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Wallace Falls and Lake

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.2 (56)
  1. Areas
  2. WA
  3. …North Cascades
  4. Wallace Falls State Park
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“A popular trail system with trail access to both Wallace Falls and Wallace Lake. ”

larry huang
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Map Key

11.1

Miles

17.9

KM

Loop

1,837' 560 m

High

351' 107 m

Low

2,419' 737 m

Up

2,419' 737 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

48%

Max Grade (26°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall

Washington State Discovery Pass required. You are able to purchase onsite with automated payment machine if needed.

Overview

The Middle Falls overlook is the best. Make sure to stop by for a quick break. The Upper Falls is full of roots and rocks, and difficult to get to. Pay off for the upper falls view is not great.

Wallace Lake is serene, but there are not as many break points unless you go across to the other side of the lake. There are not many hikers here so it is very peaceful and quiet. The 0.5-mile gravel path leading to Wallace Lake is very large crushed gravel that destroys your shoes and is rough on your feet (or other body parts if you fall).

Need to Know

The trail up to Upper Falls is pretty steep and can be slippery. Please be cautious if coming down at speed!

Description

This route starts out on the Woody Trail which follows along the Wallace River. Plenty of families take the trail, and since it's rooty, rocky, and narrow singletrack most of the way, please use caution when moving around kids/dogs. There is a beautiful lookout located at the Middle Falls lookout. The Upper Falls lookout was okay. This trail is difficult due to the quick elevation gain; I'd say it was similar to Mt. Si in that it goes up and never levels off until you reach the top. Most of it is pretty popular, well-marked singletrack so you won't get lost. A bathroom is available slightly off the trail at about 1.5 miles on the way up. There are also helpful interpretive signs along the way as well for those of you wanting to break more often.

After heading up and back on the Woody Trail, you'll head up on the Greg Ball Trail to get to Wallace Lake. Fewer people use the trail to Wallace Lake. On a sunny Monday morning, I saw one person with one dog the entire way up and down the Greg Ball Trail. There are signs along the trail although they are not very helpful (e.g. it'll say 1.5 miles of "difficult" level trail, but it was pretty flat/smooth for at least one mile after the sign). This is a gorgeous forest with a ton of shade, following along a creek that you can hear almost the entire time.

When you get near the end of the Greg Ball Trail at the top, you'll come across a logging road. Turning left is a sign saying to not go that way due to logging vehicles. So head right, then 100 yards later you'll see a sign on the left for the trail to Wallace Lake. It's only 0.5 miles with a mild gradient, but it's all large crushed gravel, where it is easy to twist ankles.

At the lake there is a path to continue all the way around, including a newly re-built bridge as of August 2016. This can also take you over to the Upper Wallace Falls via the Falls to Lake Trail.

Once you're at the lake, it's super serene and quiet. Find a nice sunny spot on the opposite side of the lake and take a well-deserved break. Head down the same Greg Ball Trail you came out on and take the alternate Old Railroad Grade pathway down to the parking lot for a fast and wide ending.

Flora & Fauna

Standard Pacific Northwest flora and fauna. Middle growth forests throughout. Not much fauna except for the odd squirrel. Not many birds even in October, so it was dead silent while hiking.

Contacts

Local Club: EarthCorps

Land Manager: Washington State Parks

Shared By:

larry huang
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 56 votes

#1

in Wallace Falls State Park

#233

Overall
  4.2 from 56 votes
5 Star
35%
4 Star
47%
3 Star
18%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Wallace Falls State Park

#18

in Washington

#233

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Photos

Middle Falls
Sep 28, 2015 near Gold Bar, WA
Small Falls
Sep 28, 2015 near Gold Bar, WA
Wallace Lake from the trail
Dec 13, 2018 near Gold Bar, WA
The Woody Trail is woody.
Sep 28, 2015 near Gold Bar, WA
EarthCorps crew improving a view area for future visitors!
Jul 12, 2016 near Gold Bar, WA
Bench with view of North Fork Wallace River.
Jul 29, 2024 near Gold Bar, WA

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Check-Ins

Feb 19, 2024
Nico Brandt
Jun 19, 2023
John Eun
Jun 19, 2023
John Eun
May 29, 2023
Olesya Gonchar
Jun 24, 2022
Daniel Shapiro
Apr 9, 2022
Xzill Erationer
Feb 17, 2022
Michelle A
Waterfalls and lake 11.1mi
Aug 7, 2021
Naresh G

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