Waterfalls in Washington

Where the waterfalls are in Washington

Washington's waterfalls follow its mountains. The Cascades and the Olympics catch enormous amounts of rain and snow, and glaciers carved valleys that left side streams hanging high above the valley floor. Mount Rainier National Park alone has well over a hundred waterfalls, and the Snoqualmie Pass corridor east of Seattle has many within an hour of the city.

East of the Cascades the country dries out, but the Palouse and the Columbia Plateau have a few dramatic falls cut into ancient lava flows.

Well-known waterfalls in Washington

Snoqualmie Falls

A 268-foot fall about 30 miles east of Seattle, with a free observation deck and a trail to the river below. Falls near Snoqualmie Falls.

Palouse Falls

Washington's state waterfall, about 198 feet, dropping into a basalt canyon in Palouse Falls State Park. Falls near Palouse Falls.

Wallace Falls

A series of falls in Wallace Falls State Park near Gold Bar, with viewpoints along a steady climb. Falls near Wallace Falls.

Franklin Falls

A short walk from the Denny Creek area near Snoqualmie Pass, popular in winter when the fall freezes. Falls near Franklin Falls.

Sol Duc Falls

A fall where the river splits into several channels into a narrow canyon, in the rainforest of Olympic National Park. Falls near Sol Duc Falls.

Narada Falls

A broad fall beside the road to Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park. Falls near Narada Falls.

Comet Falls

One of the taller falls in Mount Rainier National Park, at the end of a steep trail. Falls near Comet Falls.

When to go

West-side falls run hardest in winter rain and again in May and June snowmelt. High-country trails can be snow-covered into July. East-side falls peak in spring. See the best time to see waterfalls for how flow changes by region.

Washington by the numbers

The map shows 485 named falls in Washington. 182 of them are in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, the federal register of official place names, and 303 more are named falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap. 162 have a height recorded by OpenStreetMap mappers, which is what the height filter above uses. PierceCounty has the most, with 32.

Tallest recorded waterfalls in Washington

Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap, converted to feet. Guidebooks may list different figures, usually because they count every tier of a fall or only the biggest drop. Why heights differ.

Counties with the most waterfalls

From the USGS record, which gives each fall's county.

Every named waterfall in Washington

Alphabetical within each county. Tap a name to centre the map above on it.

Chelan County (9)

Bridal Veil Falls, Crown Point Falls, Domke Falls, Drury Falls (1,267 ft), Entiat Falls, Preston Falls, Rainbow Falls, Silver Falls, White River Falls

Clallam County (7)

Bear Creek Falls, Beaver Falls, Herman Falls, Hoko Falls, Marymere Falls (92 ft), Sol Duc Falls (46 ft), Titacoclos Falls (69 ft)

Clark County (4)

Horseshoe Falls (22 ft), Lucia Falls (15 ft), Moulton Falls (11 ft), Salmon Falls

Columbia County (1)

Hompegg Falls

Cowlitz County (4)

Kalama Falls, Lower Kalama River Falls, Marietta Falls, Washboard Falls

Ferry County (2)

Ninemile Falls, Sherman Creek Falls

Franklin County (1)

Palouse Falls (197 ft)

Grant County (2)

Martin Falls, Summer Falls

Jefferson County (2)

Hatana Falls, Service Falls

King County (12)

Alpine Falls, Deception Falls, Dingford Creek Falls, Florence Falls (141 ft), Franklin Falls (135 ft), Keekwulee Falls (171 ft), Malachite Falls (600 ft), McCauley Falls, Otter Falls (1,200 ft), Snoqualmie Falls (268 ft), Snowshoe Falls (150 ft), Twin Falls

Kitsap County (1)

McKenna Falls

Kittitas County (1)

Horsetail Falls (49 ft)

Klickitat County (2)

Outlet Falls, The Dalles (historical)

Lewis County (17)

Carter Falls, Cedar Creek Falls, Cougar Falls, Cowlitz Falls, Fish Ladder Falls, Fisk Falls, Grant Purcell Falls, Jennings Falls, Madcap Falls, Maple Falls, Martha Falls, Narada Falls (176 ft), Saint Johns Falls, Silver Falls (95 ft), Sunbeam Falls, Sylvia Falls, Washington Cascades

Lincoln County (4)

