Snowshoe Falls
King County, Washington
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 150 ft (45.7 m)
- Location
- King County, Washington
- Access status
- National forest wilderness trail with an unbridged creek ford; partial view of the falls
- The walk
- 6 miles round trip to Snowshoe Falls, per WTA
- Ground & access
- Rocky, rooty trail; steeper and rockier above Keekwulee Falls. The water slide crossing is a ford; the current is swift and cold and can rise quickly.
Snowshoe Falls is a 150-foot falls on Denny Creek in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, above Keekwulee Falls. Follow the Denny Creek Trail past the large bridge at half a mile and under the I-90 viaduct. Just over a mile from the trailhead, ford Denny Creek at the water slide rocks, where there is no bridge. Continue 0.7 mile to Keekwulee Falls, then another half mile on a steeper, rockier trail to a viewpoint for Snowshoe Falls. WTA says the falls are much harder to see from the trail than Keekwulee Falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Denny Creek trailhead, Denny Creek Trail #1014 past Keekwulee Falls to the Snowshoe Falls viewpoint
WTA gives a six-mile round trip with 1,345 feet of elevation gain when Snowshoe Falls is the turnaround point. Snowshoe Falls is half a mile beyond Keekwulee Falls.
Rocky, rooty trail; steeper and rockier above Keekwulee Falls. The water slide crossing is a ford; the current is swift and cold and can rise quickly.
Where to start
Denny Creek trailhead area: from I-90 exit 47, turn left over the freeway, go 0.2 mile and turn right on Forest Road 58, pass under the freeway and turn left, then continue 2.9 miles. About half a mile past Denny Creek Campground there are three large lots on the right (about 170 cars). Roadside parking is not permitted.
Timing & water
No season limits are stated. Assess the Denny Creek ford before crossing; it can be dangerous in high water.
Before you go
America the Beautiful Pass or Northwest Forest Pass. An electronic payment station is at the first parking lot.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Keekwulee FallsNational forest wilderness trail with an unbridged creek ford171 ft (52.1 m) · King County, WA0.3 miS
Franklin FallsResearched visit notes135 ft (41 m) · King County, WA1.2 miSE- Denny Camp FallsKing County, WA1.3 miSE
- Fall into the WallGuide: roadside view into the gorgeKing County, WA1.6 miE
- Rampart Falls644 ft (196.3 m) · Kittitas County, WA5.1 miE
- Tin Cup Joe Falls463 ft (141.1 m) · King County, WA5.7 miN
- Dingford Creek FallsPartial: short viewpoint near the trailhead from one visitor report; rough access roadKing County, WA5.7 miN
- Lower Tin Cup Joe FallsKing County, WA5.7 miN
- Laura FallsKittitas County, WA5.8 miSE