Wallace Falls State Park: Complete Guide

Hello, my lovely readers! I want you to close your eyes, take a nice deep breath and imagine a tiny home deep in the woods surrounded by snowy mountain peaks and lush forests, waking up to bird songs and falling asleep listening to the hoots. Did this bring a smile to your face? If yes, then you should definitely spend a night or two in a forest cabin. The experience is absolutely serene!

The good news is that we found a beautiful wooden cabin just 3 hours away from Seattle that is well-connected with public transit. That is highly affordable and reachable without a car, located within Wallace Falls State Park, a pristine park on the foothills of Cascade mountains. Keep reading the post for a detailed itinerary and to learn about the things we did at Wallace Falls State Park.

About Wallace Falls State Park

Wallace Falls State Park is a lush forested recreational area near Seattle that offers excellent hiking trails, camping space, and natural attractions, from three backcountry lakes to stunning waterfalls. This state park is on the west side of the Cascade Mountains along the Wallace River, giving a 360-degree view of the snow-capped mountain peaks. As you go deeper, you also get a peek at the Olympic Range along with the magnificent Wallace Falls.

About Gold Bar and reaching Wallace Falls State Park

Wallace Falls State Park resides in Gold Bar, a city in Washington State that was once a thrifty sawmill town. The city of Gold Bar owes its name to a miner who found traces of gold in a river gravel bar. Soon it became a prospector’s camp. Later on, a construction camp for the Great Northern Railway. Getting here involves hopping two buses and a light rail, and it takes about 3 hours to reach the state park. 

We took the LINK from West Lake Station in downtown Seattle until Northgate. From there, we boarded bus 512, heading to Everett. Next, we took the Community Transit Bus 271 from Everett Transit Center to Gold Bar and walked approximately 30-minutes from the bus stop to Wallace Falls State Park parking.

Where to stay in Wallace Falls State Park

Wallace Falls State Park offers two overnight camping sites and five cozy wooden cabins near the parking area with a shower facility. We booked the wooden cabin for a night from the Washington State Parks website, costing $84.59 (including all fees and taxes). The cabins are beautiful and well-equipped with all the basic amenities. However, you need to carry bedding, food, and water. The wood for the bonfire is available on the site for $5. Moreover, it is also great for a day trip from Seattle and the neighboring cities due to its proximity and several activities, from biking trails to easy to medium-level hikes. 

Our weekend itinerary at Wallace Falls State Park

We started at 11 pm from Seattle, as the check-in time was 4 pm, and reached Gold Bar around 2 pm. We first visited a local grocery store, Gold Bar Family Grocer, to buy bonfire supplies like firewood (because we were unaware of the on-site availability), a fire starter, a packet of roasted peanuts, bratwurst, marshmallows, and a salad bowl for breakfast. 

Food cost: $25
Wood: $7

Next, we headed to a local diner for lunch. The Mountain View Diner is a cozy family-style restaurant offering great food with a fantastic view of the Cascade Mountains. We ordered a Bark eater sandwich, a classic vegetarian burrito roll loaded with veggies and mushrooms that came with a bowl of pipping hot soup. For desserts, we ordered the freshly baked Banana cream pie. Overall, we loved dining here. The ambiance was calming, the view was gorgeous, and the food was delicious and fresh. Plus, it was amazingly cheap. From here, we headed to our cabin at Wallace Falls State Park, which was 35 minutes walk away from the diner.

Cost for two: $26

Cabins at Wallace Falls State Park

The cabins are right next to the parking area. However, we faced some difficulty spotting them as there was no one or any signboard to guide us. It is also our only complaint about the place. Now, let’s skip to the good part. The check-in process was easy. All we had to do, was show up at the office and fill out a short form. Then we headed straight to our allotted cabin. The cabin had three beautiful large windows, a bunk bed good enough for two people, minimal decor, an electrically heated fireplace, a designated fire pit, and a picnic table. Here is a quick tour of our gorgeous cabin. 

As I mentioned earlier, the cabin did not provide us with bedding. Therefore, we carried our own from home. The first thing we did was turn on the heater as it was cold. Next, we made our bed before heading out to start the bonfire.

