the Skykomish River Valley, on U.S. Highway 2 between Sultan and Gold Bar.
The 265-foot main set of falls is impressive. All told, the entire series of falls covers about 500 feet.
After preparations are made, set out. The trailhead for the Woody Trail is behind the information kiosk.
Follow power lines a short distance before branching left into the forest.
At the signed junction, stay right on the Woody Trail and descend into the valley.
You can take The Old Railroad Grade. It is longer — by about a mile — but is less steep than the Woody Trail.
It’s a short distance to the Small Falls Logging Interpretive Trail. This was an Eagle Scout project. The Small Falls are picturesque.
Follow the banks of the Wallace River and pass a sturdy bench. Remnants of the logging days abound in the numerous springboard-notched stumps.
Begin to climb, leaving the river below. Switchbacks become the norm. Each one seems a bit steeper than the last.
A lone flat spot along this stretch happens to be a wooden footbridge spanning a creek.
Switchbacks give way to wooden stairs as the first mile marker is reached.
Continue past the trailhead for the Railroad Cutoff.
A rare downhill portion of rock and root strewn path leads deeper into the forest. Pass a large boulder on the right before heading uphill.
At the “Y” and the sign for Lower Falls, go right and descend to a bridge spanning the fast moving river. Once across the bridge, it’s up, up and away on switchbacks and several staircases.
The Lower Falls boast a picnic shelter and a couple falls that plunge one into the other before crashing into a majestic pool.
Encased in shade, this is an excellent spot to cool down and get your bearings. A map tells hikers where they are and how far it is to the final destination.
Depart Lower Falls and continue to climb. After a fairly arduous incline, reach an overlook of the valley and a glimpse of the falls. Traverse downward to the overlook’s pinnacle.
This is just a precursor to what lies ahead.
A short distance ahead is Middle Falls. The valley unfolds in all its splendor from this vista. The towns of Gold Bar and Startup can be seen nestled in the valley far below.
Continuing on, encounter stairs comprised of roots, rocks and dirt as the climb continues.
The trek to Upper Falls is a bit of a grind. From this point, however, the air is crisp and cool. One waterfall leads to another before disappearing below.
Beyond this point, the trail gets a bit sketchy.
A sign explains that most hikers who become lost in this area do so after this point. There’s even a newspaper story about two girls’ harrowing experience when they lost their way.
This makes for a solid place to turn around and head back from whence you came. It’s all downhill from here on the return trip to the rig.
Wallace Falls
Vince Richardson
Several sets of falls make up Wallace Falls.
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