Twin Falls Trailhead — Attraction in North Bend

Gorgeous lower falls, but somewhat difficult.

The main lower falls themselves are gorgeous and the rocks/earth behind it have a somewhat unique way of channeling the water into many different little wisps, almost like veins. The little wooden deck viewpoint provides a great spot that gives anyone an easy and perfect shot of the falls in all their glory. There was a rugged off trail "path" to get down to the water basin below the falls, but it was past sunset, and I was pretty spent, so I digressed.

The entire trail is long enough and steep enough to be fairly strenuous for somewhat not in athletic shape and doesn't hike with elevation often. The first 1/3 along the river/rapids is quite easy, and then it climbs pretty consistently without letting up much the rest of the way.

The stairs that take you to the lower falls viewpoint are incredible steep and a bit sketchy, while the wooden deck viewpoint is only big enough for maybe 2 people to be getting a full view/photo opportunity at a time. Maybe 6 people in total could fit on it, crowded behind each other.

Continuing on past the lower falls, you get to the bridge suspended directly above the falls you were just looking at from below. The upper falls are quite a ways in the distance from the bridge, so they aren't particularly impressive to look at, and need a telephoto lens to get anywhere close to them for a photo. There is no marker for the end of the "official" falls hike other than a small bench. The trail continues on into the woods, but there is nothing to see there.

There are several large-huge trees completely blocking the trail in different sections. Someone with mobility issues would not be able to get past these. You have to climb over or get on the ground and go under in the case of one of them. Going around isn't really an option in these spots, all of them in the middle of switchbacks. One state/park employee with a saw could fix these pretty easily, but they seem to have been there quite a while.

There were some pretty narrow spots where only one person could pass at a time.

There were at least two spots where--on the way out--it's not completely obvious which way to go. Both those times, I found myself going down the wrong path for a bit before realizing it didn't look right, I didn't remember it from before. These other paths must be from people going off trail enough to wear down the ground. Following the trail was not an issue going down. On my way up the trail, I had a couple women stop me and ask if I came from the parking lot…So they had thought they took a wrong turn and were worried they weren't heading towards the exit anymore…a bit concerning.

Zero trash/graffiti.

No issues with bugs in the middle of a warm May evening. I went very late at 6-7pm on a Friday, and there were still at least 15 cars in the lot when I got there. I got out just before it turned dark, and there were maybe 3 cars left. If you go on a weekend, prepare for a massive crowd and zero parking.

You have to pay for a parking pass, or buy a yearly pass.

Only one of the bathrooms was unlocked.

On my way up I was trying to make good time without stopping for pictures, and the way back I went much slower and stopped numerous times for shots. I'm not super athletic so I still was going fairly slow on the way up. I also had 10+ pounds of camera gear in my backpack. Took me just under 2 hours altogether.

Absolutely worth it, but it's not easy. Bring water. It was dry and sunny when I went, but it would become quite difficult and dangerous when...

Wow, what a beautiful spot! We did this hike on a sunny weekend morning and were completely blown away by the scenery. The trail itself is a relatively easy, well-maintained walk through a classic lush Pacific Northwest forest. It’s a gentle incline for the most part, making it very accessible for most fitness levels.

The payoff is incredible. You get several viewpoints of the different sections of the falls, and the final lower falls viewpoint is powerful and misty – absolutely spectacular. The sound of the cascading water alone is worth the trip.

A few practical tips for visitors:

Get there early. The main parking lot is not huge and fills up very quickly, especially on a nice day. A Discover Pass is required for parking, so make sure you have one displayed in your car. Wear sturdy shoes. The trail can be a bit rocky and muddy in spots, particularly near the viewpoints.

As a visitor to the Seattle area, this was a perfect example of the incredible nature the region has to offer. Highly recommend for a...

People aren't kidding about the limited parking. For a national park trailhead you'd think there would be more than 15 parking spots. They can easily turn the parking area into actual parking spots. We had to park a mile away down the road. Lines and lines of cars trying to find a spot. A little ridiculous but that's really the big downside.

The hike was easy enough for my 5yo and only a bit steep in certain areas. There's a little rock beach type area where you can lounge and dip your feet. A couple people were swimming. It was a nice little area not too far up the path. A very relaxing day.

The other worst part is dog people are so inconsiderate. All along the path beginning to end were little doggy doo bags just left on the trail. We were there about 3 hours and no bags were ever picked up so I don't think they intended on coming back for them. Enjoy your little furballs but please be considerate and pick...