Racehorse Falls

Skip this one for now if you’re planning a trip before October 2026. Washington DNR has North Fork Road gated for a bridge replacement over Racehorse Creek — construction runs June through October 2026, and the gate sits about 1.5 miles past the pavement, before the old Racehorse Creek bridge and short of the trailhead. There’s no way around it. DNR’s own guidance is to pick a different hike until it reopens.

When it’s open again, here’s what to expect. This is state DNR land, so you need a Discover Pass on the dash or you’re risking a ticket. The trailhead is unmarked — no sign, no restroom, just a wide spot on a gravel road. Getting there: from the highway about three miles east of the Hwy 9 roundabout, turn onto Mosquito Lake Road for one mile, then left on North Fork Road roughly 4.5 miles, past the wooden Racehorse Creek bridge. The trailhead sits near 48.8830, -122.1257. Save that pin before you leave the cabin; the roads out there are easy to second-guess.

The walk itself is short and easy — about 0.7 mile round trip with 100 feet of gain to a top-down overlook of the falls, a multi-tiered drop of roughly 150 feet depending on which tiers you count. The trail is muddy year-round, so wear real shoes. Reaching the base is a different animal: a very steep, slippery dirt scramble beside cliffs. We tell most guests to enjoy the overlook and skip it, because when it’s wet it is genuinely hazardous.

More options — including hikes that are actually open right now — are in our best hikes guide.

Know before you go

• Closed June–October 2026 for a DNR bridge replacement on North Fork Road; gate is before the trailhead, no detour around it
• Discover Pass required once it reopens — buy one before you drive out
• Trailhead is unmarked; save the GPS pin and directions ahead of time
• Muddy year-round; the scramble to the base is for experienced hikers only