Twin Falls Hiking Guide
Twin Falls is the waterfall hike that works when everything else is under snow. Two and a half miles along the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Olallie State Park, through big old Douglas fir and dense moss, brings you to a wooden viewing deck facing a falls that drops in stages through a narrow rock gorge. It is gentle enough for children and green enough to feel genuinely remote twenty minutes off the freeway.
Permit: Discover Pass required to park at Olallie State Park (Washington State Parks)
The River Walk
The trail follows the river upstream, climbing gently through forest with occasional benches and viewpoints over the water. There are some stairs and a short steeper section near the falls, but nothing sustained — about 587 feet of gain spread across the route. Families manage it comfortably. The old-growth Douglas fir partway along is worth stopping for; a few of these trees predate the logging that took almost everything else in this valley.
The Falls and the Bridge
A signed spur drops to a viewing platform facing the lower falls, and continuing on brings you to a bridge spanning the gorge directly above them, which is the better vantage of the two. Flow is heaviest in spring runoff and after autumn rain, when the gorge is genuinely loud. Even in late summer the falls run, because the South Fork drains a large area of the Cascades.
Winter Access
Like Little Si, Twin Falls sits low enough to stay open year-round, and it is arguably at its best in winter — high water, no crowds, and moss that glows in flat grey light. Ice can form on the stairs and the platform in cold snaps, so watch your footing. The trail's low elevation and short length make it one of the most reliable options in the Seattle area between November and March.
Discover Pass and Trailheads
Olallie State Park requires a Discover Pass, and there are two access points — the main Twin Falls trailhead off Exit 34, and the Homestead Valley trailhead which gives a slightly different distance. Published mileages vary depending on which one a description assumes. The Exit 34 lot is the busier of the two and fills on fine weekends. Toilets are available at the trailhead.
Dogs and Etiquette
Leashed dogs are permitted. The trail is popular with families and moves slowly in places, particularly on the stairs near the falls, so patience helps. Stay on the constructed tread and off the riverbank where signed — the gorge has steep, slick drop-offs and the river runs fast and cold. Swimming here is a bad idea at any time of year.
Hiking tips for Twin Falls
- Hike it in winter for high water and empty trails; this is one of the few reliably snow-free options near Seattle.
- Continue past the lower viewing platform to the bridge above the falls — it is the better of the two vantages.
- Buy a Discover Pass for Olallie State Park; the trailhead is signed and enforced.
- Check which trailhead a distance figure refers to, as the Exit 34 and Homestead Valley starts give different mileages.
- Watch for ice on the stairs and viewing platform during cold snaps, which is when the falls look best.
Nearby trails to explore
- Little Si
- Rattlesnake Ledge
- Franklin Falls
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Twin Falls is the Seattle winter standby that works for almost anyone. Use TrailMates to find groups hiking the Snoqualmie corridor through the grey season. Download the TrailMates app to find one.