Olney Falls

Walk a logging road to view the rushing waters of Olney Falls

Hike Length: 4 miles roundtrip to Olney Falls

Elevation Gain: 200’

Hike Difficulty: easy

Map: Green Trails Map 142 “Index”

Updated 9/22/2021

Wallace Lake Road offers a mellow walking experience on a quiet, gated logging road. The road passes through many recently clear cut areas featuring good views of the Skykomish River valley and Cascade mountain peaks. Olney Falls, about two miles from the hike’s start in the town of Startup, provides an easy and scenic destination for a short hike. Those wanting more of a workout can continue walking on the road beyond the falls for many miles. However, only the toughest hikers will be able to reach Wallace Lake, which is a marathon slog of 17 roundtrip miles.

Vista of Mt. Persis from road heading from Olney Falls to Wallace Lake

Getting There

From Seattle, ride to Everett Station on Community Transit 510. There, transfer to Community Transit 271 (hourly departures) and make the long ride to the town of Startup. There are two bus stops in town, get off at the eastern one (talk to the driver to make sure you don't miss it).

The Hike

From the bus stop at the east end of Startup, cross to the north side of busy Highway 2 and head east on the highway’s shoulder. After a hundred yards or so, go left (north) onto paved Kellogg Lake Road. Follow this road a shy quarter mile, then go right onto a gated, paved lane, the unsigned start of the Wallace Lake access road.

Shortly beyond the gate, the Wallace Lake road crests a hill and turns to dirt. The sights and sounds of civilization are left almost immediately as the road drops down into the boggy flatlands along Bear Creek; a thick growth of alders, maples, and other deciduous trees provide shade along this stretch. Beyond Bear Creek, the road remains flat for a half mile, then ascends to the summit of a modest ridge, where views open up south toward the Skykomish River valley and the 4000’ peak of Mt Sultana.

At the top of the ridge, the road levels out and passes under a power line right-of-way. If the electric field under the crackling Bonneville high-tension lines doesn’t give you a charge, the spectacular view east toward the granitic peaks of Mt Persis, Mt Index, and Mt Baring certainly will. Beyond the power lines, the road descends into the valley of Olney Creek, then crosses the sizeable creek on a bridge located just below Olney Falls. The waterfall is a beauty, featuring multiple cascades of water tumbling down a boulder-filled gorge. For a short hike, this would make an ideal stopping point. The ideal time to see the falls is in spring, when Olney Creek’s flow is swollen by rain and snow melt.

Of course, you can keep hiking along the road if you’re feeling energetic. Beyond Olney Creek, the road starts a long, gradual climb up the north side of the Skykomish River valley. Views get better and better as you gain elevation, and there’s no shortage of vista points due to extensive and fairly recent clear cutting. Fortunately, the clear cuts have grown back a bit; nowhere does the landscape look raw or scalped.

At the 4.5 mile point, the road passes a signed trail leading to Wallace Falls State Park. This trail would make an excellent hiking option, as the park is beautiful and you can catch a return bus in Gold Bar (see Wallace Falls State Park hike description).

The road continues ascending for several more miles, finally reaching the upper portion of Wallace Falls State Park at about the 8 mile point from Startup. Here you pass the upper end of the Greg Ball Trail, a beautiful route that descends to the Wallace Falls park headquarters--highly recommended! Shortly after that, you reach the signed start of the trail leading to Wallace Lake. You’ve climbed about 1700’ to get here.

It’s a 0.6 mile walk on the trail to get to forest-rimmed Wallace Lake. Though the lake is a fairly sizable body of water, it’s not particularly scenic and few people would consider it worth a 17 mile hike to get to. If you do this hike, you must be a true believer in the old German walker’s adage, “The Way is the Goal.” The nicest part of the lake is at the far end, where there is a small beach called "Pebble Beach". Campsites are available at the lake, if you want to haul a backpack in.

Relaxing on Pebble Beach, Wallace Lake

Getting Back

Catch the 271 bus in either Gold Bar or Startup and ride back to Everett Station