Wallace Falls State Park

A 1,380-acre Cascade foothills park near Gold Bar, featuring three tiers of dramatic waterfalls, old-growth forests, and historic logging trails.

Wallace Falls State Park encompasses 1,380 acres of dense, moss-laden forest and rushing waters along the west side of the Cascade Mountains, just two miles northeast of Gold Bar, Washington. The park's name honors Joe and Sarah Kwayaylsh, members of the Skykomish tribe who were the area's first homesteaders; 'Wallace' is a Western corruption of their original family name. This land lies within the traditional territory of Coast Salish Indigenous people, whose descendants include members of the Tulalip Tribes. In 1971, the state purchased the core acreage from the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company to establish the park, protecting a landscape that still bears the physical history of its logging era, including springboard notches cut into massive cedar stumps and abandoned railroad grades.

The centerpiece of the park is the multi-tiered Wallace Falls, fed by the Wallace River as it drops from an elevation of 1,600 feet to 800 feet in less than half a mile. The river features three primary waterfalls: Lower Wallace Falls drops 212 feet, the iconic Middle Wallace Falls plunges a dramatic 265 feet down a sheer rock face, and Upper Wallace Falls cascades 240 feet across five distinct tiers. Hikers access these viewpoints via the Woody Trail, a moderately challenging, 5.6-mile roundtrip path with 1,300 feet of elevation gain. The trail begins near the park entrance, briefly passing beneath humming power lines before plunging into a dense canopy of old-growth Douglas firs and Western hemlocks. The sound of the river builds continuously as the path climbs, leading to a series of wooden viewing platforms, including a sheltered overlook at the Middle Falls that catches the cool, constant mist of the drop.

For those seeking a quieter experience away from the crowded Woody Trail, the park features the five-mile Railroad Grade Trail, which follows a disused logging railway line with a much gentler incline. This path connects with the Greg Ball Trail, an uphill route leading to the quiet shores of Wallace Lake and Jay Lake, located deep in the park's backcountry. Near the trailhead, the park offers five rustic cabins for overnight stays, each equipped with electric heat, a covered front porch, a fire pit, and bunk beds. Two of these cabins are ADA-accessible, and two allow pets for an additional fee. There are also two walk-in tent sites for a more rustic camping experience. Visitors arriving by vehicle must display a Washington State Discover Pass, which can be purchased at an automated kiosk in the main parking lot.