Near Snoqualmie Pass, Franklin Falls is a waterfall that transforms into a massive wall of icicles during winter. It’s an incredible sight, and a hike we look forward to every winter in Washington.
But catching Franklin falls while it’s frozen requires some planning. You can’t just pick a date on the calendar and hike there, expecting to find the waterfall frozen over.
Franklin Falls only freezes when temperatures drop low enough for several days in a row. That can happen anytime during the winter, so if you want to see it fully iced over, you need to monitor the waterfall for the right conditions to create a frozen wintry landscape.
In this article, I’ll share how to time your winter hike to Franklin Falls when it freezes into a wall of ice. I’ll also share our personal experience hiking to Franklin Falls in winter, including details like how to get there, a breakdown of the three different parking areas, and photos from our hike to this winter phenomenon.
Franklin Falls in Winter: Complete Hiking Guide
Visiting Franklin Falls in the winter is much more difficult than in the summer. When Franklin Falls freezes, the trail will be snowed over, so you will need a lot more gear to safely and comfortably hike there.
There is also a chance that you will need to hike further in since the parking area at the Franklin Falls Trailhead has a chance of getting snowed in.
In the sections below, I’ll share how to tell exactly when Franklin Falls is frozen, so you can plan your visit at the right time. I’ll also provide all three winter parking options, depending on trail and road conditions.
How to Tell If Franklin Falls Is Frozen in Winter
Visiting Franklin Falls in winter is best when it freezes into a massive wall of icicles. But the tricky part is that it doesn’t freeze on any set schedule. Whether or not the falls are frozen depends entirely on the weather.
For example, the first time we hiked to Franklin Falls when it froze in the winter was in December 2021. But when we went in 2025, it didn’t freeze over until February. It all comes down to how cold it’s been… and for how long. You need several days of sustained freezing temperatures for the waterfall to fully ice up.
So how do you know if Franklin Falls is frozen before you make the trip out there?
Here are two reliable ways to check the current conditions of Franklin Falls in winter:
- Instagram: Open Instagram, search for “Franklin Falls,” then tap on the Places tab and select Franklin Falls Trailhead. From there, sort by Recent to see the latest posts. This is the fastest way to find real-time photos from people who’ve just done the hike, so you can check whether it’s frozen.
- Google Maps Reviews: Search for Franklin Falls on Google Maps, then sort the reviews by Newest. Recent reviews will often mention if the waterfall is frozen or not.
Using those two methods is how we tracked when the Franklin Falls had completely iced over. It’s the best way to catch the when the waterfall freezes over without guessing or making the trip out there yourself.
How to Get to the Franklin Falls Trailhead in Winter (And Where to Park)
There are three different access points to Franklin Falls in the winter, and which one you can use depends on how much snow has fallen and whether the main road is still open.
1. Franklin Falls Trailhead Parking Lot (Shortest Route)
This is the official trailhead and by far the easiest route. If the road is clear, you can park here and it’s just a 1-mile hike to the falls. But in deep winter, this lot is often buried under snow or completely inaccessible, which was the case during our last visit.
Note: You need to purchase a Sno-Park permit to park at the Franklin Falls Trailhead during winter.
2. Park Near Asahel Curtis Sno-Park / NF-9034 (Longest Route)
If the main trailhead is snowed in, you’ll need to park near the NF-9034 turnoff, close to the Asahel Curtis Sno-Park. From there, you need to hike roughly 2.2 miles along Forest Road 58 (NF-5800) just to reach the Franklin Falls trailhead, and then hike the remaining 1 mile to the falls.
That turns this hike into a 6.4-mile round trip. It’s a long stretch along a snowy forest road, but it is manageable with microspikes. This is the route we hiked both times we visited Franklin Falls in winter.
3. Alternate Route from Snoqualmie Pass Exit (Shortcut Option)
I recently learned about this third way to get to Franklin Falls in the winter. It’s called Franklin Falls Winter Route on Google Maps.
Park along NF-58 at the Snoqualmie Ski Area exit off I-90 and hike in from there. This route approaches the falls from the opposite direction. It’s much shorter than the Asahel Curtis route, and can save you a ton of time and energy.
We haven’t taken this route ourselves yet, but we plan to try it next winter if the main trailhead gets snowed in. If you end up hiking in this way, please let us know how it goes!
Franklin Falls Winter Hike Details
- Hike Difficulty: The Franklin Falls trail difficulty in winter is moderate. The trail is covered in snow, so it requires a lot of energy to hike. There are also some slight inclines along the trail to Franklin Falls, but nothing too intense.
- Hike Incline: The total incline for this hike is about 300 feet as the trail ascends slowly the entire way to the falls.
