Franklin Falls Hike
Waterfall | Washington
2 mi round trip
400 ft
Easy
Franklin Falls Hike at a Glance
The Franklin Falls hike is 2 mi round trip with 400 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 2,710 ft |
|---|---|
| Distance | 2 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 400 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 50 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 5 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 490 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 2 mi distance and 400 ft of gain for this hike are verified (wta.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Franklin Falls
Franklin Falls is a waterfall in Washington, on land managed by Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Franklin Falls Trail: 2 miles round trip with about 400 feet of elevation gain, from Franklin Falls Trailhead. Distance from wta.org. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- A valid recreation pass is required at Franklin Falls Trailhead. (fs.usda.gov)
- Dogs must be on a leash. (fs.usda.gov)
- Franklin Falls has avalanche danger in the winter. (wta.org)
- Use caution and keep children close, as the rocks are often wet and potentially slippery. (wta.org)
- The Forest Service did not plow Denny Creek Road or the Franklin Falls parking lot in winter 2025–26; check its alerts before a winter visit. (fs.usda.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Franklin Falls?
The Franklin Falls Trail to Franklin Falls is 2 miles round trip with about 400 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Franklin Falls hike start?
It starts from Franklin Falls Trailhead.
Is there a fee to hike to Franklin Falls?
A valid recreation pass is required at Franklin Falls Trailhead.
Are dogs allowed on the Franklin Falls trail?
Dogs must be on a leash.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Franklin Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- wta.org
- Distance
- wta.org
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Franklin Falls.