Wallace Falls State Park

Markus being inspired by the quote at the trailhead of the Wallace Falls Trail

Type: Trail
Length: 5.5 km (to the Lower Falls)
Traffic: Moderate
Route Type: Out & Back

Markus smiling on a log at the Wallace Falls Trail

Over Thanksgiving weekend, we went to Leavenworth, Washington. On the way, we made a planned stop for Markus at Wallace Falls State Park to do the Wallace Falls Trail, which is off of US-2 and about an hour and a half out of Leavenworth. Although the hike was gorgeous and exactly what we were looking for, we did have one regret: We didn't get to the park early enough (did I mention it was Black Friday?)! As a result, we weren't able to do the full hike to the Upper Falls so we will definitely be back, but here's our breakdown of Wallace Falls State Park that we managed to do.

The Wallace Falls Trail is a great hike for experiencing the Pacific Northwest. It has everything you'd want in a hike including trails, lakes and waterfalls. The hike is long and considered to be more of a workout, so some people even pack meals for when they get to the top. We managed to make it to Lower Falls before we made the decision to turn around and head back down. We didn't prepare for a workout-type hike and it was meant to be a quick stop for us, so we already consider making it to Lower Falls an accomplishment!

Wallace Falls State Park has a large parking lot and it wasn't too busy when we were there, but it was late in the day. From the parking lot (which includes a public bathroom), there's a long walk before you get to the trailhead, which you'll recognize because of the cute little sign with a quote on it. The path is easy to follow and pretty well-maintained with wooden steps where there are inclines and wooden bridges for crossing. Once you get to the Lower Falls, there's also a picnic area where you and your 4-legged friend can stop for a snack.

Markus atop the steps at Wallace Falls Trail in Wallace Falls State Park

We had to cut this hike short because of time and because it was getting late in the day. We had to make sure that we had enough time to make it back before it got too dark since Markus sniff and explores a lot. That was poor planning on our part, but it still took us nearly 2 hours to complete from the Lower Falls. It was quite honestly enough for what we were looking for, but we still might try again in the future.

Although the hike was a little bit of a workout, it just gets harder after the Lower Falls from what we researched (after the fact, of course). On average, avid hikers seem to do it in 3 hours and even more for casual hikers. If your dog's not ready for it, you might want to cut it short. In fact, come to think of it, I'm not even so sure Markus would have been able to do the full hike!

What we liked

There was ample parking and there are public washrooms in the beginning.
The falls (at least the Lower Falls) were great!

What we didn’t like

There's nothing we disliked about this trail, but just keep in mind that it is a longer trail.

Our Recommendation for Reactive Dogs

For reactive dogs, we think that the Wallace Falls Trail would be a good hike for them. We generally find that when Markus is focused on doing tougher hikes, he's less concerned about the dogs running past him. Likewise, the other dogs seem to be on a mission of their own too. We didn't come across many owners with dogs and those who did were responsible with theirs and had them leashed. The paths were also relatively wide, though there are some areas like the wooden bridges where you might find it harder to pass other dogs if yours is reactive. You will just have to cross one at a time.

A Discovery Pass is required for this state park.

Disclaimer

Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.

Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.

Wallace Falls State Park