Everything you need to know about visiting Wallace Falls State Park, WA

Wallace Falls is located about an hour from Seattle and one of the most popular hikes in the region. Why? It’s accessible year round, the falls themselves are quite impressive, and the hike is a beautiful winding trail through the forest. It’s not too long and it’s family friendly, especially if you just go to the lower falls viewing area. You really can’t go wrong with a visit to Wallace Falls State Park! Read on for exploring the park itself, local area hikes and activities, and staying in the cabins in Wallace Falls State Park.

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The main attraction of the park are the waterfalls, of course! Here are the trail details:

• Distance: 5.6 miles roundtrip, 1300 feet elevation gain
• Pet and family friendly
• Pass required: Discover Pass
• Accessible seasons: year round
• What you’ll see: multi-tiered waterfalls, river, trees, a couple mountain views

You can also visit Wallace Lake (9 miles) and Jay Lake (12.2 miles), but these are a bit more of a commitment to reach as they are longer trails and I haven’t personally done them as we generally stick to around 8 or fewer miles.

After your hike, you can enjoy the picnic facilities near the trailhead. There are restrooms with flush toilets available as well. You can find detailed information about the park facilities at the Wallace Falls State Park website.

Wallace Falls is easy as a day trip from Seattle, but it’s also a great spot to spend a night or two! Within the park itself, there are 2 first come, first serve campsites and 5 cabins (more on staying in the Wallace Falls cabins below). If you want to splurge, this beautiful vacation home is located just a few minutes from the park. VRBO has many options in Gold Bar and nearby Index, which is a fabulous base for exploring the area as well.

We loved staying at the Wallace Falls State Park cabins!

How to reserve Wallace Falls State Park Cabins:

There are 5 cabins that you can reserve, up to 9 months in advance. The website for reserving Wallace Falls State Park cabins is Washington Going to Camp. Select your park, select your dates, and make sure you click “Roofed” so you see cabin options! 

As budget travelers, we are so appreciative of these cabins. We booked this stay a few months in advance for a visit in November; they are much easier to snag in the cold months (and this is the best time to see the falls anyhow due to rainfall). I’d recommend visiting in fall through spring, and saving summer travel for mountain areas that are inaccessible in the shoulder and winter seasons.

What is the cost to stay at Wallace Falls State Park cabins?

You can find the rates on the website. For the 2023-2024 winter, the cost is $55 per night. You can also bring a pet to two of the cabins for an extra $15 per night.

What are the cabins at Wallace Falls State Park like?

The cabins can sleep up to 5 people. Two of the cabins have two rooms; we stayed in one of these. There is one bedroom with a bunk bed that has a double bed on the bottom and a twin on the top, and there is a fold out double bed couch in the living room. Each cabin is equipped with heating and a table and chairs, but there is no bathroom or kitchen within the cabins. There are many windows on the cabin, and the curtains are effective at blocking out light for sleeping. If you have a larger group, you can even invite friends to camp outside the cabin, as there is space and this is permitted!

 The bathrooms have flush toilets, and showers are available as well, a short walk from your cabin door. You will need to plan to cook out on the porch with your cook stove or use the fire pit and grill for some classic grilled outdoor meals! Each cabin has a picnic table outside as well.

The cabins are perfect for a quick one or two night getaway. We went for a weekend and it was just the right amount of time for us.

• String lights: This is a small thing that makes a cabin stay SO cozy and cute. Worth a few bucks to bring along for the vibes.
• Camp stove: An essential item for rustic cabins and camping. I love my Coleman, it’s been many years and still going strong.
• Bedding: You have to bring bedding to these cabins, and these camping themed sheets are adorable.
• Kitchen supplies: You need to have some gear to prep and cook food outside. I’d recommend some basics like a slotted turner, this Stanley camp cook set, and biodegradable dish soap
• Buckets for washing dishes. These are awesome because they fold down and take up less space. You’ll need something like this to wash dishes in a camp/cabin setting.
• Kindle/book. For down time in the afternoon or evening!
• Hiking boots: These Danner boots are super cute and functional.
• Hiking poles: I always hike with hiking poles. Provides stability and joint protection!
• Wine opener: For enjoying your wine in the evening, this type of opener is the bomb.
• Cozy sherpa fleece: Great for cuddling up in the cabin or for hiking in chilly weather

So, you’ve hiked the falls and had a picnic lunch. Now what?

There are plenty of attractions to visit in the surrounding areas. Here are a few of the best activities near Wallace Falls:

1. Indulge in a treat at Sultan Bakery. Definitely go here for breakfast or a post-hike pastry. We had both, and both were amazing. So amazing, in fact, we went both mornings despite having planned to cook breakfast at home. It’s open daily (except Mondays) from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm. The cinnamon roll is particularly decadent!

 

2. Grab a drink and a bite at Good Brewing Sultan. They have incredible fried potatoes and beer! For the non-drinkers, the root beer on tap is fantastic. Open daily 12-9 pm.

3. Head to Index and hike Heybrook Lookout and/or Heybrook Ridge. These are both fairly quick and easy hikes with gorgeous mountain views. You could easily do them both in one day. A couple notes: first, Google Maps sends you to the wrong place if you type in Heybrook Lookout, so use the map link provided in the WA Trails Association description. Second, Heybrook Lookout parking can be very full on busy days, whereas Heybrook Ridge is much quieter. You may want to go first thing to the Lookout and then head to the Ridge after.

4. Still wanting more hiking action? Visit Barclay Lake. This hike is particularly good for folks who are opposed to elevation gain, as it has only 500 feet total elevation gain and the total distance is 4.4 miles. Be sure to check road conditions as in the winter there may be snow and the road may be inaccessible.

5. Check out the eccentric local bookstore, Kiss the Sky Books, which has a regular open mic night and music some evenings.

6. Grab a latte at the classic Espresso Chalet and take a picture with the big foot!

Wallace Falls State Park is an excellent place to spend a weekend and a great base for exploring the general area. Tell me your favorite spot in the area in the comments!