Bonfire at night

It was already dark by the time we settled. Therefore, we headed straight to the fire pit without wasting a minute. We were starting a bonfire ourselves for the first time, so we were excited and nervous at the same time. If you are new to the whole bonfire thing, save this instruction card to help you guide through the process. It was a cold and windy night, but the fire kept us warm and cozy. We cooked bratwursts, marshmallows, and peanuts bought from the grocery store and enjoyed them by the bonfire.

Morning trek to Wallace Falls

We had a good night’s sleep thanks to the room heater. The next day, early morning, we began our hike through the Woody trail to see the pristine Wallace Falls. 

The Wallace Falls is a three-level waterfall, middle fall having the highest drop. The trailhead begins from the parking lot and passes through a thick coniferous forest adjacent to the Wallace river. It was a rainy morning, but we had all our gear ready, from hiking rods to waterproof shoes and jackets. We started our trail at eight and reached the Lower Falls in about two and a half hours. The surrounding Cascade and Olympic mountain peaks were not visible because of the mist caused by the rain. Still, the hike was fantastic, with the river flowing on one side and the thick forest on the other. Moreover, it was raining cats and dogs that day. Therefore, we decided to hike only until the Lower Falls to get a good view of the Lower and the Middle Falls.

Trails at Wallace Falls State Parks

There are several trails in Wallace Falls State Park. However, the Woody trail, Railroad Grade Trail and Wallace Lake via Woody Trail and Greg Ball Trail are some of the most popular ones! All the tracks are moderate-level hikes with lengths ranging from 5 mi to 13 mi and an elevation gain of up to 2,086 ft. The routes have several steep patches in between that might test your strength. However, most of the journey is pleasant. 

Wallace Falls and Wallace Lake Loop is an 11.1 mi long loop trail, which takes approximately 6 hours to complete. The Wallace Lake via Woody Trail and Greg Ball Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes about 4.5 hours to finish with an elevation gain of 1981 ft. Both these trails go up to the Wallace Lakes while passing by the waterfalls. The railroad grade trail is a short 2-hour-long trail and great for beginners. Lastly, the Woody trail is one of the most popular hikes that covers all three levels with an elevation gain of 1489 ft. A moderately challenging out-and-back route, which covers 4.9 miles distance.

Journey back to Seattle

After being here for almost four hours, walking through the woody forest, and staring endlessly at the flowing river, we headed back to Seattle. We grabbed our luggage from the cabin, kept the key by the table, and headed out. There is no additional check-out formality. All you need to do is throw the trash in the bin near the parking area and clean the cabin before checking out. 

Did you know getting clicked by the signboard is a mandatory thing? (just kidding). We took some pictures with the signboard for our album and headed to Highway 2 & First street bus stop. We reached Everett Transit Center, boarding bus 271. It was almost lunch by the time we got to Everett. Plus, we were starving. Therefore, we headed to Lew’s BBQ, one of the highly-rated restaurants near the transit center. We ordered almost everything on the sides menu with Taquitos and Pulled pork sliders. The Mac n Cheese was not very creamy, but I liked the taste. The Coleslaw was fresh and tasty. Potato Salad and Baked beans were our favorites as sides. Overall, we loved the food, ambiance, and our interaction with the owner. We walked to the transit center to catch the 512 bus until Northgate and took the LINK back home. 

We loved our time at Wallace Falls State Park. I hope this article helps you plan your dream getaway to the park. However, don’t forget to read these tips before heading to the state park.

• The best time to visit this park is between April and September.
• There are limited Taxi and Cabs available in Gold Bar with a wait time of more than an hour, leaving walking the only option to reach the park. However, the walk is pleasant, with several small creeks, beautiful houses, and majestic mountains passing by.
• Wear comfortable shoes and preferably waterproof ones if going in the rainy season. 
• Carry at least 3 liters of water and food. Here is a list of things you can carry on your trip.
• Travel as lightly as possible. If you’re looking for a perfect camping bag recommendation, here’s one for you! 
• Check the weather and pack accordingly, as the temperature may vary a few degrees. We traveled in October and carried our winter essentials like caps, gloves, and sweaters.
• Lastly, follow the leave-no-trace principle and carry reusable like water bottle, cutlery, plates, etc.