"Wallace Falls is a spectacular cataract that is visible as far as the Stevens Pass highway, miles away. In recent years, it has become easily accessible. The trail is short, sometimes steep, and can be muddy in spring and fall. However, the low elevation means it is open for walking when the highlands are snowed in.

Hazards are minimal except at the trail’s end, overlooking the falls, where spray makes every surface slippery and requires that every child’s hand be held tight. One Mother’s Day, I took two toddlers, a baby, and two grandmothers to Wallace Falls. The kids had a grand time (and were carried much of the way), but the grandmothers never forgave me!"

--Joan Burton, Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington & the Cascades (The Mountaineers Books).

"Wallace Falls marks the entrance to the grand scenery of the Skykomish River Valley. The river is a popular whitewater run, and paddlers know the river as “The Sky.” Traveling eastward, every turn of the road reveals another character of The Sky’s beauty. As for the falls, within 0.5 mile the Wallace River drops 800 feet, creating nine distinct waterfalls.

Like Bridal Veil Falls, some 8 road miles farther upstream, the main cascade of Wallace Falls can be seen from the highway as it gushes, foams, and leaps 265 feet. Walking the trail to the falls takes your breath away—and it isn’t solely because it feels like you’re heading straight up. This popular trail can be full of people in summer and nearly devoid of hikers in winter—which is a shame, since winter rains make Wallace Falls truly impressive."

--Peter Stekel, Best Hikes Near Seattle (Falcon Guides).

"This deservedly popular hike leads to an impressive series of waterfalls in the Skykomish River Valley, nine of which drop more than 50 feet and whose centerpiece is the 265-foot Middle Falls. The falls aren’t the only attraction, however, as old-growth forest, a wide network of trails, and local history all converge at this year-round park."

--Andrew Weber and Bryce Stevens, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Seattle - Including Bellevue, Everett, and Tacoma (Menasha Ridge Press).

"Wallace Falls may be one of the most popular waterfalls and hikes in the state, and for good reason. The 5.5-mile out and back jaunt gets the heart racing any time of year and puts hikers in the middle of some stunning second- growth forest.

The payoff, of course, is a doozy of a waterfall starting out up high as a horsetail and spreading out over the course of its first and major drop (265 feet) into a showering cascade falling into a serene- looking pool."

--Roddy Scheer with Adam Sawyer, Hiking Waterfalls in Washington (Falcon Guides).