Delzer Falls, Hawk Creek Falls, Reiser Falls, Wilson Creek Falls

Mason County (1)

Lilliwaup Falls

Okanogan County (9)

Cedar Falls, Chewack Falls, Falls Creek Falls, Foggy Dew Falls, McLoughlin Falls, Mission Falls, Multnomah Falls, Salmon Falls, Spray Falls

Pacific County (1)

Willapa Falls

Pend Oreille County (4)

Granite Falls, Kalispell Falls, LaSota Falls, Pewee Falls

Pierce County (32)

Affi Falls, Alice Falls, Basaltic Falls, Cataract Falls, Chenuis Falls, Christine Falls, Comet Falls (302 ft), Cress Falls, Denman Falls, Ethania Falls, Fairy Falls, Garda Falls, Giant Falls (363 ft), Ipsut Falls, Larrupin Falls, Little Mashel Falls, Margaret Falls, Marie Falls, Mary Belle Falls, Nahunta Falls, Pearl Falls, Ranger Falls, Sluiskin Falls, Spray Falls (354 ft), Stafford Falls, Tato Falls, Trixie Falls, Twin Falls, Van Horn Falls, Victor Falls, Wauhaukaupauken Falls, Wildcat Falls

San Juan County (4)

Cascade Falls, Cavern Falls, Hidden Falls, Rustic Falls

Skagit County (1)

Teepee Falls

Skamania County (15)

Curly Creek Falls, Dougan Falls, Falls Creek Falls (335 ft), Hardy Falls (90 ft), Harmony Falls, Langfield Falls (59 ft), Little Niagara Falls (74 ft), Loowit Falls (186 ft), Lower Falls, Middle Falls, Paradise Falls (126 ft), Rodney Falls (45 ft), Shipherd Falls, Twin Falls (52 ft), Upper Falls

Snohomish County (14)

Asbestos Falls, Boulder Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Canyon Falls (42 ft), Eagle Falls, Gibson Falls, Granite Falls, Mary Pamela Falls, North Fork Falls, Olney Falls (59 ft), Sunday Falls, Sunset Falls (104 ft), Twin Falls (138 ft), Wallace Falls

Spokane County (2)

Hn(wa'(we'elshn (historical), Nine Mile Falls

Stevens County (9)

Chamokane Falls, Crystal Falls (33 ft), Douglass Falls, Kettle Falls (historical), Little Chamokane Falls, Meyers Falls, Rickey Rapids, Sheep Creek Falls, Upper Falls

Thurston County (3)

Deschutes Falls, Kennedy Falls, Mima Falls

Whatcom County (7)

Gorge Creek Falls, Hard Scrabble Falls (280 ft), John Pierce Waterfall, Ladder Creek Falls (108 ft), Mazama Falls, Nooksack Falls (89 ft), Rainbow Falls (157 ft)

Whitman County (2)

Rock Creek Falls, Towell Falls

Yakima County (8)

Castile Falls, Clear Creek Falls (228 ft), Crooked Creek Falls, Devil Creek Falls, Dry Creek Falls, Logy Creek Falls, Union Creek Falls, West Quartz Creek Falls

County not recorded (304)

