Franklin Falls, Natural waterfall near Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, US.
Franklin Falls is the first of three major waterfalls on the South Fork Snoqualmie River, set between the north and south lanes of Interstate 90 just east of exit 47 near Snoqualmie Pass. It drops in three tiers totalling 135 feet (41 m): a 15-foot block-shaped fall, a 25-foot fanning cascade, and a final plunge that begins as a 25-foot slide bending right before a 70-foot drop. The upper two tiers lie north of the freeway.
The waterfall was named after Franklin P. Malloy, a forest ranger who worked in the Snoqualmie National Forest during the early 1900s. This name preserves the memory of someone who monitored and protected the forest land.
Franklin Falls is the first of three major waterfalls on the South Fork Snoqualmie River; downriver lie Weeks Falls and Twin Falls. The upper two tiers sit north of Interstate 90, while the 70-foot final drop is reached from the base, between the freeway's north and south lanes near exit 47.
The trail to the falls starts from Forest Road 58, reached from Interstate 90 at exit 47 (Denny Creek). The round trip is 3.2 km with about 120 m of elevation gain, ending at a viewpoint. The upper two drops lie north of the freeway; the 70-foot final drop is seen from the base. Trails closed in 2025 over budget cuts have reopened.
During winter months, ice and freezing water form around the cascade, creating natural ice sculptures that transform the landscape entirely. These frozen formations present a completely different scene compared to warmer seasons.
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