11 best rainy day hikes near Seattle

One of the most common questions I get asked about moving to Washington is, “But what about the rain?” Yes, it does rain here quite a bit, but no, it isn’t a deal breaker for me. While I don’t always love how wet it can get here, I do realize that the rain we have is what makes the nature here so gorgeous and lush. So as a hiker, I wanted to find great rainy day hikes near Seattle. Here’s my 11 best recommendations for rainy day trails in Washington!

A note on picking rainy day hikes near Seattle

In general, I recommend looking for lower elevation gain hike (so you don’t get too wet from sweating. I tend to prefer lakes, waterfalls, and river strolls for rainy days since the view won’t be blocked by rain or clouds. I actually wrote an entire post on selecting hikes and the gear you need for wet hikes here!

Also, always check road conditions before you head out. Sometimes the roads close in winter weather and the trails are no longer accessible.

Top 11 rainy day hikes near Seattle

1. Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail

• Length: 12 miles
• Elevation gain: 1,650 feet
• Parking pass: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail

The Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail is very scenic. It meanders near the riverside and through the forest. It’s not a far drive from Seattle (about an hour or so), and it is accessible most of the year. You’ll want to double check that the forest service road final portion of the drive is open if you are hiking in winter, but generally speaking it’s a solid bet! Enjoy the misty, mysterious views over the river, and simply walk as far as you want. The trail is long but you can turn around at any time.

2. Twin Falls

• Length: 2.4 miles
• Elevation gain: 940 feet
• Parking pass: Discover Pass
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Twin Falls

An absolute classic, Twin Falls is great just about any time. But it’s especially awesome in the rain. I’ve hiked Twin Falls about 6 times at this point and twice have been rainy day excursions. The forest gives some protection from the rain, and the beauty is actually amplified here when it’s wet, in my opinion. Plus, this trail is hugely popular, so you can get a quieter experience here when it’s raining.

3. Garfield Ledges (a *surprisingly* great option for rainy day hikes near Seattle)

• Length: 2.2 miles
• Elevation gain: 830 feet
• Parking pass: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Garfield Ledges

Okay hear me out, usually I wouldn’t pick a trail that has views on a rainy day, but I think this one’s views in the mist and rain are really spectacular. Plus, it’s a short trail through the forest to the viewpoint, so it’s not like you’re working super hard to get to the top. This one is also combine-able with the Middle Fork Snoqualmie trail as they are both in the same general area, which makes it an ideal rainy day hikes near Seattle.

4. Comet Falls

• Length: 3.8 miles
• Elevation gain: 1,250 feet
• Parking pass: America the Beautiful
• NOT dog friendly
• Trail link: Comet Falls

Comet Falls is a trail in Mount Rainier National Park, near the Longmire entrance to the park. It’s not a trail I would do on a sunny day, because if I’m driving that far to get to Mount Rainier I want views of the mountain. But in the rain? This trail was magical. We actually were supposed to hike the Skyline Trail the day we did Comet Falls and pivoted to this one due to the unexpected (it was mid-August!) rain. My dad even said it was one of his top hikes ever in Washington. Countless waterfalls, lush greenery, beautiful riverside path…it’s wonderful.

5. Sol Duc Falls

• Length: 1.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 200 feet
• Parking pass: America the Beautiful
• Not dog friendly
• Trail link: Sol Duc Falls

This is a short but lovely trail through the old growth trees to an iconic waterfall. Located in the Olympic National Park, it’s a bit of a drive for people coming from Seattle, so I’d recommend planning to do this hike when you’re staying in the area or combining it with other trails in the area like Marymere Falls or a visit to the Sol Duc hot springs (or all three!).

6. Wallace Falls

• Length: 5.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 1,300 feet
• Parking pass: Discover Pass
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Wallace Falls

Another Seattle area classic as it’s about an hour from the city, Wallace Falls has three levels of view points for the waterfalls. It’s a bit more challenging than most of the other hikes on this list with some real elevation gain, but the reward is worth it. Be mindful of your feet on this trail, I’d definitely bring hiking poles as there are a lot of steep and heavily root-filled areas.

7. Heather Lake

• Length: 5 miles
• Elevation gain: 1,034 feet
• Parking pass: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Heather Lake

I’ve actually ONLY done Heather Lake in cold and wet weather, despite one attempt in late June (when it was still wet and mucky!). But that’s okay because this a great rainy day hike near Seattle. It’s off the mountain loop highway, and the forest service road connecting the highway to the trailhead was repaired in 2024, making it much easier to get to. Previously potholes were a serious problem and posed a hazard, especially in wet weather. The highlight of this trail may be the trail itself, as it passes through old growth forest.

8. Murhut Falls

• Length: 1.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 250 feet
• Parking pass: None
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Murhut Falls

Located in the Olympic Peninsula, this short and sweet hike makes for a perfect spring or fall outing. It’s easy enough for all ages to be able to enjoy, and takes you to a scenic waterfall. It’s also not a heavily trafficked area so you’ll likely have the trail more to yourself. You may want to combine this hike with another activity in the area like the Ranger Hole trail.

9. Boulder River Trail

• Length: 8.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 700 feet
• Parking pass: None
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Boulder River Trail

This is one of my favorite waterfall trails in all of Washington. While I did it on a sunny spring day, it would also be gorgeous in the rain. The forest along this trail gives fairy tale vibes. There are multiple waterfalls within the first 2-3 miles of the trail, so you can easily enjoy this area without hiking the entire trail. It’s also far enough from Seattle (~1.5 hours) that it’s not as crowded as some of the other, closer waterfall trails.

10. Franklin Falls

• Length: 2 miles
• Elevation gain: 400 feet
• Parking pass: Northwest Forest Pass
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Franklin Falls

Franklin Falls is an easy trail when the road to the trailhead is open. Be sure to check conditions, as in the winter this road closes and the trail becomes a much longer snowshoe. It’s not my favorite waterfall in the sense that you can see the freeway above/to the side of the falls, but the trail itself is pretty nice. It’s a gently hilly ramble through the forest to reach the falls.

11. Cherry Creek Falls: the best rainy day hike near Seattle?

• Length: 5 miles
• Elevation gain: 450 feet
• Parking pass: None (parking can be difficult here though, it’s just on the roadway. Plan to arrive early on a weekend).
• Dog friendly
• Trail link: Cherry Creek Falls

Cherry Creek Falls is a nearly flat trail through the forest to waterfalls and for reasons similar to those already listed, makes for a perfect rainy day hike near Seattle. It’s super kid-friendly too, with plenty of areas that little children can walk on with no drop offs, and it’s flat enough that it’s pretty easy to carry toddlers or babies here too. Cherry Creek Falls is also very close to Seattle, another win!

Final thoughts on the best rainy day hikes near Seattle

Living in the Pacific Northwest means you will need to get used to hiking in the rain if you want to hike during much of the year. Thankfully, there are so many wonderful trails in the area that can be enjoyed even in the rain (and sometimes even MORE in the rain!)

What are your favorite rainy day hikes near Seattle? Let me know in the comments.