10 Mile Falls, Ancient Lake Falls, Anderson Falls (167 ft), Angel Falls (174 ft), Angeline Falls (424 ft), Apron Falls, Archer Falls (218 ft), Bacon Lake Falls (446 ft), Bald Eagle Falls, Bear Creek Falls (7 ft), Belle Center Falls, Berdeen Falls (899 ft), Big Blowout Falls, Big Creek Falls, Big Creek Falls (236 ft), Big Creek Falls, Big Heart Falls (1,262 ft), Big Tree Creek Falls (58 ft), Bighorn Falls, Bishop Falls, Black Hole Falls, Blanca Lake Falls, Bloody Falls, Bloucher Falls (121 ft), Borderline Falls (20 ft), Boulder Drop, Bridal Veil Falls-Lower East Cascade, Bridal Veil Falls-Mine Cascade (1,291 ft), Bridal Veil Falls-Upper Cascade, Buck Creek Falls, Buck Creek Falls, Bumping River Falls, BZ Falls, Camp Creek Falls, Canyon Creek Falls (25 ft), Canyon creek rapids, Cape Horn Creek Waterfall, Cape Horn Falls (597 ft), Cascade Falls, Cathedral Falls, Cave Falls (400 ft), Cedar Creek Falls, Cedar Falls, Cedar Falls, Champagne Falls (30 ft), Cherry Creek Falls (82 ft), Chickoon Creek Falls (78 ft), Chinook Cascades, Chinook Falls (62 ft), Chocolate Falls, Chuckanut Falls, Coal Creek Falls, Copper Creek Falls, Copper Lake Falls (131 ft), Cora Falls, Crystal Falls, Cultus Falls, Curtain Falls (75 ft), Dalles Creek Falls Lower, Dalles Creek Falls Upper, Deer Creek Falls, Deer Falls, Denny Camp Falls, Depot Creek Falls (886 ft), Dickerson Falls, Dog Creek Falls, Doughty Falls, Douglas Falls, Duncan Creek Falls (48 ft), Dutch Henry Falls, East Van Trump Park Falls, Eightmile Creek Falls, Elk Creek Falls, Engle Falls (489 ft), Exley Falls, Explorer Falls (50 ft), Fall into the Wall, Fantastic Falls (33 ft), Far Country Falls, Feature Show Falls (259 ft), Fifteenmile Waterfall, Fisher Creek Falls, Fly Creek Falls (82 ft), Frenchman Coulee Waterfall (98 ft), Gable Falls (192 ft), Gilligan Cree Falls (4 ft), Goat Creek Falls, Goat Falls (282 ft), Golden Gate Falls, Gossamer Falls, Great Falls (320 ft), Green Lake Falls (981 ft), Green View Falls, Greenleaf Falls (80 ft), Greenwood Falls, Grist Mill Falls, Hamma Hamma Falls, Hemlock Creek Falls (249 ft), Hidden Falls, High Pass Falls, Horseshoe Creek Falls (57 ft), Husum Falls, Iceberg Lake Falls, Immigration Falls (20 ft), Indian Mary Falls (33 ft), Ipsoot Falls, Iron Creek Falls, Jenny Creek Falls, Julia Falls, Kanim Falls (280 ft), Katrine Creek Falls, Kautz Creek Falls, Labyrinth Falls, Laura Falls, Lava Canyon Falls (132 ft), Laval Creek Falls, Liberty Creek Falls, Little Goose Creek Falls (39 ft), Little Kid Falls, Little Mashel Lower Falls, Little Mashel Middle Falls (66 ft), Little Mashel Upper Falls, Little Maui Falls, Logjam Falls, Louis Creek Falls (1,720 ft), Lover's Lane Falls, Lower Big Blowout Falls, Lower Bishop Falls, Lower Cave Falls, Lower Copper Creek Falls (32 ft), Lower Copper Falls (46 ft), Lower Falls (30 ft), Lower Foss River Falls (251 ft), Lower Granite Falls, Lower Labyrinth Falls, Lower Lewis River Falls (43 ft), Lower Loowit Falls (36 ft), Lower Marble Creek Falls, Lower Morovitz Falls, Lower North Fork Falls (67 ft), Lower Quad Falls, Lower Rock Creek Falls (53 ft), Lower Sheep Canyon Falls, Lower Sheep Creek Falls, Lower Sherman Creek Falls, Lower Siouxon Falls, Lower Step Falls (98 ft), Lower Tin Cup Joe Falls, Lower Twin Falls (236 ft), Lower Wallace Falls, Lower Wildcat Falls, Ludlow Falls, Lyman Falls, Mackintosh Falls (266 ft), Madison Falls (49 ft), Maidenhair Falls, Marble Creek Falls, Marble Creek Falls, Marckworth Falls, Marsh Creek Falls (89 ft), McClellan Falls (143 ft), McCoy Creek Falls (58 ft), McCrea Falls, Meditation Falls (92 ft), Merriman Falls (40 ft), Middle Berdeen Falls (85 ft), Middle Bishop Falls, Middle