People come from all over the world to enjoy the beauty of Washington State. From our majestic mountains to our wild coastline, enjoying the outdoors is often seen as part of being from Washington. If you are looking for some family-friendly hikes with a great payoff at the end, consider packing up the car for one of these day hikes featuring waterfalls.
Dickerson Falls is a 2.3-mile loop trail near Bremerton, Washington. Generally considered an easy route, it takes about an hour to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. The trail is located on land owned and operated by Ueland Tree Farm, so make sure you stay alert for farm activity.
Located in Eatonville near Mt. Tahoma, Little Mashel Falls is not one but three amazing waterfalls in one 4.5-mile hike with about 500-feet of elevation gain. The tallest waterfall plunges over 90-feet which means that despite its name, the falls are not “little”. The name derives from the Little Mashel River (pronounced like “Michelle”). The land surrounding the falls has varied ownership, including the University of Washington, the city of Eatonville, and the City of Tacoma Please know where you are, and respect property rights. As always make sure to pack it in; pack it out.
If you venture down to the Olympia area you can find another great option. The Mima Falls Loop takes hikers through 6.5 miles of young plantings, lush forest, and quiet wetlands in Olympia’s Capitol State Forest. Just 30 minutes from the state capital, this is the perfect year-round waterfall hike with a 600-foot elevation gain. Hike through a working forest and examine forestry practices up close.
Before you go, make sure that you check the weather ahead of time, pack the 10 essentials; and communicate your plan to someone who is not on your trip.