The sign at the beginning of the Woody Trail to Wallace Falls
We hiked here 2 or 3 years ago but at that time I only made it to the middle falls viewing area. This time we made it to the upper falls. It was a misty rainy type of day. As a consequence we got a little damp but on the plus side that meant that the last steep part was not so bad since it was a cool and comfortable temperature. We went all the way up and then came back to the covered picnic tables to eat lunch since that seemed drier and nicer than sitting in the rain on a wet bench.
This is a very popular trail near the town of Gold Bar about one hour driving time from Seattle, depending on traffic, with a paved road and an ample parking area. The Discover Pass is required. There is a “deluxe” restroom as far as trail heads go, with flush toilets and hot & cold running water. We counted 134 hikers and 11 dogs. A first for us, all the dogs were leashed and under control. There are lots of stairs on this trail and the last upper section is rough with plenty of roots and rocks as well as a steep grade. Bob rated this trail was a moderate difficulty for me. The round trip was 5.5 miles with a 1400 ft elevation gain. Once at the top there are two additional waterfalls that cannot be seen from lower down. Several chipmunks to entertain us, especially at the picnic area. Birdsong but the birds were hard to spot in the trees. There were not many flowers; however, we did find some coral root in bloom. My camera did not like the blurry, misty rain limiting the types of pictures taken that day.
The first views of the river from the trail . . .
Dense undergrowth of ferns, moss and small shrubs with the trees . . .
Guard rails and stairs to various view points along the way . . .
We are going to the top of the large falls in the distance . . .
Views from the lower falls view point and the middle falls view point . . .
Valley view point . . . too misty to see the valley . . .
The end is near, the upper falls are just ahead . . .
Looking down on the falls we could see from below . . .
The two falls not visible from lower down . . .
Bob, looking a bit soggy, on the bridge over the river . . .
Sign at the bottom explaining why the trail is named the Woody Trail . . .
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