Copper Falls (49 ft), Middle Lewis River Falls (33 ft), Middle Loowit Falls, Middle Sheep Canyon Falls, Middle Siouxon Falls (37 ft), Middle Steven's Creek Falls, Middle Wallace Falls (367 ft), Miller Creek Falls, Milwawkie Falls, Mineral Creek Falls, Monkey Bear Falls, Monkey Cage Falls (16 ft), Murhut Falls, Myrtle Falls (59 ft), Mystic Falls, Naked Falls, Nellie Corser Cascade, Nellie Falls (150 ft), Newhalem Creek Falls (167 ft), Nine Hour Falls, Nisqually Falls, Nisqually Valley Falls, North Fork Falls, North Fork Sauk Falls (58 ft), North Fork Union Creek Falls, Northwoods Falls, Ole Creek Falls (30 ft), Ozimandias Falls (33 ft), Panamaker Falls (30 ft), Panther Creek Falls (136 ft), Paradise Falls, Pea Soup Falls, PeeWee Falls, Perry Creek Falls, Porter Falls, Pothole Falls (20 ft), Pride Basin Falls (299 ft), Pride Glacier Falls (407 ft), Pumpkinseed Creek Falls, Quad Falls, Racehorse Falls, Railcar Falls, Rainbow Falls, Rampart Falls (644 ft), Raven Falls, Rock Creek Falls, Rock Falls, Rocky Brook Falls (164 ft), Rocky Run Falls, Ross Falls, Ruby Falls, Rush Creek Falls (208 ft), Sadie Falls (33 ft), Salmon Cascades, She's a Butte Falls, Sheep Canyon Falls (89 ft), Sheep Falls, Shoestring Falls (984 ft), Silver Creek Falls (128 ft), Silver Star Falls, Siouxon Falls (28 ft), Skatepark Falls, Skookum Falls, Small Falls, Small Waterfall, Snoquera Falls, Snowshed Falls (167 ft), South Fork Falls, Spirit Falls, Spoon Creek Falls, Star Creek Falls (26 ft), Steep Creek Falls, Step Falls (115 ft), Stillwater Falls, Sulphide Creek Falls, Sulphur Creek Falls, Sunray Falls (394 ft), Sunset Falls (14 ft), Sweet Creek Falls, Swift Creek Falls, Switchback Falls, Sydney Falls (192 ft), Taitnapum Falls (16 ft), Teakettle Falls, Teneriffe Falls, Tin Cup Joe Falls (463 ft), Tornado Falls, Tribulation Falls (277 ft), Trilbey Falls, Twin Falls (66 ft), Twin Falls (Lower) (230 ft), Twin Falls (Upper), Umtanum Creek Falls (39 ft), Upper Ancient Lake Falls, Upper Bishop Falls, Upper Cherry Creek Falls (26 ft), Upper Comet Falls, Upper Copper Creek Falls (26 ft), Upper Copper Falls (39 ft), Upper Curly Creek Falls, Upper Falls, Upper Fly Creek Falls, Upper Foss River Falls (337 ft), Upper Granite Falls, Upper Green Lake Falls (92 ft), Upper Lewis River Falls (58 ft), Upper Lilliwaup Falls, Upper Little Goose Creek Falls (13 ft), Upper Meyers Falls, Upper Morovitz Falls, Upper Olney Falls (26 ft), Upper Rock Creek Falls (39 ft), Upper Rodney Falls (35 ft), Upper Sheep Canyon Falls (98 ft), Upper Sheep Creek Falls, Upper Sherman Creek Falls, Upper Siouxon Falls (16 ft), Upper Snow Creek Falls (148 ft), Upper Stevens Creek Falls (375 ft), Upper Van Horn Falls, Upper Wallace Falls (240 ft), Viviane Falls (197 ft), Vortex Falls, Walupt Creek Falls (220 ft), Waterwall, Weeks Falls (60 ft), Weeping Wall Falls, West Van Trump Park Falls, Whinnimic Falls (350 ft), Whirlpool Falls, Whitehorse Falls, Wildcat Falls (223 ft), Wilson Glacier Falls (315 ft), Woodburn Falls (20 ft), Wynoochee Falls, Yacolt Falls (34 ft), Youngs Creek Falls (26 ft)

Before you go

The map shows where falls are, not whether they are open or safe to reach. Check the land manager, usually a state park or national forest, for closures, fees and permits, and stay on the trail near the water. Our waterfall safety guide covers the hazards, and waterfall hikes near me explains how to pick a trail.

Waterfalls near cities in Washington

Every named fall within driving range of the city, nearest first: waterfalls near Seattle, waterfalls near Spokane.

Waterfalls in nearby states: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada. Or see waterfalls in every state.