Afternoon Delight: Hiking Twin Falls

There’s no point suffering through all the rain out here if you can’t enjoy the scenery when the weather doesn’t suck. One of the best places to witness one of the Cascade range’s nearest and most beautiful namesakes is just a short drive east on I-90. It's ideal for this time of year when the mountains are purging themselves of the winter snow, yet the weather is agreeable enough to be out in the woods.

Twin Falls is the perfect mountain escape that straddles the line between nature walk and easy hike. Of course it’s popular. But ignore your snobby hiking instincts for a second and realize anything worth seeing is going to be liked by others. Get over yourself and appreciate other like-minded nature lovers. The untrained dogs you're certain to meet, on the other hand, can be justifiably loathed.

Twin Falls begins easily enough as a lazy stroll paralleling the Snoqualmie River, before climbing and then descending through a relatively heavy second growth forest. One of the highlights at the midway point is a massive old growth fir, standing alone, sadly reminding us what Western Washington probably looked like before old whitey came through with his timber lust.

At times, the interstate’s roar comes into play as I-90 isn’t far off, but soon the drone of diesel truckers is drowned out by the roar of the falls. As of Monday, the falls were gushing at near maximum capacity, presenting an impressive display of water and mist. A foot bridge spans the top of the main falls, granting access to the upper falls and trails beyond. The pathway splits prior to the bridge descending below to a small viewing platform that stands above a sheer drop-off, revealing the full expanse of the lower and more impressive falls. This is the best place to take pictures of the waterfall and view the river valley flowing westward from it. Not many "hikes" pack this much scenery into such a convenient location considering the lack of elevation gain and proximity to the city, making Twin Falls a win/win on all fronts.

Directions:
Drive east on I-90 to Exit 34, and go right at the intersection. Just before the road crosses the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, go left for about ¾ a mile and the park is at the end of the road.

Photograph courtesy of Lachance from the Seattlest Flickr Pool