- Dogs are allowed on this trail, but must be on a leash. I also recommend getting some shoes for your dog since walking in the snow can freeze their paws.
- A Northwest Forest Pass AND a Sno-Park Permit are required to park at the trailhead for Franklin Falls in Winter.
What to Bring for the Franklin Falls Winter Hike
Winter hiking means snow, ice, and cold. Obviously, you should dress in multiple layers to be as warm as possible.
But hiking in the snow also requires some extra gear that you may not have thought of to stay safe and comfortable.
Here’s some gear we recommend bringing that you may not have thought of if you’re tackling the Franklin Falls hike in winter conditions:
- Insulated Hiking Boots. Regular boots might not cut it. Chloe wears two pairs of socks and stays warm, but my feet still get cold so I hike with insulated hiking boots. Warm feet make winter hiking more enjoyable.
- Microspikes/Ice Cleats. The trail to Franklin Falls isn’t steep, but snow and ice make it slippery. Microspikes give you solid traction and make hiking in the snow way easier. You could do it without them, but you’ll probably be sliding around.
- Waterproof outer layers. You’ll likely be brushing against snow-covered branches or just straight up hiking while it’s snowing. That means snow = melt = wet clothes. Wear waterproof outer layers like a rain jacket and rain pants. I used my snowboarding pants and rain jacket and it worked fine.
- Gloves. Your hands will freeze if you hike without gloves. Bring an insulated pair of gloves.
- Warm hat. You lose a lot of heat through your head, so don’t skip this. Any warm hat or beanie will do. Just wear something up top.
Franklin Falls in Winter: Our Experience
Franklin Falls is a winter hike we love doing every winter. There’s something about walking through a snow-covered forest that makes it the perfect cold-season adventure. Especially when you’re itching to get outdoors during those darker months.
This year, we kept an eye on trail reports and social posts, and finally, in February, Franklin Falls had frozen over. We packed our gear and hit the road early in the morning, hoping to catch the icy waterfall before the crowds rolled in.
But when we drove to the Franklin Falls Trailhead, we hit a snag: the official Franklin Falls Sno-Park was closed due to snow. A bit ironic, since Sno-Parks are supposed to be plowed and maintained as parking lots for winter access. Oh well. We parked along NF-9034 near the I-90 overpass and started walking.
Most of our hike followed the snow-covered forest road. It wasn’t the most exciting stretch, but the quiet beauty of the wintry landscape made up for it. Snow blanketed everything.
We walked along the road, trudging through the snow for a while until we finally got our first indication of the route. It was a sign for Denny Creek Campground, followed by a mileage marker showing that Franklin Falls was two miles ahead.
The trail finally veered off the road, into the woods, and the landscape started to get a bit more interesting.
The forest trail ran alongside Denny Creek, with little openings where we stopped to take in the views of the creek.
Snow-covered tree branches leaned over the trail, and every now and then, a chunk of snow would fall and thump to the ground. It was startling, but also kind of fun.
The trail had a bit of an incline, but nothing too strenuous. But it was not far until we finally came out of the forest to a view of Franklin Falls, completely frozen over.
The waterfall didn’t even look like water anymore. The entire rock face was iced over, transformed into a frozen sculpture.
A few groups of people were gathered at the base, admiring the massive wall of icicles climbing the cliff.
One side was seeing a bit of action as a group of ice climbers scaled the frozen wall. It was the first time I’d ever seen ice climbing up close, and honestly, it made me wonder if I’d found a new hobby.
We spent some time exploring around the base of the waterfall, getting close to its wall of icicles and watching icy water spray out from behind the cliff face.
Our hike back was a bit shorter but a little messier. The snow on the trail had started to melt and turn slushy. It could have been from the day warming up, or from all the hikers tramping over the trail. Probably a bit of both. That goes to show that hitting the trail early is key, especially for hikes as popular as this one.
Franklin Falls Winter Hike Photos
Here are a few more photos from our hike to Franklin Falls in the winter. I hope these inspire you to hike to this amazing frozen waterfall.
More Hikes Near I-90 in Washington
We’re based in Seattle and have done a ton of hikes all along I-90 in Washington. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best trails we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- An alpine lake framed by granite cliffs and lingering snowfields: Snow Lake
- Trek through forests to two alpine lakes nestled beneath granite slopes: Talapus and Olallie Lakes
- Hike through forest and rocky slopes with views of Mount Rainier: Mason Lake
- Short hike to a rocky summit with panoramic views: Mount Catherine
- Hike to a frozen waterfall: Franklin Falls (Winter)
- A rocky ledge with sweeping views over I-90: Dirty Harry’s Balcony
I hope you enjoyed our guide on how to hike to frozen Franklin Falls in winter! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
