Best family-friendly waterfall hikes in Washington
20 verified hikes from our directory of 481 Washington waterfalls.
What we mean by family
Family-friendly here means a trail short enough for kids 5-10 to complete without complaining, with restroom access at the trailhead, a clear sightline to the waterfall (not a rocky scramble), and either no exposure or a railing where there is.
One caveat: We mark kid_friendly only when we've verified all four conditions. If you have a toddler in a carrier or kids under 5, double-check the specific page — minimum suggested age is listed when known.
Gear hint: Family hikes are where parents most often skip the Ten Essentials “because it's short”. Don't. Snack, water, sunscreen, a phone, a small first-aid kit.
The 20 picks
Each opens to a full page with trail distance, elevation gain, parking, fee, best months, and live conditions when available.
Bear Creek Falls
7 ft
Borderline Falls
20 ft · Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Christine Falls
69 ft · Mount Rainier National Park
Dougan Falls
19 ft · 0.1 mi
Fantastic Falls
33 ft
Hamma Hamma Falls
75 ft · 0 mi · Olympic National Forest
Immigration Falls
20 ft · Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Lower Copper Falls
46 ft
Lower Lewis River Falls
43 ft
Marsh Creek Falls
89 ft
Marymere Falls
92 ft · Olympic National Park
Middle Copper Falls
49 ft
Monkey Cage Falls
16 ft
Moulton Falls
11 ft · 1.4 mi · 100 ft climb · Moulton Falls Regional Park
Nooksack Falls
89 ft · Mount Baker Wilderness
Panther Creek Falls
136 ft · 0.3 mi · 114 ft climb · Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Silver Falls
95 ft · Mount Rainier National Park
Sol Duc Falls
46 ft · Olympic National Park
Upper Copper Falls
39 ft
Weeks Falls
60 ft
Before you go: 5 things we always check
- The official land manager's page for road and trail closures (linked on every individual waterfall page).
- The weather forecast for the area AND upstream — flash floods come from rain miles away.
- Recent ranger or hiker reports for slippery rock conditions.
- Whether the trail crosses a creek without a bridge — water levels change daily in snowmelt season.
- Cell coverage at the trailhead. Download offline maps in advance.
See our full safety disclaimer for the dangers we've flagged on individual waterfalls. Several have fatalities on record.