The Seattle sun was shining all weekend long for Mother’s Day and my kids and I thought that a Seattle scenic drive with the perfect hike was a great way to spend the day as a family.

We chose to head towards Stevens Pass Greenway and do the 3-mile hike to the top of Wallace Falls.

Instead of reaching US-2 from I-5, we left from Seattle, took the WA-520 Bridge, joined onto the I-405 and took exit 23 for WA-522 East towards Woodinville. As the WA-522 continues past Woodinville, this scenic route becomes lush with trees and is simply wonderful.

At the end of WA-522 in Monroe, the road will merge onto US-2. Turn left to head west onto US-2. This road will delight – with the impressive Mount Index and the crags of Mount Baring dominating the view.

In Gold Bar, we turned onto 1st street and followed the signs to Wallace Falls State Park. The trail began through a curtain of trees leading to an opening with a spectacular view of the Cascades, with the exception of the less than scenic power lines.

Not to be discouraged, the trail quickly shifted back into a beautiful, old-growth forest with plenty of moss covered trees, ferns, and the green smell of spring in the air. The trail follows the Wallace River with areas to access the water and have a picnic.

With the sound of the falls urging us on, we arrived at the first of four major overlooks, this one offering a refreshing view of the Lower Falls and river. The Middle Falls can be congested and it’s worth being patient here for both the photo and the view. There is also a covered picnic area. Many people stop here and turn back but our kids were raring to go. Though there are some steep parts, we were rewarded with an unexpected clearing and a fantastic view of the surrounding Cascades and valley. We did make it to the Upper Falls where the trail ends. Next time we’ll try the trail to Wallace Lake.

Once back in the car, we headed west towards Stevens Pass. After enjoying a few vistas and driving through the very small, picturesque town of Index, we headed home. We hope that you enjoyed your Mother’s Day as much as we did!

Newest Drives

• Oregon: The Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway: A scenic drive through the fiery volcanic past of the Western Cascades.
• Oregon: Wallowa Lake Highway: One of our first user-recommended drives, this scenic drive heads to Wallowa Lake and Mount Wallowa and into the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.