Waterfall Hikes Near Olympia, WA

210,877 residents
Los Angeles Time Zone
14 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Capitol State Forest starts just southwest of Olympia, and Mima Falls is its steady walk, 6.5 miles round trip with 500 feet of gain and dogs allowed. Deschutes Falls out in the Bald Hills takes a half mile. Kennedy Falls is the commitment here, 9 miles round trip with 800 feet of climbing. Victor Falls, 70 feet high, rewards a tenth of a mile. Lilliwaup Falls up Hood Canal carries a name worth the drive on its own. Fourteen in all.

Located at 47.0417°N, -122.8959°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Olympia

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

14 of 14 gauged

14 waterfalls near Olympia have live flow data today

Cedar Creek Falls Barely Flowing Chenuis Falls Barely Flowing Ipsut Falls Barely Flowing Ranger Falls Barely Flowing Deschutes Falls Barely Flowing Fisk Falls Barely Flowing Kennedy Falls Low Lilliwaup Falls Moderate Little Mashel Falls Barely Flowing McKenna Falls Low Mima Falls Low Willapa Falls Barely Flowing Wildcat Falls Barely Flowing Victor Falls Barely Flowing

Updated about 1 hour ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Thursday

Partly Sunny · 58°F

Tod 58°F Patchy Fog then Light Rain
Thu 58°F Partly Sunny Best
Fri 56°F Light Rain
Sat 62°F Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain
Sun 56°F Light Rain Likely
Mon 56°F Chance Light Rain
Tue 58°F Light Rain Likely

Flowing best right now near Olympia

Updated about 2 hours ago

Ranked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.

  1. 1 Lilliwaup Falls Moderate · 265 cfs 61st percentile
  2. 2 Kennedy Falls Low · 38 cfs 12th percentile
  3. 3 Mima Falls Low · 373 cfs 12th percentile
  4. 4 Victor Falls Barely Flowing · 358 cfs 6th percentile
  5. 5 Chenuis Falls Barely Flowing · 65 cfs 3rd percentile
  6. 6 Ipsut Falls Barely Flowing · 65 cfs 3rd percentile

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Olympia hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Find waterfalls to hike near Olympia

Have your own travel site? Embed these waterfalls for free.

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Olympia (4 waterfalls)

Easy access waterfalls are drive-up or short-walk friendly. Perfect for families, casual visitors, or anyone who loves waterfalls but is "so-so" about hiking.

Deschutes Falls waterfall

Deschutes Falls

32 miles away
Washington
Easy
0.5 miles Unknown
Victor Falls waterfall CC

Victor Falls

35.3 miles away
Washington
Easy
0.1 miles Unknown

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around Olympia (7 waterfalls)

Bring your four-legged friend along! These waterfalls welcome dogs on their trails.

Kennedy Falls waterfall

Kennedy Falls

11.5 miles away
Washington
Moderate
9.0 miles 800 ft
Mima Falls waterfall

Mima Falls

14.5 miles away
Washington
Moderate
6.5 miles 500 ft

All 14 Waterfalls Near Olympia

Kennedy Falls waterfall

Kennedy Falls

11.5 miles away
Washington
Moderate
9.0 miles 800 ft
Mima Falls waterfall

Mima Falls

14.5 miles away
Washington
Moderate
6.5 miles 500 ft
LiDAR terrain view around McKenna Falls in Washington, about 147 feet of drop LiDAR

McKenna Falls

28.4 miles away
Washington
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Lilliwaup Falls waterfall

Lilliwaup Falls

30.3 miles away
Washington
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Deschutes Falls waterfall

Deschutes Falls

32 miles away
Washington
Easy
0.5 miles Unknown
Victor Falls waterfall CC

Victor Falls

35.3 miles away
Washington
Easy
0.1 miles Unknown
LiDAR terrain view around Wildcat Falls in Washington, about 230 feet of drop LiDAR

Wildcat Falls

35.5 miles away
Washington
Moderate
4.5 miles 800 ft
Little Mashel Falls waterfall

Little Mashel Falls

35.8 miles away
Washington
Moderate
5.3 miles 600 ft
Cedar Creek Falls waterfall

Cedar Creek Falls

37.7 miles away
Washington
Easy
2.2 miles 300 ft
LiDAR terrain view around Fisk Falls in Washington, about 51 feet of drop LiDAR

Fisk Falls

42.9 miles away
Washington
Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Ranger Falls waterfall

Ranger Falls

46.9 miles away
In Mount Rainier National Park
Washington
Moderate
4.0 miles 500 ft
Chenuis Falls waterfall

Chenuis Falls

47 miles away
In Mount Rainier National Park
Washington
Moderate
8.4 miles 300 ft
Ipsut Falls waterfall

Ipsut Falls

48.5 miles away
In Mount Rainier National Park
Washington
Easy
5.0 miles Unknown
Willapa Falls waterfall

Willapa Falls

48.6 miles away
Washington
Unknown
Unknown Unknown

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Olympia

Are there free waterfalls near Olympia?

There are 7 free waterfalls near Olympia, including Cedar Creek Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Olympia?

There are 4 easy waterfall hikes near Olympia, including Cedar Creek Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Olympia?

There are 7 dog-friendly waterfalls near Olympia, including Cedar Creek Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Olympia?

There are 10 kid-friendly waterfalls near Olympia, including Cedar Creek Falls.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Olympia?

The shortest waterfall hike near Olympia is Cedar Creek Falls at 0.1 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near Olympia?

The tallest waterfall near Olympia is Lilliwaup Falls at 142 feet.

Do any waterfalls near Olympia require permits?

Yes, 2 waterfalls near Olympia require a permit. Check individual trail pages for current permit details.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Olympia?

Yes, 9 waterfalls near Olympia have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Olympia?

The closest waterfall to Olympia is Kennedy Falls, approximately 11.5 miles away.

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Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Olympia, Washington

Green River Soda Spring

59.1 mi 86°F

Green River Soda Spring produces 86-degree carbonated water at 1,644 feet elevation, flowing 37.5 degrees above ambient tempera...

Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Olympia, Washington on SoakingSprings.

Explore Washington springs

Where to Stay

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